Singing together somewhere in time
Tom & Gwen
Tom Hunter
For information about Tom Hunter, his ideas, and his music, visit www.tomhunter.com.
Tom Hunter left all of us a legacy of celebration, music, compassion and giving to our communities. Throughout his lifetime, Tom worked with people of all ages and backgrounds to teach new ways of learning and living. We all are committed to "keeping it going" by remembering his smile and his music and his voice.
There was a tremendous outpouring of support for the Hunters during this transition, and the family is deeply grateful.
Tom Hunter left all of us a legacy of celebration, music, compassion and giving to our communities. Throughout his lifetime, Tom worked with people of all ages and backgrounds to teach new ways of learning and living. We all are committed to "keeping it going" by remembering his smile and his music and his voice.
There was a tremendous outpouring of support for the Hunters during this transition, and the family is deeply grateful.
TOM'S HEALTH
Tom Hunter was diagnosed on May 20, 2008 with Creutzfeldt-Jacob Disease and died on June 20, 2008.
On September 2, 2008, a letter from the National Prion Disease Pathology Research Center confirmed that Tom had what's called 'sporadic CJD' (sCJD). His was an extremely rare type of sCJD that one in 4.5 million people are diagnosed with annually. We're very grateful that he did not have the inherited form, but it's critically important that a cure for all forms of CJD (caused by scrapy proteins in the brain which can take up to 40 years to manifest and kill their victims) are found. All forms of CJD are fatal.
The most accurate and up-to-date site for learning about CJD and supporting efforts to find a cure is http://www.cjdfoundation.org/ .
On September 2, 2008, a letter from the National Prion Disease Pathology Research Center confirmed that Tom had what's called 'sporadic CJD' (sCJD). His was an extremely rare type of sCJD that one in 4.5 million people are diagnosed with annually. We're very grateful that he did not have the inherited form, but it's critically important that a cure for all forms of CJD (caused by scrapy proteins in the brain which can take up to 40 years to manifest and kill their victims) are found. All forms of CJD are fatal.
The most accurate and up-to-date site for learning about CJD and supporting efforts to find a cure is http://www.cjdfoundation.org/ .
Tom and Gwen
2007
Tom and Aeden
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May 8,2008
Tom and Irene
May 24th, 2008
To live on this earth
you must be able
to do three things:
To love what is mortal;
To hold it
against your bones knowing
your own life depends on it;
And when the time comes to let it go,
to let it go.
mary oliver
DONATIONS
Please help provide financial support by sending whatever you can. We are hoping for lots of $25. hugs- or whatever works for you - to help the Hunters with medical and transition expenses. They also want to protect the wetlands, forest and farm* that have seen so much of their love over the years and to help keep Tom's work alive in the world. (*Contributions given specifically for the mortgage have been moved with overwhelming gratitude to the new Tom Hunter Memorial Account described above.) If you wish to make a donation please make checks payable to Tom Hunter Family Donation (or to Tom Hunter Memorial Account) and mail to:
Whatcom Educational Credit Union
PO Box 9750
Bellingham, WA 98227
If you'd prefer to donate safely and securely using your credit/debit card, use this button:
Whatcom Educational Credit Union
PO Box 9750
Bellingham, WA 98227
If you'd prefer to donate safely and securely using your credit/debit card, use this button:
Now the focus narrows to just the steps ahead. You have a chorus of knowing, loving voices all over this planet to sing you home.
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PHOTOS - NOW ON A NEW PAGE
Many of the photos from this page and also new ones have been moved to their own page and can be viewed by clicking on the link below. If you have photos to share please send them to us at tomhunterblog@gmail.com Thanks.
Pictures of Tom, Family and Friends
Singing with friends
Salem Oregon 1990
Laughing at a story
June 7th from Marie
"All the flowers of all the tomorrows are in the seeds of today" Indian Proverb
with love from Gege Manolis
with love from Gege Manolis
Tom and Irene
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June 2008
COMMENTS and HOW TO HELP
To leave a comment for Tom and his family please scroll to the bottom of this page, and then come back up to today's date on the left side. Click on "comments" and leave your message in the box on the right side of the comments page. Your comment will not show up immediately as all comments go through the postmaster. They will be posted as soon as possible. If your comment is not posted within 24 hours please contact the postmaster at tomhunterblog@gmail.com
There are many ways to help. Please click on www.tomhuntersupport.blogspot.com under Music, Meals, Flowers, Yard Work, Farm Work below or look for the How to Help section opposite the daily comments on the right side of the blog towards the bottom.
