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 8, 2008
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16 comments:
Happy Father's Day to Tom and family! What a beautiful and wonderful family you are. I tuned in to the radio broadcast yesterday. Such a rich history of lives touched by Tom Hunter through so many different ways--his music, his spirit, his words and so much more.
I'm glad to hear that June 5th was chosen to be Tom Hunter Day. It's also my husband and my anniversary (15 yrs). We'll be planting an apple tree or two or three and thinking of all of you. With love, Sarah Booth and family
Your strength and courage amaze and humble us. Paul and I hold you all in prayer and send love, always.
Kathie Forman
It is an honor and a blessing to be able to hold you all in my heart today, every day, at this difficult time. I love you Mr. Hunter, and I thank you for sharing your heart, your love and your family with mine.
Marla B.
You have touched so many lives, Tom.
I can still remember when you visited
the little seaside town of Long Beach, WA and wrote the school song that is still being sung, "At Long Beach School we dream big dreams..."
May God bless you and your very special family now and always.
Blessings,
Suzanne Knutzen
Dear sweet Tom,
What an incredible blessing you have been to all of us - parents and children alike. My heart breaks thinking of all of this. And both of my girls are very sad for you. We spent the weekend listening to the CD you recorded with my daughter Emma's classroom (Ms. Brown - Parkview). It was so much fun singing along with you again. And my younger daughter, Margaret, who once, on a preschool field trip to your library show, actually had the opportunity to sing with you and teacher Netta "in microphones and everything!" We all just love you, Tom. Tears are streaming down my face right now. Please know that we all send you blessings and hugs. Your life work made the world a better place. Thank you.
blessed journeys,
mary burgess
John and I join you in celebrating Father's Day early for Tom. It's been a blessing to witness you, Tom, as the loving, playful, proud, and devoted dad you are. I am grateful to have learned some precious insights from you!
We are celebrating you everyday, loving you unceasingly. I pray for serenity and peace as you are held in the loving arms of Gwen, Aeden, and Irene, and in the hearts of the wide, deep, chorus. Linda
I grew up on Lummi Island. Tom was my pastor as a child. I made sure I went to church every Sunday in anticipation of "children's time" when we would all go to the front of the church and sit on stair, gathered around Tom. He'd pull out his guitar, with the rainbow colored strap, and we'd all sing. After listening to a few of the tracks on the CDs, the words of his songs came right back. The words of the songs we sung some 20 years ago are still fresh in my mind. I am buying CDs for all the little one's close to me, in hopes that they will carry on Tom's music. I will see if I can dig up any old pictures to send your way. Our prays and thoughts are with your family in this hard and trying time. Tom will live on in the lives of everyone. Including us out here on Lummi Island.
Dear Tom,
It is hard to imagine this world without your wisdom, so bountifully shared with the rest of us. You have had great influence on me as a teacher, and as a person. Long ago, I attended one of your workshops at a WAEYC conference, which confirmed for me what is right and good in the world and what we are about in the classroom. This is so important, because as you know, teachers have much to buck in the system these days. I teach pre-school in a parent cooperative, and have used your songs so often over the years. They are wonderful!
I am holding you and your family in my heart, as are so many, many others. Know that you are loved, and you will be so very missed.
sincerely, Becky Curtis
When I think of how many hearts you have you have touched and blessed with your gifts I am reminded of stardust, that mysterious element that we are created and connected by. This is how I envision your words and music filtering through each of us.
Peace,
Rebecca Rickabaugh
Hi Tom and Family,
I have been inspired and a follower of Tom's music and vision for 25 years. I lived in Roseville, CA and worked at a Cooperative school and brought your music to the classroom. I now live in Los Angeles and work at a demonstration school. I sing your songs with many families, some celebrities that are typically not allowed to relax and just "be" due to their status. Your music has give them and many thousands of parents, children the opportunity to "be" while reaping the emotional benefits of singing folk music. We also sing for the elderly and this allows them to be treated as "people" instead of patients for a short period of time. "Down in the Valley" I believe, is bringing people all over the world together.Your work has given me the chance to make a huge impact on many, many people.
You're music and vision lives on.
Thank You. Peace and Love,
Melissa Pinkham
Hi Tom & Gwen, Aeden & Irene --
How are you all doing today? I hope it has been a day filled with quiet graces and Hotcha Kotcha moments.
I've been meaning to share something with Tom since he came to Vinton Iowa a few years ago. I was reading a book he recommended (A is for Ox) -- I've always kept a list in the back of a notebook of books he'd mention, and then come birthday or holiday, request one for a gift. Quite a list I've accumulated over the few years I have known Tom. And many good books.
