Dear Ann, Cecelia and Jerry, Thank you for inviting me to Tom's funeral, and for the honor of being one of his pall bearers. Even though I did not get to know him early on, and only recently become a friend through our mutual love for his former student Kim Friedman, I feel like I knew him for a much longer time than that. I have heard his name for many many years and knew how popular he was as a guitar and banjo teacher. I could see very clearly just how good he was, and how devoted he was to his students by how accomplished a musician Kim became in the years after she studied with Tom. She was truly the best musician I have known personally--in the imaginative ways she went about arranging a song--even a simple song--and I could tell that she had been trained by a great teacher who inspired her to continue learning and growing as a creative musician. There are so few like Tom in that regard; his commitment to her as a student even extended to picking out her guitar for her, taking her to an excellent music store and trying the instruments on the wall until he found the one he thought was worthy of her gifts--one that would allow her to expand her own abilities to fully realize her potential. Only then did he put it in her hands and say, "Kim, try this!" He confided this wonderful story to me when I got to know him after she passed away--and literally her guitar brought us together as friends. He was a joy to get know even though he also confided to me how ill he was--and how much effort it required often just to get through the day. Nonetheless he extended himself and played me some of the many pieces he knew which he realized I most prized as a folk musician--songs by Mississippi John Hurt and Reverend Gary Davis, among others. I could see from his self-made songbook with his own arrangements how wide and deep his repertoire was, but he instinctively shared with me the songs I mentioned that meant the most to me. Watching him play, even though not in the context of a music or guitar lesson, made me see things that it would never have occurred to me to incorporate into the song, but gave me a feeling of aspiring to learn them one day. In other words he became my guitar teacher too, without a word being spoken. He was just a natural teacher; he loved sharing knowledge. It was an honor to get to know him even in a limited way. And as much discomfort as he was in he greatly extended himself again in coming to Kim's memorial and creating a beautiful musical tribute to her--in such a meaningful way that others could then follow and play some songs too in her memory. I think the last song he performed for her was a song she may well have performed herself, the traditional English ballad The Water Is Wide. I have never heard it performed so beautifully--every note was perfect and drew from a deep well of love for both the music and his student. It was the highpoint of the day for me, and made her memorial a thing of beauty. I was so moved at the contribution he wove together out of the various songs he chose--and the lovely way he related to the entire audience so we were all drawn into it; a true master who could make it look effortless, even while being in pain; just extraordinary to be a part of. Thank you so much for sharing your dad and husband with us at a very challenging time; it spoke volumes about his character and gifts as a musician and teacher. I felt the afternoon was blessed with his presence. Thank you all so much, and my sympathy to your family for your loss of this wonderful man, father and husband. And I also want to extend my condolences on the terrible loss of your brother and son Nicholas. It was very moving to see and hear his name and know that he and Tom would now be resting side by side--Heaven is richer today, even as we still mourn their loss. The service was very meaningful and Cecelia your reminiscence of your father was loving and heartfelt. Jerry, your performance of Black Orpheus was just beautiful--even breathtaking--and a wonderful tribute to your father whose legacy you now carry on. I am very grateful you welcomed me to participate. It was a day to remember with gratitude. Thank you. In loving sympathy, Ross