There are many ways to help. Please click on www.tomhuntersupport.blogspot.com under Music, Meals, Flowers, Yard Work, Farm Work below or look for the How to Help section opposite the daily comments on the right side of the blog towards the bottom.
Music, meals, flowers, yard work & farm work
The Hunter Family
Jeanne Herrick has put many photos from the blog into a beautiful slide show. Click below to watch
Words from Tom's Dad
May 26
Somebody noticed what you did today
Somebody noticed little things along the way
How you watched how you listened to what children do and say;
Somebody noticed what you've done alway
'Tis grace has brought us safe thus far,
And grace will lead us home.
May 29
And the Angels took care of him.
May 31st
The Lord bless and keep you. The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you. The Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you, your family, the city of Bellingham, and the world, peace-- both now and forevermore. Amen
Somebody noticed what you did today
Somebody noticed little things along the way
How you watched how you listened to what children do and say;
Somebody noticed what you've done alway
'Tis grace has brought us safe thus far,
And grace will lead us home.
May 29
And the Angels took care of him.
May 31st
The Lord bless and keep you. The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you. The Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you, your family, the city of Bellingham, and the world, peace-- both now and forevermore. Amen
Tom with the love quilt
From First Congregational Church of Bellingham
Aeden, Tom & Willard Hunter
Three Generations
Tom and Cindy
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Prayer rocks from Lummi Island
"Sometimes healing is more than getting better. Sometimes it's love revealed....." - Tom Hunter
Aeden and Tom, April '08
May 20, 2008
Here I sit, feeling my feet on the floor
An image of grounding you’ve used lots before
Trying to make sense of this surreal, difficult time
While loving where I came from with infinite pride
It’s been amazing how many lines from your songs
Have been lights in the darkness when it all feels wrong
Have comforted, questioned, been profound and fun
Your capacity for humanity is second to none
This world is a better place because of who you are
And that’s known widely – near and far
In music, education, and matters of the heart
You’ve bettered lives right from the start
I’m so proud of you, of where I’ve come from
You’re a huge part of me and have taught me a ton
About being human, love, laughter, and tears
And how to keep going despite life’s fears
Please don’t worry about the rest of us
We’ll take care of each other and will always feel your touch
Your laughter, music, compassion, and voice
Will always be with us in the midst of life’s noise
So here I sit, feeling my feet on the floor
With love and gratitude deep down in my core
I’m so grateful for the time we have had
You’ll always be my mentor, my best friend, my dad.
-Aeden
Irene and Tom last summer
The very best dad in the world
i’ve always loved your laugh lines,
the way you smile ear to ear
and you always have this easy way
of crushing any fears.
we’ve shared so much so far in life
and i’m so proud and glad
that i can say with confidence
i have the very best dad.
from raspberries to hasty moves
and the cutting edge again?!
to times when you have comforted me
over troubles with my friends.
you know how to relieve the weird feelings
when things don’t feel quite right
you let me put them in your hands
and throw them into the night.
we’ve shared trees against the sky
and books, poems, songs and walks
you taught me respect by looking again
and i’ve always loved our talks.
from dream stories to lake padden eagles
and coloring outside the lines
i can say with ease and confidence
you have the most lovely mind.
i remember all those wakeful nights
and running down the hall
you and mom sang lullabies
and sound asleep i’d fall.
i’m your goofball now—
i’ll always be whether we’re near or far
i’ll hold you close in who i am
no matter where we are.
i know it’s getting harder
to take in this fantastic world
just know i love you—i always will—
as daddy’s little girl.
