Comments on: Guzinski, Thomas http://www.nicholsfuneralhome.com/obituaries/guzinski-thomas.html 187 Middlesex Avenue, Wilmington, MA 01887 ~ Phone: 978.658.4744 ~ Fax: 978.658.2336 Wed, 01 Sep 2010 22:46:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Bill Gately http://www.nicholsfuneralhome.com/obituaries/guzinski-thomas.html/comment-page-1#comment-1686 Bill Gately Fri, 07 May 2010 19:52:11 +0000 http://www.nicholsfuneralhome.com/?p=1620#comment-1686 Lynne, I just became aware of your loss and after reading some of the posting can understand a bit of the magnitude the loss is for you and your family. My heart felt condolences. I wish you the best of memories to help console. Bill Lynne,

I just became aware of your loss and after reading some of the posting can understand a bit of the magnitude the loss is for you and your family. My heart felt condolences. I wish you the best of memories to help console.

Bill

]]> By: Diane Potvin http://www.nicholsfuneralhome.com/obituaries/guzinski-thomas.html/comment-page-1#comment-1422 Diane Potvin Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:27:59 +0000 http://www.nicholsfuneralhome.com/?p=1620#comment-1422 Tom's good friend, Eric Porter, composed this poem and shared it with all of us at Tom's church service. Eric kindly sent it along at my request. "Remember When" A Tribute to Tom Guzinski When I think of Tom it will have to be Remember when you see. Because memories are all we have When loved ones suddenly leave. When the shock subsides and the busyness slows And time goes slowly by Let’s all think back and remember when Our Tom was quite a guy. A son, a brother, a husband, a father, A friend to all he knew. An engaging smile, a hearty laugh, a personality that was matched by few. Tom took on life with a relentless pursuit of the enjoyment that might be found. No matter what the occasion that called you together It was better when Tom was around. There were games to be coached, fish to be caught and golf balls to be hit and steered. And if you’d fallen short or made a mistake Tom was there with encouragement and cheer. When it came to his work it was plain to see That Tom would make sure it was right. His perfection unmatched, his integrity unchallenged, He’d finish the job day or night. If you wanted to find Tom the first place to check was at home with his wife and his kids. He built it with love and made sure it was a place to be comfortable in all that they did. He’s left us now our good friend Tom that guy with the special smile. Who made everyone better just by being around And hanging out for awhile. So let’s remember when if we’re feeling low because we miss him so much we could cry. And think of all the joy that he brought us our Tom Who was really quite a guy. Eric Porter 3/1/2010 Tom’s good friend, Eric Porter, composed this poem and shared it with all of us at Tom’s church service. Eric kindly sent it along at my request.

“Remember When” A Tribute to Tom Guzinski

When I think of Tom it will have to be
Remember when you see.
Because memories are all we have
When loved ones suddenly leave.

When the shock subsides and the busyness slows
And time goes slowly by
Let’s all think back and remember when
Our Tom was quite a guy.

A son, a brother, a husband, a father,
A friend to all he knew.
An engaging smile, a hearty laugh, a personality
that was matched by few.

Tom took on life with a relentless pursuit
of the enjoyment that might be found.
No matter what the occasion that called you together
It was better when Tom was around.

There were games to be coached, fish to be caught
and golf balls to be hit and steered.
And if you’d fallen short or made a mistake
Tom was there with encouragement and cheer.

When it came to his work it was plain to see
That Tom would make sure it was right.
His perfection unmatched, his integrity unchallenged,
He’d finish the job day or night.

If you wanted to find Tom the first place to check
was at home with his wife and his kids.
He built it with love and made sure it was a place
to be comfortable in all that they did.

He’s left us now our good friend Tom
that guy with the special smile.
Who made everyone better just by being around
And hanging out for awhile.

So let’s remember when if we’re feeling low
because we miss him so much we could cry.
And think of all the joy that he brought us our Tom
Who was really quite a guy.

