Thursday, December 28, 2023
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Tom was a special friend to me since first grade at Jefferson Elementary School in Springfield, Ohio. One of our first interactions was when he persuaded the kids on the playground to not tease me for the "Mr. Spock" sunglasses for dialated pupils. We had a special bond ever since.
His family always treated me as one of them. His loving mother, father, loving family always made me feel welcome at the Hartje home. Our mothers grew close through working in the school PTA. His father wrote me a stellar recomendation that that allowed me to participate in a special out-of-state scholarship program.
To our surprise, we both found each other relocated in California in 1977. He extended many invitations to come down to Capitola to visit. For three years, I would make the trip from Oakland to Santa Cruz play Monday night basketball on his team with his local friends.
We saw each other earlier this year, when he and Mary came to the Bay Area for a getaway. As usual, he was witty, funny, and genuine as I will always remember him.
Much love to Mary and the Hartje Family.
Mark Ayers
