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As our
grappling co-captain |
On the gridiron with Rudy Santoli (center) and
the late
Hal Wilensky (right) |
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At our post-30-year reunion Sunday brunch in 1990, surrounded by old
friends: |
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From left:
Cathy Hassett, Kathy Cullen, Paula Moll, Tom, Carole Hassett,
Bob Renselaer |
Front row
from left: Terry Brennan, Tom, (the late) Barry Wolff
Back row from left: Gene Gelling, Jack Beaulieu, Rudy Santoli,
Gary Schwartz, John "Cochise" Cachianes |
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Tom was a graduate of the University of Toledo.
After college, he remained in Toledo where he owned and operated three
college bars, which he later sold. He then relocated to Arizona where he
dabbled in real estate before settling in Orange County, California, in
1977 and began doing what he really loved
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woodworking. |
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Below are expressions of remembrance received from some OHS
alumni, mostly
our classmates, upon learning of Tom's
untimely passing: |
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One of the real good guys is gone
from our midst.
─ Joe Kunkel
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Terrible news about Tom Turner. I
can remember meeting Tom for the first time when he
matriculated to the Oceanside school system from St.
Christophers. I knew instantly that we had another quality
football player and great guy to be around. My most
memorable Tom Turner moment was his long run for the winning
touchdown against Massapequa in our senior year. He will
always be a great memory of my most formative years.
─
Hal Wilensky [now also
deceased]
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So soon after
losing
[my twin brother,]
Mike, I was very troubled and very saddened by
the news that we lost Tom, too. Tom was a very special person. An elite
athlete and a leader in our school, Tom always had a smile, a big hello
and a warm welcome for his classmates. His inclusiveness was very
uplifting to everyone who knew him, good friend or acquaintance. I liked
Tom a lot even though we weren't good friends. He was always very
gracious to me, very friendly. I appreciated it. I was so glad to see
him at our 1990 reunion, hoped he would come back to each reunion
thereafter and was always disappointed when he didn't. He will be
sorely missed. ... my deepest sympathies to his family.
─ Jay Katz
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Very sad to
hear about Tom, I was very fond of him and have great memories of many
fun times together. He was so adorable in high school and sweet as can
be. His smile will be missed. ─ Doreen
Silverstein
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Tom Turner was a friend to so many and
a special friend to both of us; he provided advice and
support when we needed it most, and an inspiration to us
all. We will miss his stories of OHS and of his life as an
amputee. His humorous, friendly, positive and gregarious
ways made him a treasured part of our history.
─ Jack and Nancy (Koller) Beaulieu
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I was shocked and deeply saddened to hear of Tom's
passing. I have many fond memories of Tom during our
high school years in football practice and the many
exciting football games. One humorous story occurred
during football practice when one of the many times
Coach Joe Scanella was ranting and raving about
something we did wrong and looking for someone to
punish. We all held our heads down and wouldn't look at
him; all but Tom. Well, Joe saw Tom and singled him out
to run laps. When you screwed up you had to run laps. After practice, I asked Tom why Coach picked him to run
laps. That morning, Tom had a mother-son
conversation in which his mother told him to always look
at the person that is talking to you. Well, Tom's head
was the only one that was up and staring at the Coach so
he got nailed. I saw Tom two years ago and had a great
conversation about family and life. He always had a
positive attitude and will be missed by all who knew
him. ─ Rudy
Santoli
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Tom and I were good
friends from the ninth grade and started to get together
more often over the past 10 years or so. He had friends all
over the world, so I'm just one of the many who will sorely
miss him.
My condolences to
[Tom's siblings] Michelle, Holly, Nancy, Dick, and Tom's
children. ─ Terry
Brennan
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Tom
with
Terry Brennan (at right) at an
Omega Gamma Delta
reunion in 1999,
courtesy of daughter,
Shannon Turner
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Hail
and farewell to a brother, boon companion, and true
friend. Tom enriched every life that he touched. He is
sorely missed by our entire family.
─ Bob
Morgan ('61) [sent from Venice, Italy]
So very
shocked and saddened by Tom Turner's passing. A loyal
teammate who gave everything he had whether times were
good or bad, he loved life and a good time. His
infectious optimism was a joy to behold., his life, a
true profile of courage from the OHS Class of '60.
Godspeed, Tom. ─
Gene Gelling
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Tom Turner was
an extremely likeable and friendly person. I knew Tommy
mainly through wrestling and the Leader Corps, and I was
always strongly impressed by his easy-going personality
and the respect he showed everyone. I was very saddened
when I learned of his passing, as we certainly lost one
of our best.
─ Don
Fine
[now also deceased]
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I was
saddened to get the information about the passing of
Tom Turner. I have the fondest memories of Tom
as the starting halfback on our football team and as
a good guy. Tom always seemed to have a smile and
friendly greeting for everyone, and I remember how
everyone naturally just seemed to gravitate to him.
Tom is one of the enduring memories of my high
school years. ─ Bob
Renselaer [our class president]
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We were so shocked and saddened to hear of Tom's
passing. He was a terrific guy with a vibrant
personality and a friend to all. He will surely be
missed. Our deepest sympathy and prayers are with
his family at this time.
─ Jay
('59) and Ginny (Beedenbender) Schaefer
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Wow! This was a
shock to me. Tom and I started out at the University of
Toledo in the Fall of 1960. We both wrestled for the
university team. I wrestled for 4 years, Tom, I believe, to
a 2nd place at our MAC Conference meet in his sophomore
year. Tom was a good wrestler, and everyone on the team
appreciated his leadership and sense of humor. Tom and I ...
were up for the World Cup Wrestling Tournament being held at
the university. ... That was the summer that Tom had his
tragic accident. ... once in a while I'd help him out
in his bar called The Tabard Inn (I think that is how it was
spelled). His place was a gathering spot for a lot of us
college professionals. Tom had a great number of friends and
was well liked. I remember Tom at the 30th reunion ....
That is the last time I had any contact with him. ... I
liked his family and they were great people. Tom will be
missed by his friends from Oceanside, Toledo, and everywhere
else Tom was known and loved. ─ Roy
Johnson
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I just went to the
memorial page for Tom, and it brought tears to my
eyes. What a wonderful tribute to the wonderful, fun,
friendly, outgoing person that he was. Too sad, too soon. My
condolences to the Turner family.
─
Nancy Keegan
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Tom was quite proud
of his school years, and he had to work hard at all his
achievements. ─ Michele
Turner ('69) [Tom's sister]
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Click here for additional memorial messages from Tom's family members, college friends and others.
Many of you know that Tom lost a leg in a tragic accident
after high school, but it was also well known among us that
he never let it dampen his spirit, his winning smile, his
warm sense of humor, or his ability to be a great friend to
many. As Tom's wrestling and football teammate,
Jack Beaulieu,
alluded to in his message above, when Jack lost his both of
legs in another tragic accident shortly following our
40-year reunion in 2000, Tom came to his aid and provided
invaluable advice and support to Jack and his wife,
Nancy Koller Beaulieu.
Tom left six devoted children, eight loving grandchildren and
four siblings. His family valued his warm smile and his love of life, conversation and
travel.
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Our most recent photo
Courtesy of Shannon Turner
Maza
(Tom's daughter) |
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Come back to this special memorial page now and then
when you are thinking of Tom or to
see if anything has been added. And if you would like to add anything about
Tom, or of you would like a copy of a video slideshow of Tom Turner's life
and loved ones made by his daughter, Shannon, please write me.
Classmates
and other visitors are invited to submit material for a special
memorial page like this
for any other
departed classmate. Just e-mail it to me.
Howie
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