| Author |
Message |
    
Bill Pierce
Moderator
Username: Billpierce
Post Number: 12097
Registered: 01-2002
Posted From: 24.141.101.115
| | Posted on Saturday, October 30, 2010 - 10:51 pm: | 
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I just got the sad news that my friend Tom who was directly responsible for getting me started in brewing passed away this morning. He was diagnosed with lung cancer a little less than a year ago, and it spread rapidly.
I knew people who homebrewed as early as 1971, and I kept saying someday I would get around to trying it myself. But it wasn't until 1994 that Tom's wife gave him a homebrew kit for his 44th birthday, an extract with steeped grains brown ale. He called me and asked if I wanted to help him brew. I replied sure, and we started the process on a Sunday afternoon in the early fall. The beer, of course, wouldn't have won any competitions, but it was surprisingly drinkable, and we were both quite pleased with ourselves.
Tom continued brewing five or six more extract beers but never made the transition to all-grain. I was hooked, and the rest is history. Tom was always an appreciative fan who had a discerning taste for good beer.
I will lift a glass tonight in his honor, and I am sure many more as time goes by.
(Message edited by BillPierce on October 31, 2010) |
Vance Barnes
Senior Member
Username: Vancebarnes
Post Number: 4028
Registered: 03-2003
Posted From: 24.99.147.250
| | Posted on Saturday, October 30, 2010 - 11:18 pm: |
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Lifting one right after I post this. Glad he got you started though. I'd say he left his mark. |
Bob G.
Advanced Member
Username: Brewerbob
Post Number: 632
Registered: 06-2002
Posted From: 192.77.86.2
| | Posted on Saturday, October 30, 2010 - 11:29 pm: |
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Bill, heartfelt condolences to you, I will hoist a pint as soon as I get home from work. |
Skotrat
Senior Member
Username: Skotrat
Post Number: 1179
Registered: 07-2007
Posted From: 173.9.91.69
| | Posted on Sunday, October 31, 2010 - 03:04 am: |
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God Speed Bill!
I am tired of cancer and what it does |
Paul Hayslett
Senior Member
Username: Paulhayslett
Post Number: 2605
Registered: 02-2002
Posted From: 71.234.45.166
| | Posted on Sunday, October 31, 2010 - 04:16 am: |
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I'm sorry to hear that, Bill. Losing a good friend is hard. I will raise a toast in Tom's honor right now. |
Dan Listermann
Senior Member
Username: Listermann
Post Number: 7484
Registered: 03-2004
Posted From: 75.218.70.182
| | Posted on Sunday, October 31, 2010 - 01:06 pm: |
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I am sorry to hear of your friend, Bill. Just last night I had to drive a very drunken friend home. He recently had congestive heart failure and his pancreas removed. He does not have much time left so he is spending it as well as he can, overindulging this time. |
Michael
Senior Member
Username: Hoppop
Post Number: 1075
Registered: 03-2002
Posted From: 24.74.82.242
| | Posted on Sunday, October 31, 2010 - 02:51 pm: |
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Will do, Bill. A reminder of how sweet and short life really is in the grand scheme. Will raise a toast tonight! Sorry for your loss.
(Yeah, Skot...my Dad got hit by cancer....gone in 3 months, 6 months after he had retired...it does suck). |
Graham Cox
Senior Member
Username: T2driver
Post Number: 2546
Registered: 11-2004
Posted From: 72.15.105.173
| | Posted on Sunday, October 31, 2010 - 03:16 pm: |
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I will be watching football and sharing homebrew with friends shortly, so my toast to your friend won't be long in coming, Bill. My sincere condolences. |
Robert
Intermediate Member
Username: Okierat
Post Number: 329
Registered: 05-2003
Posted From: 70.143.34.92
| | Posted on Sunday, October 31, 2010 - 04:36 pm: |
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You and his family are in my prayers Bill. |
Joakim Ruud
Senior Member
Username: Joques
Post Number: 1919
Registered: 10-2005
Posted From: 91.135.33.235
| | Posted on Sunday, October 31, 2010 - 07:52 pm: |
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Lifting a glass of barleywine to your friend as we speak, Bill. I am very sorry for your loss.
I know firsthand how ugly lung cancer can be. My heart goes out to all his loved ones. |
The Jolly Brewer
Senior Member
Username: Matfink
Post Number: 2388
Registered: 03-2003
Posted From: 77.100.116.116
| | Posted on Sunday, October 31, 2010 - 08:15 pm: |
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Just about to pour one. I'm sorry for your loss Bill. |
Tom Burk
Member
Username: Tomburk
Post Number: 217
Registered: 03-2003
Posted From: 216.234.100.16
| | Posted on Monday, November 01, 2010 - 12:24 am: |
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Sorry for your loss Bill. It's very hard to lose someone who has changed your life and I'm sure brewing has changed your life. Hopefully you will have good thoughts of him when you're brewing or just having a beer. |
dhacker
Senior Member
Username: Dhacker
Post Number: 2251
Registered: 11-2002
Posted From: 74.226.122.19
| | Posted on Monday, November 01, 2010 - 12:36 am: |
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Sorry to hear that, Bill. If my calculations are correct, he was 60 or 61?
Waaaay too young. |
Bill Pierce
Moderator
Username: Billpierce
Post Number: 12099
Registered: 01-2002
Posted From: 24.141.101.115
| | Posted on Monday, November 01, 2010 - 01:33 am: |
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Yes, he was 60 years old. That's far too young. |
Paul Edwards
Senior Member
Username: Pedwards
Post Number: 1976
Registered: 03-2003
Posted From: 76.252.38.245
| | Posted on Monday, November 01, 2010 - 11:31 am: |
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Sorry to hear about Tom, Bill. Connie & I raised our glasses last night in his honor. We'll do it again soon.
A cycling friend of mine lost his wife to a stroke over the weekend. She was also about 61.
Sad, very sad... |
Marc Rehfuss
Member
Username: Marc_rehfuss
Post Number: 242
Registered: 03-2003
Posted From: 99.165.88.59
| | Posted on Monday, November 01, 2010 - 03:48 pm: |
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That's awful Bill. Sorry for the loss. I'll raise a glass later. You know, Tom may have been indirectly responsible for helping me learn about aspects of brewing early this decade, that is, if he taught you how to brew. |
Joel Gallihue
Member
Username: Gallibrew
Post Number: 212
Registered: 02-2003
Posted From: 98.140.236.130
| | Posted on Monday, November 01, 2010 - 05:02 pm: |
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Sorry to hear about your friend Bill. |
Tim Polster
Intermediate Member
Username: Bassman
Post Number: 346
Registered: 11-2004
Posted From: 69.149.41.208
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 02, 2010 - 12:47 am: |
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Sorry to hear about your loss Bill. |
Dave Witt
Senior Member
Username: Davew
Post Number: 1479
Registered: 03-2003
Posted From: 24.7.226.155
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 02, 2010 - 02:40 am: |
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My condolences, Bill. I will have one in Tom's honor right now. |
John McElver
Junior Member
Username: Johnmc
Post Number: 58
Registered: 04-2010
Posted From: 144.29.1.19
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 02, 2010 - 12:47 pm: |
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Sorry for your loss, Bill. I'll have one tonight for your friend, Tom. |
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