But as I began this book, there was a paragraph that struck me as so true about Tom I almost choked when I read it. I would like to share it with him and with all those reading along here:
"Stories are the lifeblood of oral culture, and the storyteller is the heart of the tribe or group. He or she keeps the stories circulating throughout the entire system. His are not just ordinary stories, told at random, but stories that people wait for and expect, and whose outlines they know by heart. His stories reassure the people who they are and remind them what they believe; they bind the group together. In the net of stories, he catches everything -- history, truth, heroism, religion, philosophy, morality, love. The leader who recounts these stories -- usually a man, usually older -- has arrived at his privileged position through years of experience. . . . As Walter Benjamin has noted about storytelling in oral cultures, 'Counsel woven into the fabric of real life is wisdom.'"
***
How blessed we all are in having been witness to such wisdom, shared with a dash of humility and a shake of humor.
I'll have you know Tom, I got out my violin today. The first time since Teacher's Camp -- I don't know why it took so long to feel the urge to play like I did today. And we sang and laughed and were silly in our songs, with your blessing over us the whole afternoon.
I love you, Tom Hunter. I sure do.
Kelly Matthews
Iowa City, IA
Tom was our keynote speaker at last year's UMAP (United Methodist Association of Preschools) conference in Leesburg,FL. Tom and I tried to make this happen for literally YEARS, trying to coordinate schedules. When he finally got there in November, he told people I was the "most persistant woman" hed ever met - for persisting in my quest to make Tom part of the UMAP Conference. (I took that as a compliment. Tom - don't burst my bubble!)
I will now be "the most persistant woman" in my prayers for you, Tom, and for your family. You have touched my life with your music and it is a part of our preschool experience each year.
I know that God holds you in the palm of His hand as you go through this tough time. Know that your new friends from UMAP are also praying for you.
God Bless
Linda McGlashan
Hey, Tom, yesterday the pool boy proposed and today I opened your blog to see a picture of you resting underneath the angel I made for you. If that isn't a blessing, I don't know what is. Holding you right here, always.
Dear Gwen, Aeden, Irene and other keepers of the blog,
Thank you for this. Even under these extraordinary circumstances you are models of those ideals you so graciously reminded us to uphold yesterday on the radio - to notice the special moments each day, to listen, really listen and to respect each person's turn to feel what they feel. As far as keeping it going - I don't think Tom has anything to worry about. You couldn't stop it if you tried. It's who you are.
With love and gratitude,
Vanessa Reynolds
Brooklyn, NY
Dear Tom -
I had the great fortune of attending two of your workshops. I was deeply touched by your teachings, your kindness, your beautiful voice, your respect, and your essence.
We chatted before the second workshop. When I shared the name of my favorite Tom Hunter song, you sang it during the workshop - bringing tears to my eyes.
You've made a profound difference in my life and in the lives of so many others.
You brought rich gifts to the universe and I believe those gifts will continue through those you've touched.
I am so sorry for the pain that has touched your life.
With my great appreciation and deep sorrow,
Sharon
Tom -
Very heartwarming to read the comments on this blog. It seems God has certainly used the many people you've shared time with in your life to comfort and love you and your family right now.
I just wanted to pass on what many have already said - that I appreciate your kindness. Whenever I was over at your house in high school, hanging out with Aeden and eating your food, you made me feel welcome. And whenever I have run into you around town since then you've always been warm and had time to chat.
Thanks for making me feel welcome. I have always enjoyed talking with you.
Joining together with the many praying for you, Gwen, Aeden and Irene,
Jason Lee
As I have read the comments they all seem to say the same thing - what a remarkable man Tom is! Even those of us who met him briefly were touched by his heart and soul. I still carry my notes from the conference I attended a year ago here in Tucson, AZ with Tom as the main speaker. It truly is a remarkable thing when you meet someone that has the same vision and passion as you have for the children. Tom is the kind of man that deposits something good to every one he meets. You feel like you are almost family after spending any amount of time with him. When I got the news of his sickness I wept almost as if he were my own father. I can't remember when God has placed it on my heart to pray so fervently for someone as He did for Tom. That tells me Tom must be pretty special to God. As I have been grieving the news, thoughts like this have come to me: " What a grand reception I imagine awaits Tom in Heaven! I can almost hear God say, "Welcome Tom, what a wonderful job you have done in spreading My love. I don't often take liberties in saying what God might say but as I look at the fruits that have come from Tom's life - and as I read how important children are to God - it just makes perfect sense to me that Tom's reward will be waiting for him in Heaven. God is God so He decides the rewards that are due but I can certainly say that my life has been blessed by Tom's example. My prayer for your family is that God's peace will fill your home and your hearts.
Love,
Debbie Sauntman
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