Eric Porter 3/1/2010

]]> By: Steven Guzinski http://www.nicholsfuneralhome.com/obituaries/guzinski-thomas.html/comment-page-1#comment-1420 Steven Guzinski Wed, 10 Mar 2010 04:19:45 +0000 http://www.nicholsfuneralhome.com/?p=1620#comment-1420 Tom is my big brother, and my oldest friend. The joys I had growing up with him are many. Playing baseball (he taught me how to hit and catch), GOING SWIMMING, CAMPING OR fishing. Tommy showed me how to tie a hook, and no matter how MANY times I tangled my line or lost my bait he was always there to help. Tom would organize games of hide and seek and similar games with the kids in our neighborhood. Everything he was involved with he approached with great enthusiasm and he made it fun. He loved building snow forts AND tree houses. Tom took joy from an early age in building things AND swinging a hammer. My father loved to tell the story of Tom as a FIVE year old child, pounding a 5 pound box of nails into a tree in our back yard. He always liked to stay busy. As we got older we would also enjoy trips to the gun club and hunting. Tom had a great sense of humor. He loved telling funny stories AND watching comedies. One of our favorites was the three stooges. WHEN A NEW 3 STOOGES EPISODE STARTED, HE AND I would think the same thing, "I hope this one has Curly in it". Although I moved out to California when I graduated from college (over 23 years ago), I always stayed in touch with Tom. He was always there for me on the other end of the phone, always ready to listen and be my Big Brother. I can't think of anyone better than Tom at staying in touch. He always had his cell phone on him. Every time the Red Sox or Patriots were in the playoffs, we would call each other during the game, which was great, except during the seventh game of the Red sox 2004 Championship series against the Yankees, WHEN Tom called and started to leave a message that Johnny Damon hit a grand slam. I remember running to the phone, and pleading with him to stop, because I was watching the game on TiVo and I was a half hour behind. He told me anyway. When I would visit from California, Tom would always drop whatever he was doing to make time to visit with me. We would also coordinate trips to Florida to see mom and dad, and trips to Maine to go fishing. Shortly AFTER Tom was given his diagnosis, he bravely told me that he lived a full and happy life and how very proud he was of JOEL AND JILLY. I am proud to have him as my brother and will miss him dearly. Tom is my big brother, and my oldest friend. The joys I had growing up with him are many. Playing baseball (he taught me how to hit and catch), GOING SWIMMING, CAMPING OR fishing. Tommy showed me how to tie a hook, and no matter how MANY times I tangled my line or lost my bait he was always there to help. Tom would organize games of hide and seek and similar games with the kids in our neighborhood. Everything he was involved with he approached with great enthusiasm and he made it fun. He loved building snow forts AND tree houses. Tom took joy from an early age in building things AND swinging a hammer. My father loved to tell the story of Tom as a FIVE year old child, pounding a 5 pound box of nails into a tree in our back yard. He always liked to stay busy.

As we got older we would also enjoy trips to the gun club and hunting. Tom had a great sense of humor. He loved telling funny stories AND watching comedies. One of our favorites was the three stooges. WHEN A NEW 3 STOOGES EPISODE STARTED, HE AND I would think the same thing, “I hope this one has Curly in it”. Although I moved out to California when I graduated from college (over 23 years ago), I always stayed in touch with Tom. He was always there for me on the other end of the phone, always ready to listen and be my Big Brother. I can’t think of anyone better than Tom at staying in touch. He always had his cell phone on him. Every time the Red Sox or Patriots were in the playoffs, we would call each other during the game, which was great, except during the seventh game of the Red sox 2004 Championship series against the Yankees, WHEN Tom called and started to leave a message that Johnny Damon hit a grand slam. I remember running to the phone, and pleading with him to stop, because I was watching the game on TiVo and I was a half hour behind. He told me anyway. When I would visit from California, Tom would always drop whatever he was doing to make time to visit with me. We would also coordinate trips to Florida to see mom and dad, and trips to Maine to go fishing.

Shortly AFTER Tom was given his diagnosis, he bravely told me that he lived a full and happy life and how very proud he was of JOEL AND JILLY. I am proud to have him as my brother and will miss him dearly.

