2008 Woodie Awards
A Friend to Everyone
Remembering Tom Turner (1984-2004)
Tom Myers
Issue date: 4/7/04 Section: Remembering Tom Turner
"Although Tom Turner and I weren't really close, I felt that I knew him well enough for the events of that Monday morning to affect me the way that they did. I shared three history classes with him during the academic year, with two of them being this semester. The absence of Tom is especially felt in those classes on a group and an individual level. Not only was Tom an active participant in said classes, but I can remember moments outside of class where each of us were gladly able to help the other on understanding of particular readings in our shared courses. To Tom, helping people in need, no matter what the situation, was no burden at all on his part.
One such act of generosity occurred when Tom and I both participated in the karaoke event in Merrick Lecture Hall last February. When it was discovered that the song that I had originally intended to sing was not on the official song list, Tom helped me labor over the pros and cons of choosing one song or the other. At a point where most people would get fed up and quit helping over my getting so finicky about what song I wanted to sing, Tom persisted and continued to help until we both picked out "Secret Agent Man" from the numerous songs on the list. Meanwhile, Tom sang "Back in the USSR," a Beatles song (surprise surprise). For those not familiar with the song, there is an instrumental portion that is prevalent in electric guitar. It was during this guitar section that Tom did air-guitar, jumped and danced around the stage with such energy that it raised a great ovation from those in attendance and much appreciation from the judges scoring him. Those who watched were certainly given a treat, as it was a performance very characteristic of the personality and qualities that Tom possessed.
Unlike most of my peers, Tom was not selective about who he hung out, socialized, or chatted with. If he met you, you were his friend. It was as simple as that. Because of his friendly, open-minded personality, we got along well. In my recollections I can remember both of us sharing similar political views as well as a similar sense of humor (in a way, making him more unique than most people realize). It is the loss of someone with such admirable and unique qualities that I will miss the most. I am not only proud, but also honored to have gotten to know Tom Turner the way I did in the brief time that I knew him."
Tom Myers is a member of Goucher's Class of 2005.
One such act of generosity occurred when Tom and I both participated in the karaoke event in Merrick Lecture Hall last February. When it was discovered that the song that I had originally intended to sing was not on the official song list, Tom helped me labor over the pros and cons of choosing one song or the other. At a point where most people would get fed up and quit helping over my getting so finicky about what song I wanted to sing, Tom persisted and continued to help until we both picked out "Secret Agent Man" from the numerous songs on the list. Meanwhile, Tom sang "Back in the USSR," a Beatles song (surprise surprise). For those not familiar with the song, there is an instrumental portion that is prevalent in electric guitar. It was during this guitar section that Tom did air-guitar, jumped and danced around the stage with such energy that it raised a great ovation from those in attendance and much appreciation from the judges scoring him. Those who watched were certainly given a treat, as it was a performance very characteristic of the personality and qualities that Tom possessed.
Unlike most of my peers, Tom was not selective about who he hung out, socialized, or chatted with. If he met you, you were his friend. It was as simple as that. Because of his friendly, open-minded personality, we got along well. In my recollections I can remember both of us sharing similar political views as well as a similar sense of humor (in a way, making him more unique than most people realize). It is the loss of someone with such admirable and unique qualities that I will miss the most. I am not only proud, but also honored to have gotten to know Tom Turner the way I did in the brief time that I knew him."
Tom Myers is a member of Goucher's Class of 2005.
Be the first to comment on this story