Thanks to @Peteyboy's question in this thread, I did some checking on fellow Georgian, low-ender, and percussive enthusiast, @the harp unstrung, who had been regrettably absent from these pages for some time. I'm very sorry to say that I only just found his obituary this evening. He passed away on June 26, 2024, "surrounded by family and music."
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In Memoriam: the harp unstrung
- Thread starter Winslow
- Start date
RIP Tom.
Absolutely one of the most decent humans it's ever been my pleasure to chat with on here (especially in PMs where his forthright views wouldn't get us both permanently banned---I know he came close a few times...not a guy to hold back on speaking his truth, for sure!), and indeed in person when he visited Dublin and we spent a most lovely evening listening to a pretty terrible cover band, talking all sorts of nonsense.
Sadly a return trip he'd planned never happened, nor did a trip I'd hoped to make to his home where all sorts of shenanigans were promised.
I knew he'd been absent from TB a while and I guess deep down feared the worst but I'll admit I'm quite devasted to think he's actually gone.
In these troubled times, the world needs more like him.
My condolences to his wife Nancy and to his family that he loved so much.
May his soul soar free.
Absolutely one of the most decent humans it's ever been my pleasure to chat with on here (especially in PMs where his forthright views wouldn't get us both permanently banned---I know he came close a few times...not a guy to hold back on speaking his truth, for sure!), and indeed in person when he visited Dublin and we spent a most lovely evening listening to a pretty terrible cover band, talking all sorts of nonsense.
Sadly a return trip he'd planned never happened, nor did a trip I'd hoped to make to his home where all sorts of shenanigans were promised.
I knew he'd been absent from TB a while and I guess deep down feared the worst but I'll admit I'm quite devasted to think he's actually gone.
In these troubled times, the world needs more like him.
My condolences to his wife Nancy and to his family that he loved so much.
May his soul soar free.
He seemed to lead with kindness (and unmasked enthusiasm for all things "bass-ball"). I'm very sorry to learn of his passing.
- Oct 22, 2015
- 21,164
- 256,832
- Disclosures
- I am an affiliate for Ari Cap.
It hurts to lose a friend a fellow Deadhead. Fare thee well, Tom.
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Obviously, some of us have been discussing this in PMs overnight, but I'll repeat this much of myself:
Every interaction I had with harp here just radiated pure warmth from his side of the screen. I'm hard pressed to recall a person who could send such gregarious kindness through wires and pixels. He wasn't just one of a kind, he was one of the best kind, and wanted nothing but good for everyone.
As great as it would surely have been to be literal "neighbors" with him, the distance between Fort Winslow and Camp Harp is considerable, and convoluted to cross. We talked about an in-person get-together, at a festival here, music store there, etc., but the time, distance, and attempts at scheduling our way across these mountains thwarted our efforts on multiple occasions. It always seemed to end up with, "Ah, that's okay, we'll see about it next time we get some free time and good weather."
I'd check the inter-wires occasionally, but hadn't done so in quite some time, until Petey piped up about him and reminded me. I knew Harp had survived cancer, but had no idea time had caught (back) up with him that hard and/or fast.
This one hits hard. The world needs far more people like harp.
He surely would have enjoyed the new forum software, especially since his signature sign-off could now be rendered in happy, cartoony color. So I'll say it on his behalf:
Every interaction I had with harp here just radiated pure warmth from his side of the screen. I'm hard pressed to recall a person who could send such gregarious kindness through wires and pixels. He wasn't just one of a kind, he was one of the best kind, and wanted nothing but good for everyone.
As great as it would surely have been to be literal "neighbors" with him, the distance between Fort Winslow and Camp Harp is considerable, and convoluted to cross. We talked about an in-person get-together, at a festival here, music store there, etc., but the time, distance, and attempts at scheduling our way across these mountains thwarted our efforts on multiple occasions. It always seemed to end up with, "Ah, that's okay, we'll see about it next time we get some free time and good weather."