]]> By: Su Ikeno http://www.nicholsfuneralhome.com/obituaries/guzinski-thomas.html/comment-page-1#comment-1419 Su Ikeno Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:46:34 +0000 http://www.nicholsfuneralhome.com/?p=1620#comment-1419 I remember Tommy best as a young boy. He used to sit on my foot, clamp himself around my leg and proceed to chew, making the term "ankle biter" a reality. He once thought it would be a good idea to use a safety pin to fasten a towel around his neck and propel himself from a tree in the back yard, to see if he could fly like Superman. It was a relatively small tree. The safety pin was a bad idea. I also remember a time when the upstairs bathroom was out of toilet paper. Tommy KNEW HOW to improvise. He once wrote in red sharpie on the side of the house, "Suzie Guzinski loves David Vaughn"' When my son Michael was 2 years old, he found what seemed to be that SAME red sharpie and drew a bright red line 2 feet from the floor.....across the couch, across the drapes, across the TV cabinet, across the grey brick fireplace, the unfinished pine desk, the french doors and back to the couch. My brother also used to like to write his name on everything...i remember a beige linen lamp shade in the den with T O M M Y printed across the front of it. I started to get scared when I lifted a placemat from the kitchen table and found M I K E carved into the pine. I felt a very real sense of deja vu. I had been given an extraordinary gift AND realized that I was in alot of trouble. My own son had, "The Tommy Gene". On one sunny winters' day, the rest of the family was in our big green station wagon, awaiting another one of our wild adventures. I was the last to leave the house. I had clogs on my feet for shoes. I put my 2 feet out the door and fell on some ice, leaving only my red and white stripped socks hanging out. Tommy rolled down his window and yelled, "She's melting, m-e-l-t-i-n-g..." like the wicked witches from the Wizard of Oz. Riye got to watch her Uncle Tom in action a few years ago at Grampy's Celebration of Life. When a party crasher, who Jillian so aptly and LOUDLY nicknamed "Grizzly Adams", made his presence known, instead of confronting him, her Uncle Tom seemed to make the young man his best friend. Choose your battles wisely Riye...choose your battles wisely. In the last couple of months, Tom and I have had several conversations about illness and the powers that be, in heaven. He knew that there were loved ones waiting to show him "the way" and that many new adventures were awaiting him. I am sure he is creating SOME excitement up there. (And he may have had something to do with those bizarre closing ceremonies last night.) I am comforted in the fact that the earth now has another angel...a warrior for God...looking out for our welfare. I remember Tommy best as a young boy.

He used to sit on my foot, clamp himself around my leg and proceed to chew, making the term “ankle biter” a reality.

He once thought it would be a good idea to use a safety pin to fasten a towel around his neck and propel himself from a tree in the back yard, to see if he could fly like Superman. It was a relatively small tree. The safety pin was a bad idea.

I also remember a time when the upstairs bathroom was out of toilet paper. Tommy KNEW HOW to improvise.

He once wrote in red sharpie on the side of the house, “Suzie Guzinski loves David Vaughn”‘ When my son Michael was 2 years old, he found what seemed to be that SAME red sharpie and drew a bright red line 2 feet from the floor…..across the couch, across the drapes, across the TV cabinet, across the grey brick fireplace, the unfinished pine desk, the french doors and back to the couch. My brother also used to like to write his name on everything…i remember a beige linen lamp shade in the den with T O M M Y printed across the front of it. I started to get scared when I lifted a placemat from the kitchen table and found M I K E carved into the pine. I felt a very real sense of deja vu. I had been given an extraordinary gift AND realized that I was in alot of trouble. My own son had, “The Tommy Gene”.

On one sunny winters’ day, the rest of the family was in our big green station wagon, awaiting another one of our wild adventures. I was the last to leave the house. I had clogs on my feet for shoes. I put my 2 feet out the door and fell on some ice, leaving only my red and white stripped socks hanging out. Tommy rolled down his window and yelled, “She’s melting, m-e-l-t-i-n-g…” like the wicked witches from the Wizard of Oz.

