My brother Tom grew up in South Elgin, Illinois. He attended Willard Elementary School, Kimball Jr. High and graduated from Larkin High School in 1965. He was married to Linda and joined the Navy in 1967. Tom and Linda had two children, Thomas Jr. and Sharon. He served aboard the USS Boxer and the USS New Jersey during Viet Nam. As a young man and after the military, he worked for several years for Hoffers Plastics Company. When asked to fill out his college information for a High School reunion he wrote "I attended the school of Hard Knocks". He didn't attend college, but he felt educated through work.
Several years after Tom and Linda divorced he married Mary Jane and together they ran a successful business in Gainesville, GA. He loved to work and he only felt adequate when he worked. Tom and MJ's children were Vicki and Suzie.
Tom never knew his father and that was a hardship on him, throughout his whole life. (The last name Bergin was his step father's name). The only time he visited me in Oregon he brought me a clock that he made himself. It is a chiming clock and each time it chimes I think of him. He could fix anything and make it run again. He loved water fowl. He had a "thing" for ducks ever since he was a young boy. He liked to feed them and could watch them for a long stretch, if he ever stopped working long enough.
My brother was a gifted special man and I remember his tender side. He was extraordinarily handsome, as handsome as a movie star. I used to good-naturedly tease him that he was much better looking than me and that it wasn't fair, because, after all..I was the girl, I was supposed to be the prettiest one. He always denied that he was the best looking of the two of us, but he clearly was. He had a wry wit and he loved to play tricks on me. Despite the merciless teasing, I will always be so grateful that he was my brother.
Tom died in a single car accident. His Mother was Bernice Bergin, she died in 2004. He is survived by 4 children and 5 grandchildren and me, his "sis", Celeste "Patti"
Several years after Tom and Linda divorced he married Mary Jane and together they ran a successful business in Gainesville, GA. He loved to work and he only felt adequate when he worked. Tom and MJ's children were Vicki and Suzie.
Tom never knew his father and that was a hardship on him, throughout his whole life. (The last name Bergin was his step father's name). The only time he visited me in Oregon he brought me a clock that he made himself. It is a chiming clock and each time it chimes I think of him. He could fix anything and make it run again. He loved water fowl. He had a "thing" for ducks ever since he was a young boy. He liked to feed them and could watch them for a long stretch, if he ever stopped working long enough.
My brother was a gifted special man and I remember his tender side. He was extraordinarily handsome, as handsome as a movie star. I used to good-naturedly tease him that he was much better looking than me and that it wasn't fair, because, after all..I was the girl, I was supposed to be the prettiest one. He always denied that he was the best looking of the two of us, but he clearly was. He had a wry wit and he loved to play tricks on me. Despite the merciless teasing, I will always be so grateful that he was my brother.
Tom died in a single car accident. His Mother was Bernice Bergin, she died in 2004. He is survived by 4 children and 5 grandchildren and me, his "sis", Celeste "Patti"
My brother Tom grew up in South Elgin, Illinois. He attended Willard Elementary School, Kimball Jr. High and graduated from Larkin High School in 1965. He was married to Linda and joined the Navy in 1967. Tom and Linda had two children, Thomas Jr. and Sharon. He served aboard the USS Boxer and the USS New Jersey during Viet Nam. As a young man and after the military, he worked for several years for Hoffers Plastics Company. When asked to fill out his college information for a High School reunion he wrote "I attended the school of Hard Knocks". He didn't attend college, but he felt educated through work.
Several years after Tom and Linda divorced he married Mary Jane and together they ran a successful business in Gainesville, GA. He loved to work and he only felt adequate when he worked. Tom and MJ's children were Vicki and Suzie.
Tom never knew his father and that was a hardship on him, throughout his whole life. (The last name Bergin was his step father's name). The only time he visited me in Oregon he brought me a clock that he made himself. It is a chiming clock and each time it chimes I think of him. He could fix anything and make it run again. He loved water fowl. He had a "thing" for ducks ever since he was a young boy. He liked to feed them and could watch them for a long stretch, if he ever stopped working long enough.
My brother was a gifted special man and I remember his tender side. He was extraordinarily handsome, as handsome as a movie star. I used to good-naturedly tease him that he was much better looking than me and that it wasn't fair, because, after all..I was the girl, I was supposed to be the prettiest one. He always denied that he was the best looking of the two of us, but he clearly was. He had a wry wit and he loved to play tricks on me. Despite the merciless teasing, I will always be so grateful that he was my brother.
Tom died in a single car accident. His Mother was Bernice Bergin, she died in 2004. He is survived by 4 children and 5 grandchildren and me, his "sis", Celeste "Patti"
Several years after Tom and Linda divorced he married Mary Jane and together they ran a successful business in Gainesville, GA. He loved to work and he only felt adequate when he worked. Tom and MJ's children were Vicki and Suzie.
Tom never knew his father and that was a hardship on him, throughout his whole life. (The last name Bergin was his step father's name). The only time he visited me in Oregon he brought me a clock that he made himself. It is a chiming clock and each time it chimes I think of him. He could fix anything and make it run again. He loved water fowl. He had a "thing" for ducks ever since he was a young boy. He liked to feed them and could watch them for a long stretch, if he ever stopped working long enough.
My brother was a gifted special man and I remember his tender side. He was extraordinarily handsome, as handsome as a movie star. I used to good-naturedly tease him that he was much better looking than me and that it wasn't fair, because, after all..I was the girl, I was supposed to be the prettiest one. He always denied that he was the best looking of the two of us, but he clearly was. He had a wry wit and he loved to play tricks on me. Despite the merciless teasing, I will always be so grateful that he was my brother.
Tom died in a single car accident. His Mother was Bernice Bergin, she died in 2004. He is survived by 4 children and 5 grandchildren and me, his "sis", Celeste "Patti"