Irene
May 22, 2008 After baptizing little Maddie
Exchanging blessings
To My Old Brown Earth by Pete Seeger
To my old brown Earth
And to my old blue sky
I'll now give these last few molecules of I
And you who sing
And you who stand near by
I do charge you not to cry
Guard well our human chain
Watch well you keep it strong
As long as sun will shine
And this our home
Keep pure and sweet and green
For now I'm yours
And you are also mine
with thanks to Cori Dusmann
May 22, 2008 At the Shepherd's
"I want my music to be grounded in the realities of what kids and teachers know. I want it to 'ring true; as it helps people laugh, cry, remember, celebrate, and learn."
— Tom Hunter
Tom in his backyard Labor Day 03
"I've been visiting schools to sing songs for almost 30 years. I've been in a lot of classrooms, presented a lot of workshops, talked with a lot of teachers, and sat on a lot of floors with kids. If I bring reminders of what's important in education, they come from finding those moments when the heart shows up, moments that peek around the corner and need to be invited farther into the room so we can see them. Such moments might seem ordinary but they are way too important to be captured in test scores. They fill teachers (and sometimes children) to overflowing."
Quoted from Tom's introduction to his book of essays : "Visits to the Heart of Education: Remembering What's Important" (available from Song Growing Company - see link below)
Quoted from Tom's introduction to his book of essays : "Visits to the Heart of Education: Remembering What's Important" (available from Song Growing Company - see link below)
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"But what if we can't get there?
What if it's too far?
What if we can't find our way from right here where we are?
What if it doesn't matter
that we can't find our star?
What if God comes anyway
right here where we are?"
-Tom Hunter
What if it's too far?
What if we can't find our way from right here where we are?
What if it doesn't matter
that we can't find our star?
What if God comes anyway
right here where we are?"
-Tom Hunter
Northwest Teachers Camp
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from Cori Dusmann
Photos
If you have photos of Tom that we can use on the blog, please email them to us at tomhunterblog@gmail.com
Today, like every other day, we wake up empty
and frightened. Don't open the door to the study
and begin reading. Take down a musical instrument.
Let the beauty we love be what we do.
There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground.
Rumi, the Sufi Poet
and frightened. Don't open the door to the study
and begin reading. Take down a musical instrument.
Let the beauty we love be what we do.
There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground.
Rumi, the Sufi Poet
Clarification -- How to Comment
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If you have questions about the blog or if this does not work for you -- send your message to the postmaster at: tomhunterblog@gmail.com and it will be posted for you.
If you have questions about the blog or if this does not work for you -- send your message to the postmaster at: tomhunterblog@gmail.com and it will be posted for you.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
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20 comments:
Angels might be anywhere at all, listening gossiping anywhere at all
On a cloud or a rooftop, climbing up a wall, Angels might be anywhere at all
He taught us all to sing and smile and fill our lives with mirth
He showed us how to look around and care for our sweet earth
Now you might think me strange or odd or you might think me wrong
But I believe it was an angel once among us who gave us all this song
Angels might be anywhere at all, listening gossiping anywhere at all
On a cloud or a rooftop, climbing up a wall, Angels might be anywhere at all
Gwen, Irene and Aeden,
My thoughts and prayers are with you. I love you all.
Maggie
Dear Gwen,Aeden and Irene
Last nights circle was a healing time for me -to meditate, pray, sing and cry with so many people who all love you Hunters. There were many hugs, tears, love and even some smiles as we remember a man with great wit. It was good to see so many old friends from so many gathering at you home-you have spread so much love around over the years opening you home and your hearts to so many. Love, Linda
Dear Hunter Family,
I am so sorry to hear of your loss. I met Tom two years ago at a Good Stuff for Kids conference. I enjoyed his presentation and admired his authenticity, passion and love of music. What a gift to children and teachers.
I have peace in knowing that his heavenly dwelling is filled with music and praise and Tom has a special spot in the chorus and the string section :). My prayers are with you, Danya Swanson, Roseville, CA.
I keep coming back to the Billy Collins poem "Directions" which Tom shared with us at camp the summer of 2005. The last two stanzas read:
But it is hard to speak of these things
how the voices of light enter the body
and begin to write their stories
how the earth holds us painfully against
its breast made of humus and brambles
how we who will soon be gone regard
the entities that continue to return
greener than ever, spring water flowing
through a meadow and the shadows of clouds
passing over the hills and the ground
where we stand in the tremble of thought
taking the vast outside into ourselves.