Riye got to watch her Uncle Tom in action a few years ago at Grampy’s Celebration of Life. When a party crasher, who Jillian so aptly and LOUDLY nicknamed “Grizzly Adams”, made his presence known, instead of confronting him, her Uncle Tom seemed to make the young man his best friend. Choose your battles wisely Riye…choose your battles wisely.

In the last couple of months, Tom and I have had several conversations about illness and the powers that be, in heaven. He knew that there were loved ones waiting to show him “the way” and that many new adventures were awaiting him. I am sure he is creating SOME excitement up there. (And he may have had something to do with those bizarre closing ceremonies last night.)

I am comforted in the fact that the earth now has another angel…a warrior for God…looking out for our welfare.

]]> By: Gary Potvin http://www.nicholsfuneralhome.com/obituaries/guzinski-thomas.html/comment-page-1#comment-1417 Gary Potvin Sun, 07 Mar 2010 15:34:14 +0000 http://www.nicholsfuneralhome.com/?p=1620#comment-1417 Tom Guzinski may have been my brother-in-law, but “Tommy” was my best friend. He was a man with dedication and loyalty to family like no one else I have ever met. Tom’s family was all inclusive - he had his immediate family, his work family, and his soccer, fishing, and hunting families. He found time to love them all. Tom was a talented carpenter and with his attention to detail, everything always came out right. “Attention to Detail” – we could all have a little fun now and then with that particular trait of his. WHEN DIANE AND I WERE IN SEARCH FOR A FIREPLACE MANTEL WITH NO SUCCESS IN TWO YEARS, TOM SAID LET ME DO ONE, IT WILL BE FUN. I FOUND A HAND HEWN BEAM FROM AN ANTIQUE SHOP ON THE COAST OF MAINE AND HE BEGAN TO WORK ON IT. HE HAD 8 HOURS LABOR ON IT AND was DOING WELL. MY NEIGHBOR PULLS UP AND SAYS TOM WHAT ARE YOU DOING. HE SAID, IM TRYING TO TURN THIS EXPLETIVE PIECE OF WOOD INTO A MANTEL. MY NEIGHBOR SAID THAT’S TOO BAD. I HAVE A DOUGLAS FIR BEAM THAT CAME OUT OF A BUILDING THAT WAS BUILT IN THE 1600’S AT MY HOUSE. TOM SAY’S CAN I SEE IT, SO MY NEIGHBOR WENT AND GOT IT. THIS BEAM LOOKED LIKE CRAP TO ME; IT WAS GRAY AND OLD AND DENTED. TOM TOOK ONE LOOK AT IT, AND THEN TOOK THE BEAM THAT HE SPENT 8 HOURS ON AND THREW IT AWAY. HE TURNED TO ME AND SAID, NOW THIS IS WHAT I CALL A PIECE OF WOOD. NOW I DON’T NEED TO TELL ANYONE HERE WHAT THAT MANTEL LOOKS LIKE, BECAUSE BEING HERE YOU KNOW TOM, AND YOU KNOW PERFECTION WAS THE END RESULT OF ALL HIS PROJECTS. TOM DEMONSTRATED love and daily dedication to HIS WIFE LYNNE IN A WAY THAT I ADMIRED. His children, Joel and Jillian, were the center of his world. WITH them HE HAD PATIENCE WITH ALL THE BIG STUFF AND TRUTH BE TOLD A SHORT FUSE WITH THE SMALL STUFF. TOM Loved and admired his Mother for her caring spirit. Mom can put others first, sometimes to a fault. While Tom loved his Dad, he was quite protective of “his” mom. TOM WAS LARGER THAN LIFE AND LOVED BEING STEVE AND MIKE’S BIG BROTHER. HE WAS VERY PROTECTIVE OF HIS OLDER SISTERS. NOW HE COULD SAY THINGS ABOUT THEM BUT NO ONE OUTSIDE THE inner CIRCLE BETTER SAY ANYTHING. HE WAS THE FUN UNCLE THAT MADE ALL THE NIECES AND NEPHEWS LAUGH AND DO FOOLISH STUFF. NOW THAT LEADS US TO TOMMY; MY BEST FRIEND. When Diane introduced me to him, we quickly became kindred spirits. WHEN I WAS WITH TOMMY WE BOTH BECAME TEN YEARS OLD. WE WOULD PADDLE AROUND THE COVE ON SEBAGO AND PRETEND WE WERE EXPLORERS IN SOME REMOTE LOCATION I N SEARCH OF THE ELUSIVE LARGE MOUTH BASS. THEY sometimes WOULD ATTACK US SO WE HAD TO PADDLE OUT OF THE AREA AND SNEAK UP ON THEM AGAIN to CATCH THEM, BECAUSE THE BASS WERE NO MATCH FOR THE TWO GREATEST FISHERMEN IN THE WORLD. He loved to make up strange games while we fished and he liked to have themes for our trips, like “Arnold