I had lost touch with Tom, but had some difficulty when trying to locate him a few times in the past years.
After his passing, I was able to understand why. For someone so on top of the pulse of artistic creation, Tom was resistant to joining the online community. He earned the nickname "Analog Tom" because he was so late in getting an e-mail address. I would have guessed the Tom would have been one of the first.
I was in a high school rock and roll band with Tom, Stefan, Jim and Joel called The Spies. Tom, Stefan and Joel brought most of the talent at first, and made us somewhat popular in the suburbs of Maryland where we all grew up.
Tom went on to write his own music and create his own artistic persona through bands in Baltimore and in the San Francisco / Oakland area. He even played a couple of gigs with Alex Chilton of Boxtops fame.
As the years went by, Tom would pop in and out of my life, and on the rare occasion that we were both back in Maryland, visiting our respective families, we'd get together. Stefan and Tom shared a bit of musical history at the University of Michigan as well.
I had sort of come to regard him as my untapped connection into the world of the arts. Deep down I knew, as probably many did, that Tom was going to make a name for himself one way or another. I had always imagined hearing news of a new breakout band with Tom at the helm. Well, it sounds like it was almost to be. His band's "Self-Titled Debut Album" seemed to be earning a few accolades from the indie music world. But sadly, Tom won't pilot this rocket.
He was a fantastic musician, songwriter, artist, photographer, and an all-around interesting fellow. If I had to describe my sense of Tom it would be that he was "un-anchored" by the constraints of conventionalism. I'm quite heartbroken to hear of his passing. So long, Tom. I'll miss you.