Still, let me know before you set out.
Come knock on my door
and I will walk with you as far as the garden
with one hand on your shoulder.
I will even watch after you and not turn back
to the house until you disappear
into the crowd of maple and ash,
heading up toward the hill,
piercing the ground with your stick.
Somehow, seeing Tom there at the edge of the garden and, as Kelly said, - remembering the feel of his hand on our shoulder - makes me feel just a little bit better.
I hope you are finding what you need during these days.
with love,
vanessa
Tom was a good friend in high school in Claremont. Though I have only seen him once in the last few years, I always felt happy knowing he was growing his songs up in Washington. I see his parents in Claremont two or three times a year (my parents live just down the hall from them in Pilgrim Place.) What an incredible family! What a wonderful guy. I will miss him.
Ted Cobb
Sacramento, Calif.
My thoughts and prayers are with your family. The love revealed through this blog has been so amazing and has made me lift up my eyes in so many ways. Thank you for sharing this time of love and loss so openly.
Jen Martinez
To Tom's friends and family,
Tom was my group leader on the Turquoise Trail years ago and I've carried a piece of his solid, deep, awakened self with me all these 40 years. I've used his books and music in our family literacy programs, appreciating the way I could share that bit of star dust. And share it we have....maybe you can hear the singing here in Pennsylvania.
Peace and blessings on you all and your community. Ann Carr Kodama
“We clasp the hands of those that go before us, And the hands of those who come after us. We enter the little circle of each other's arms And the larger circle of lovers, Whose hands are joined in a dance, And the larger circle of all creatures, Passing in and out of life, Who move also in a dance, To a music so subtle and vast that no ear hears it Except in fragments” (Wendell Berry)
I remember when I got my first preschool teaching job, and one of the first record albums I bought was Tom Hunter - I really didn't know much about him, but I loved his music. Over the years I have come to love his music, his message, and his love of children. I shared his music with my classroom, my own children, and with families.
My heart aches over this loss, and my heart and prayers are with his family and his many friends.
Karen Ford
Gwen, Irene, and Aeden:
NAEYC just emailed me and asked for a contact for someone who would write an In Memoriam for Tom to be published in the next Young Children Journal!
Is there someone that you would prefer to write this--or would you like to write it yourself? If I get an email address for you I can forward their email directly to you.
With much love to you all,
Anne Broussard
714-258-6732
Anne.Broussard@ssa.ocgov.com
California Kindergarten Association
Tom was a singer, songwriter and longtime presenter for the California Kindergarten Conference. He will be greatly missed by all for the energy and good spirits he brought to his sessions. He touched many hears in the teaching community.
Dear Hunter Family...
My children, Darby and Nora, and I were part of the first two NWTC and I had been to several Good Stuffs before that. Tom's music reminded me how to breathe...for singing is like breathing...something I will always remember. Thank you Tom (and Bev and Micheal).
Warmest feelings to you all,
Elaine Bostaph
Irene,
I wrote back and gave you my#'s, but they deleted it. I don't have a number to call for any of you. I will be there on Saturday, Let me know if you want me to come up sooner.
Love,
Karlene
Dear Hunter family, I'm sorry I've missed the groups at church. It's hard to be alone right now. I'll be back for the Saturday service and what a bitter sweet celebration it will be! I look out on the sparkling water of the Pearl Channel and am reminded of how Tom encouraged us to see beauty in the small things and quick write a song to remember it. The eagle's wings have been waiting for him and angels may be anywhere but we know one of them by name now. Joan Roley in Hawaii
It was with much sadness that I read of Tom's illness and of his passing. Tom has inspired me at a point when I felt that it was so hard to go on. His music allowed me to continue with the children in spite of my own grief, at losing my dear son. I have since brought the song "Go Tell Aunt Rhody" to the class every year and have found that the gift to the children was the gift of being able to share their grief in a world that doesn't allow children to grieve.
To Tom's family I send comfort, strength and peace and the knowledge that I will continue to introduce Tom's music to my students and their families and will always say his name- the children will know of Tom Hunter, not just the songs but the wonderfully kind man whose voice we sing with.