Schwarzenegger” weekend when he would talk like “Ahnald” all weekend. Then there were the “Sammy Davis”, “Frank Sinatra”, “Jacques Cousteau”, and “Marvin the Martian” weekends, and so many more. I KNOW I WILL STILL CATCH FISH BUT IT SURE WON’T EVER BE AS MUCH FUN. I KNOW COME ICE OUT MY BEST FRIEND WILL NOT BE DOWN AT THE DOCK. He will be fishing with our dads and friends that passed on before him. I find comfort in knowing when it comes time to retire my fishing pole, my best friend Tommy will be there to greet me. Tom Guzinski may have been my brother-in-law, but “Tommy” was my best friend. He was a man with dedication and loyalty to family like no one else I have ever met. Tom’s family was all inclusive – he had his immediate family, his work family, and his soccer, fishing, and hunting families. He found time to love them all.
Tom was a talented carpenter and with his attention to detail, everything always came out right. “Attention to Detail” – we could all have a little fun now and then with that particular trait of his. WHEN DIANE AND I WERE IN SEARCH FOR A FIREPLACE MANTEL WITH NO SUCCESS IN TWO YEARS, TOM SAID LET ME DO ONE, IT WILL BE FUN. I FOUND A HAND HEWN BEAM FROM AN ANTIQUE SHOP ON THE COAST OF MAINE AND HE BEGAN TO WORK ON IT. HE HAD 8 HOURS LABOR ON IT AND was DOING WELL. MY NEIGHBOR PULLS UP AND SAYS TOM WHAT ARE YOU DOING. HE SAID, IM TRYING TO TURN THIS EXPLETIVE PIECE OF WOOD INTO A MANTEL. MY NEIGHBOR SAID THAT’S TOO BAD. I HAVE A DOUGLAS FIR BEAM THAT CAME OUT OF A BUILDING THAT WAS BUILT IN THE 1600’S AT MY HOUSE. TOM SAY’S CAN I SEE IT, SO MY NEIGHBOR WENT AND GOT IT. THIS BEAM LOOKED LIKE CRAP TO ME; IT WAS GRAY AND OLD AND DENTED. TOM TOOK ONE LOOK AT IT, AND THEN TOOK THE BEAM THAT HE SPENT 8 HOURS ON AND THREW IT AWAY. HE TURNED TO ME AND SAID, NOW THIS IS WHAT I CALL A PIECE OF WOOD.
NOW I DON’T NEED TO TELL ANYONE HERE WHAT THAT MANTEL LOOKS LIKE, BECAUSE BEING HERE YOU KNOW TOM, AND YOU KNOW PERFECTION WAS THE END RESULT OF ALL HIS PROJECTS.
TOM DEMONSTRATED love and daily dedication to HIS WIFE LYNNE IN A WAY THAT I ADMIRED. His children, Joel and Jillian, were the center of his world. WITH them HE HAD PATIENCE WITH ALL THE BIG STUFF AND TRUTH BE TOLD A SHORT FUSE WITH THE SMALL STUFF.
TOM Loved and admired his Mother for her caring spirit. Mom can put others first, sometimes to a fault. While Tom loved his Dad, he was quite protective of “his” mom. TOM WAS LARGER THAN LIFE AND LOVED BEING STEVE AND MIKE’S BIG BROTHER. HE WAS VERY PROTECTIVE OF HIS OLDER SISTERS. NOW HE COULD SAY THINGS ABOUT THEM BUT NO ONE OUTSIDE THE inner CIRCLE BETTER SAY ANYTHING. HE WAS THE FUN UNCLE THAT MADE ALL THE NIECES AND NEPHEWS LAUGH AND DO FOOLISH STUFF.
NOW THAT LEADS US TO TOMMY; MY BEST FRIEND. When Diane introduced me to him, we quickly became kindred spirits. WHEN I WAS WITH TOMMY WE BOTH BECAME TEN YEARS OLD. WE WOULD PADDLE AROUND THE COVE ON SEBAGO AND PRETEND WE WERE EXPLORERS IN SOME REMOTE LOCATION I N SEARCH OF THE ELUSIVE LARGE MOUTH BASS. THEY sometimes WOULD ATTACK US SO WE HAD TO PADDLE OUT OF THE AREA AND SNEAK UP ON THEM AGAIN to CATCH THEM, BECAUSE THE BASS WERE NO MATCH FOR THE TWO GREATEST FISHERMEN IN THE WORLD. He loved to make up strange games while we fished and he liked to have themes for our trips, like “Arnold Schwarzenegger” weekend when he would talk like “Ahnald” all weekend. Then there were the “Sammy Davis”, “Frank Sinatra”, “Jacques Cousteau”, and “Marvin the Martian” weekends, and so many more. I KNOW I WILL STILL CATCH FISH BUT IT SURE WON’T EVER BE AS MUCH FUN. I KNOW COME ICE OUT MY BEST FRIEND WILL NOT BE DOWN AT THE DOCK. He will be fishing with our dads and friends that passed on before him. I find comfort in knowing when it comes time to retire my fishing pole, my best friend Tommy will be there to greet me.

