One evening at the Allatoona Yacht Club, Tom approached us and said, "There's a slip open right across from Judy and I. Would you guys like to get it?"
And that was the start to one of the greatest chapters in our life, being dockmates with Tom and Judy. Fishing, movies on the dock, Dock 2 parties, Bloody Mary Sunday mornings, rafting up in a cove , watching Tom play the best air guitar anyone ever did, and discussing the prospect of obtaining some Star Trek dilithium crystals so we could give it "More speed, Scotty!". Amd laughing always laughter!
Yet, there was one constant--- The Phantom
The Phantom arrived every time we were on the dock, or rather, I should say he departed.
You see, inevitably someone would say, "Where's Tom?" The Phantom had made his disappearance. Tom could stealthily slip away without a sound only to eventually be located at one end of the dock or another practicing with his fly rod or fishing for striper.
Yet, whenever we needed help, Tom was always there willing to do some pretty hard jobs, foregoing getting out on the lake in order to climb down into the bilge to help change a battery or carrying things from a car down to the dock, whatever was needed.
Tom and Judy have been our best friends and though we will miss him, we will keep him with us when we remember the best of times. He will be in our hearts and minds as we will often revisit those happy days.
Our deepest condolences to Judy and Deanna and the Cassano family.
Ron and Melissa Burnard