I'd check the inter-wires occasionally, but hadn't done so in quite some time, until Petey piped up about him and reminded me. I knew Harp had survived cancer, but had no idea time had caught (back) up with him that hard and/or fast.
This one hits hard. The world needs far more people like harp.
He surely would have enjoyed the new forum software, especially since his signature sign-off could now be rendered in happy, cartoony color. So I'll say it on his behalf:
- Oct 22, 2015
- 21,164
- 256,832
- Disclosures
- I am an affiliate for Ari Cap.
Obviously, some of us have been discussing this in PMs overnight, but I'll repeat this much of myself:
Every interaction I had with harp here just radiated pure warmth from his side of the screen. I'm hard pressed to recall a person who could send such gregarious kindness through wires and pixels. He wasn't just one of a kind, he was one of the best kind, and wanted nothing but good for everyone.
As great as it would surely have been to be literal "neighbors" with him, the distance between Fort Winslow and Camp Harp is considerable, and convoluted to cross. We talked about an in-person get-together, at a festival here, music store there, etc., but the time, distance, and attempts at scheduling our way across these mountains thwarted our efforts on multiple occasions. It always seemed to end up with, "Ah, that's okay, we'll see about it next time we get some free time and good weather."
I'd check the inter-wires occasionally, but hadn't done so in quite some time, until Petey piped up about him and reminded me. I knew Harp had survived cancer, but had no idea time had caught (back) up with him that hard and/or fast.
This one hits hard. The world needs far more people like harp.
He surely would have enjoyed the new forum software, especially since his signature sign-off could now be rendered in happy, cartoony color. So I'll say it on his behalf:
Tom struck me as a kind soul from our first encounter.
A top notch TBer who was full of life and humor. Loved his posts and my conversations with him. A sad loss for us all. RIP Harp, buddy.
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I always felt he was a thoughtful soul. May he enjoy his turns in The Great Gig in the Sky.
His concern for me when I went through a coma and near death health experience touched me when he reached out to wish me well. That was another example of the good person he was and his care for others. We shared some great messages and interests. I'm sorry to hear he is gone.
I'm glad I asked the initial question, but I feel awful about the answer, if that makes sense. I had a feeling it was gonna go this way, and I'm so sorry to learn that it has. He was a good dude and a kind presence here on TB. Here's to harps getting restrung in the good place he's in now.
It totally does, and I appreciate your doing so.
Many have already said it, but Tom was a stellar guy. I never got to meet him, it was tough to arrange since I was in Chicago at the time and Covid was very much an issue. But we exchanged numerous messages talking about music and other elements of life. He was very generous, too. He once asked for my address, refusing to tell me why, and then he sent me a great book on Negro league baseball and a Mickey Hart book tying drumming to spirituality. I'm not a Dead fan, but I respected Tom's wide range of interests. I later sent him something, and while he enjoyed it he also was quick to say that I shouldn't view his gifts as something that needed to be reciprocated.
Rest in peace, my friend.
Rest in peace, my friend.
I'm so sorry to hear of his passing. He was so kind to me when I came here in 2020. A great guy, and full of different knowledge. The world needs more people like him.
Rest in Peace, Harp.
As the late Carroll Shelby once said:
Yesterday's history.
Tomorrow's a mystery.
That's why today is a present.
As the late Carroll Shelby once said:
Yesterday's history.
Tomorrow's a mystery.
That's why today is a present.
So sorry to hear the news of harps passing. I recall a few years ago we shared a private pm after I discovered he was visiting Australia and was travelling between my city of Adelaide here in South Australia and heading across The Nullabor Plain to Perth in West Aust in I believe an RV...the road across The Nullabor is approx 700 miles long and flat and treeless..the word Nullabor roughly translated from the Aussie Aborigines means No Tree and is a vast desert region. He was fascinated by it. Condolences to the family. I'll have a Guinness tonight in memory of Tom. RIP.