]]> By: Diane Potvin http://www.nicholsfuneralhome.com/obituaries/guzinski-thomas.html/comment-page-1#comment-1416 Diane Potvin Sun, 07 Mar 2010 14:52:01 +0000 http://www.nicholsfuneralhome.com/?p=1620#comment-1416 This entry is the best way I know how to honor Tom's memory. Each of Tom's 2 brothers and 2 sisters were honored to speak at his funeral service. My husband, Gary, and Eric Porter also touched our hearts with their words. I'm still in shock, but my heart goes out to Joel, Jilly and Lynne. I’m Gary’s wife, Diane, as well as Tom’s “Sister # 2 My little brother Tommy brought a lot of excitement into my life. As a child, he was King of the neighborhood and, ultimately, a life long friend and mentor. He liked to swim in the puddle on the side of the road when it rained. He was fearless and sometimes, that was a little scary. He had more trips than any of us to the Emergency Room for stitches. I could usually outrun him, but occasionally he hit THE bull’s eye; like the tomato to my forehead from ½ a football field away. Tom and I developed a special friendship during our time together at UNH. That’s when I enjoyed his humor, love and companionship on a daily basis. We shared friends with each other, with Tommy acting like a protective big brother. Every guy in his “Animal House” dorm knew that they had to treat “Tom’s sister” with a special level of respect. I had the privilege of sharing in some of Tommy’s greatest adventures, including our success in starting “snow ball wars” in the Quad, during his freshman year. Tom loved to laugh. Our daughter, Jackie looked forward to cuddling with her Uncle Tom and watching ”Funniest Home Videos. “ with him. I had the privilege of spending more time with Tom, because of his friendship with my husband, Gary. In addition to their fishing and hunting outings, we enjoyed many days on our boat, where our families could relax and enjoy each other My in-laws adopted Tom as their own. In fact, when I brought our Mom up to the Potvin Farm a couple of years ago, Gary’s Dad, Pete, announced that “Tom’s Mom” had arrived. (I refrained from reminding him that she was my mother, too.) Tom made a special effort to be supportive of Gary’s Mom when Pete passed away last Easter. Even before Tom’s illness, I couldn’t visit the Farm without them asking if I had talked to Tom lately. Our Mom and Dad carefully and patiently raised Tom to become an outstanding man. My Mom volunteered as a Catechism teacher and ensured that the kids understood that God’s love is a gift to each of them and not something they have to earn by following a set of rules. She made sure that they understood that all they had to do was open their hearts to Him. Tom actively lived the commandment of, “Honor thy Mother and Father”. He was fiercely protective of our Mother and didn’t hesitate to share any concerns he had about her wellbeing. I was sometimes a recipient of Tom’s concerns. He was passionately proud of Joel and Jilly. He loved them dearly, while actively preparing them to leave the nest and live their own lives. It was clear that he worked to instill in them the same sense of family as he held. I believe that Tom had an inner sense of God’s love for him, just as he always knew that our Mom and Dad loved him unconditionally. I didn’t expect to lose him so quickly, and pray that we can all lean on God’s comfort and courage in knowing that Tom is in God’s arms, with Grampy, Arthur and Pete. This entry is the best way I know how to honor Tom’s memory. Each of Tom’s 2 brothers and 2 sisters were honored to speak at his funeral service. My husband, Gary, and Eric Porter also touched our hearts with their words. I’m still in shock, but my heart goes out to Joel, Jilly and Lynne.

