Tom, 2001

I met Tom on Maiden Lane and Broadway just days after September 11, 2001. He was standing like a statue looking up at the smoldering ruins of the World Trade Center.

Many years later, I was reminded of Tom when I posted his photograph to my Instagram account in 2016. Sadly, when I googled him, I found his obituary. He passed away in 2012, but I thought his family might appreciate receiving a print of the picture, so I mailed a copy with a note to the funeral home.

In September of 2023, I received a call from one of his daughters, Jo Ann, who told me that she had just received a print from the funeral home. The funeral home had been bought and sold and the new owners were going through the files when the print I had sent to the Stevenson family popped up.

This episode is the story of a larger than life man told by two of his 10 children, Jo Ann and TJ, 10 years after his death and 22 years after I made the picture.

Show notes:

This episode was produced by Greg Miller in June 2023.

Music:

• Gone by Lee Rosevere
• Rain Dance by Jon Algar
• Bass Instrumental by Ken Cormier
• Waltz From Swan Lake produced by Thommy Andersson
• Crazy Hunger  by Ken Cormier

I get editing help from Evan Roberts and Tina Chiappetta-Miller.