In compassion,
Jaki Ivins
Pre-kindergarten
Paradise Valley, AZ
Gwen, Aeden & Irene,
Thank you, thank you, thank you, for your amazing generosity of spirit and courageous witness to us all. Thank you for caring for Tom so completely and selflessly, and thank you for allowing him to belong just a little bit to us, too. You have been, are, and will be in our hearts and in our prayers. And Tom will be singing in our music for generations to come. With love and gratitude,
Dirk & Carol Damonte
Dear Hunters,
You are in my heart and will be in my heart especially on Saturday. A poem for you, courtesy of John O'Donohue, who also left this world too soon.
On The Death of the Beloved
Though we need to weep your loss,
You dwell in that safe place in our hearts,
Where no storm or might or pain can reach you.
Your love was like the dawn
Brightening over our lives
Awakening beneath the dark
A further adventure of colour.
The sound of your voice
Found for us
A new music
That brightened everything.
Whatever you enfolded in your gaze
Quickened in the joy of its being;
You placed smiles like flowers
On the altar of the heart.
Your mind always sparkled
With wonder at things.
Though your days here were brief,
Your spirit was live, awake, complete.
We look towards each other no longer
From the old distance of our names;
Now you dwell inside the rhythm of breath,
As close to us as we are to ourselves.
Though we cannot see you with outward eyes,
We know our soul's gaze is upon your face,
Smiling back at us from within everything
To which we bring our best refinement.
Let us not look for you only in memory,
Where we would grow lonely without you.
You would want us to find you in presence,
Beside us when beauty brightens,
When kindness glows
And music echoes eternal tones.
When orchids brighten the earth,
Darkest winter has turned to spring;
May this dark grief flower with hope
In every heart that loves you.
May you continue to inspire us:
To enter each day with a generous heart.
To serve the call of courage and love
Until we see your beautiful face again
In that land where there is no more separation,
Where all tears will be wiped from our mind,
And where we will never lose you again.
God's grace and peace to each of you,
Jean
Missoula, MT
Dear Gwen, Irene and Aeden,
Although I only met Tom briefly at a men's gathering a few years ago, his music and spirit touched my soul. I join with countless others who grieve his loss. I would also share that my mother died of Creutzfeld-Jakob disease 16 years ago. I know that it is a heartbreaking and mysterious affliction. Know that you have deep prayers and sympathy informed by shared experience. God be with you.
David Holden
Men's Ministries
United Church of Christ
Dear Gwen, Irene and Aeden,
As I have said in my 3 other comments, Tom touched my life and many other lives in New Hampshire and the Board of NH AEYC would like to include a piece about Tom, his life and his teachings in our next newsletter.
I am sure you have been asked this a lot these last few days. How would you like for us to go about this? Do you have something prepared? You all know him better than any of us could have hoped to. I personally would love to hear your words.
After I read Irene's post on Beautiful Nighttime, I would like to respect your grieving. Please feel free to get back to me when you are ready.
We all loved and respected Tom and I personally will miss him dearly.
You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Kate Stanley
NHAEYC VP
I realized I didn't leave my email address.
kate@kateandtim.us
Dear Irene, Aeden & Gwen,
I was just listening to an old CD I have of Good Stuff from 2003 and there was Tom reading "The Summer Day". Since Irene had just mentioned the poem I thought I'd send it your way. If you would like a copy of the recording, I would be happy to send you one.
Below is an excerpt from the last e-mail Tom sent me (at the end of March), telling the "ministrel" story. It's hard to see typos from a person who was always letter-perfect in his writing, but the sense of humor is pure Tom.
When you say how closet the spelling of minister and minstel are, it reminds me of (did I tell you lthis?) registering for a converece some years ago and being asked to identify myself (teacher, administrator, whatever). I said minstrel. The woman said how fun that was because she'd never had one of those. When she gave me the name badge she had typed ministrel. I pointed it out to her, shw was mortified and I said no, it's prefect!
I'll be thinking of you Saturday - laughing, crying and singing with you from across the country.
Much love,
vanessa
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