I’m Gary’s wife, Diane, as well as Tom’s “Sister # 2

My little brother Tommy brought a lot of excitement into my life. As a child, he was King of the neighborhood and, ultimately, a life long friend and mentor. He liked to swim in the puddle on the side of the road when it rained. He was fearless and sometimes, that was a little scary. He had more trips than any of us to the Emergency Room for stitches. I could usually outrun him, but occasionally he hit THE bull’s eye; like the tomato to my forehead from ½ a football field away.
Tom and I developed a special friendship during our time together at UNH. That’s when I enjoyed his humor, love and companionship on a daily basis. We shared friends with each other, with Tommy acting like a protective big brother. Every guy in his “Animal House” dorm knew that they had to treat “Tom’s sister” with a special level of respect. I had the privilege of sharing in some of Tommy’s greatest adventures, including our success in starting “snow ball wars” in the Quad, during his freshman year.
Tom loved to laugh. Our daughter, Jackie looked forward to cuddling with her Uncle Tom and watching ”Funniest Home Videos. “ with him. I had the privilege of spending more time with Tom, because of his friendship with my husband, Gary. In addition to their fishing and hunting outings, we enjoyed many days on our boat, where our families could relax and enjoy each other
My in-laws adopted Tom as their own. In fact, when I brought our Mom up to the Potvin Farm a couple of years ago, Gary’s Dad, Pete, announced that “Tom’s Mom” had arrived. (I refrained from reminding him that she was my mother, too.) Tom made a special effort to be supportive of Gary’s Mom when Pete passed away last Easter. Even before Tom’s illness, I couldn’t visit the Farm without them asking if I had talked to Tom lately.
Our Mom and Dad carefully and patiently raised Tom to become an outstanding man. My Mom volunteered as a Catechism teacher and ensured that the kids understood that God’s love is a gift to each of them and not something they have to earn by following a set of rules. She made sure that they understood that all they had to do was open their hearts to Him. Tom actively lived the commandment of, “Honor thy Mother and Father”. He was fiercely protective of our Mother and didn’t hesitate to share any concerns he had about her wellbeing. I was sometimes a recipient of Tom’s concerns.
He was passionately proud of Joel and Jilly. He loved them dearly, while actively preparing them to leave the nest and live their own lives. It was clear that he worked to instill in them the same sense of family as he held. I believe that Tom had an inner sense of God’s love for him, just as he always knew that our Mom and Dad loved him unconditionally. I didn’t expect to lose him so quickly, and pray that we can all lean on God’s comfort and courage in knowing that Tom is in God’s arms, with Grampy, Arthur and Pete.

]]> By: Elaine Puorro http://www.nicholsfuneralhome.com/obituaries/guzinski-thomas.html/comment-page-1#comment-1399 Elaine Puorro Wed, 03 Mar 2010 12:45:13 +0000 http://www.nicholsfuneralhome.com/?p=1620#comment-1399 I am Tom's cousin......everyone who knows him, knows his heart is FULL of love and sweet kindness. Aunt Jeanine, Su, Diane, Stephen and Michael......you are in our hearts every minute of every day. Tom was, and in my mind still is, a bright light shining on the Earth, warming all of our hearts. Joel and Jillian.....I am so sorry for your loss. I hope you have a ton of memories to guide you through life. Rest in Peace, Dear Tom. I am Tom’s cousin……everyone who knows him, knows his heart is FULL of love and sweet kindness. Aunt Jeanine, Su, Diane, Stephen and Michael……you are in our hearts every minute of every day. Tom was, and in my mind still is, a bright light shining on the Earth, warming all of our hearts. Joel and Jillian…..I am so sorry for your loss. I hope you have a ton of memories to guide you through life.
Rest in Peace, Dear Tom.

]]> By: Evan Karatzas http://www.nicholsfuneralhome.com/obituaries/guzinski-thomas.html/comment-page-1#comment-1396 Evan Karatzas Sun, 28 Feb 2010 18:24:44 +0000 http://www.nicholsfuneralhome.com/?p=1620#comment-1396 What's been said here by Tim, Scott and others is so true. Tom really was the big brother to all of us. He was such a great role model and really made our collection of homes feel like a neighborhood. I was youngest on the block and Tom was the oldest and he always made me feel welcomed with the rest of the pack and gave me the confidence to be myself. He also introduced the word "dude" to my vocabulary – very important. :o) Tom had a heart of gold and lit up the room like few others I know. He'll really be missed. Our thoughts go out to his family and to all who were lucky enough to be his friend. Rest in peace dude. What’s been said here by Tim, Scott and others is so true. Tom really was the big brother to all of us. He was such a great role model and really made our collection of homes feel like a neighborhood. I was youngest on the block and Tom was the oldest and he always made me feel welcomed with the rest of the pack and gave me the confidence to be myself. He also introduced the word “dude” to my vocabulary – very important. :o )

Tom had a heart of gold and lit up the room like few others I know. He’ll really be missed. Our thoughts go out to his family and to all who were lucky enough to be his friend.

Rest in peace dude.

]]> By: Susan and Karla Ellis http://www.nicholsfuneralhome.com/obituaries/guzinski-thomas.html/comment-page-1#comment-1395 Susan and Karla Ellis Sun, 28 Feb 2010 15:59:33 +0000 http://www.nicholsfuneralhome.com/?p=1620#comment-1395 Dear Lynne, Joel and Jill, Words can not describe the feelings we have for Tom. He was a wonderful inspiration to Karla that she will keep in her heart forever. The wonderful times we had together during soccer will never be forgotten. We are deeply sorry for your loss. Love, Susan and Karla Dear Lynne, Joel and Jill,

Words can not describe the feelings we have for Tom. He was a wonderful inspiration to Karla that she will keep in her heart forever. The wonderful times we had together during soccer will never be forgotten. We are deeply sorry for your loss.

Love, Susan and Karla

]]> By: Penny Gray http://www.nicholsfuneralhome.com/obituaries/guzinski-thomas.html/comment-page-1#comment-1394 Penny Gray Sun, 28 Feb 2010 02:29:42 +0000 http://www.nicholsfuneralhome.com/?p=1620#comment-1394 I watched Tom grow up to be one of the finest young men I know. It was a pleasure to have the Guzinski children as our neighbors . Tom was a great inspiration to my sons, Shean and Scott. I will miss him but he will never leave my heart. Jeannine and family, my thoughts and prayers are with you and to Tom's wife and children. God Bless. I watched Tom grow up to be one of the finest young men I know. It was a pleasure to have the Guzinski children as our neighbors . Tom was a great inspiration to my sons, Shean and Scott. I will miss him but he will never leave my heart. Jeannine and family, my thoughts and prayers are with you and to Tom’s wife and children. God Bless.

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