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.
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Sunday, June 15, 2008
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20 comments:
Dear Friends and Loved Ones of Tom,
This picture of Tom and myself was taken before one of Tom's breakout sessions in November 2007 at the United Methodist Association of Preschools Conference. He asked me to send him a copy, and I believe I sent him one in the mail in December, but I am not sure.
I first saw Tom with Marj and Deb at my very first NAEYC conference in Atlanta in 2006. I was there by myself and was feeling wonderfully overwhelmed but alone and wishing to share all of my exciting news about sessions and such. But once Tom started singing during their session, I was transported into a new feeling of warmth, welcoming community, and educator fellowship that is hard to put into words.
I spoke to Tom at the Exhibit Hall at NAEYC when I bought some of this CD's, and was delighted to find out that he would be the keynote at our UMAP conference in 2007!
I emailed him in the week leading up to the UMAP conference, and enjoyed having him join our table at mealtime, where my colleagues and I were able to talk with Tom and share stories together. When I told Tom that my family would likely end up living in Washington State in the near future, he was full of details of the beauty of the area, and painted vivid pictures in my mind of breathtaking landscapes.
My sadness is great about this news. My love and prayers are with all of you. Tom's voice is heard in our life every day on the CD's, and I was touched when my children asked to fall asleep to "Beautiful Nighttime" on repeat on Friday night. I am so grateful for his inspiration and his voice and am thankful on behalf of all of the children and teachers who have benefited from his magical, soothing voice and generous, loving spirit!
All my love,
Angie Pflanz
Merritt Island, Florida
Dear Family & Friends of Tom,
I am so grateful in so many ways for who your father is. I met him by chance at Chapman University at a music therapy gathering for students. He came to share his music--really his very self-- with the students to see if we could use his songs with our own clients.
I remember him singing "Tears," and I just "lost it." I don't think I had cried for years. We talked about how hard it was to cry, and how hard it was to "lose it" and he said, "Maybe you've found it!" And I think he was right.
God really used your dad's lyrics, and even that afternoon's experience of a loving father, to bring much needed healing to my life. Your dad was so alive, so very human, and so safe. It was a privilege to meet him, and he has left indelible marks, the fingerprints of God, on my soul. I don't have enough words.
Peace,
Chelsea Davis
Dear Tom,
It is Father's Day and I want to say thank you. We all know what a wonderful man, song writer, story teller, teacher, friend etc you are, but today I want to thank you for something different. As a single mom raising two boys alone with no father in their lives it was challenging. I was lucky to have a daycare where my sons saw the examples of several men being good husbands and fathers. I want to thank you for your good role model that helped to show my sons how to become good fathers and husbands.
To Gwen and Irene, thank you for seeing me today, to be able to hold you meant the world to me.
Love, Linda
Dear Aeden and Irene,
On this hardest of father's days, I want to thank you for sharing your dad with so many others over the years. I know I'm not alone in saying that Tom has been like a father to me. (My own dad died suddenly at age 48 and I never got to say goodbye). Your dad came into my life when I wasn't sure I had anything left to give and he believed in me when I was having a hard time believing in myself.He taught me to trust my own instincts about what was good for kids and to pay attention to the stuff that really mattered. He challenged me to keep growing and inspired by example and Tom was the most eloquent listener I've ever known.Whether laughing or crying or singing or talking, he was always real and we could trust that...
This time for saying goodbye is really hard but also such a gift-thank you for that gift and for the gift of sharing your dad all these years. May you all feel how deeply you are loved and cared for now and in the journey ahead.
Love and Blessings-Billie
Tom; We are praying for you and your family in our church in Newton, MA. Your musical influence shines through so much music that we make. Fare forward, friend. Love, Linda
Dearest Tom, Gwen, Aden and Irene,
I want to say "Thank you" for giving all of us the gracious, wonderful, beautiful gift of unconditional love and understanding. You have opened your hearts and lives once again to those around you. Even in this most difficult time, you have thought of others, and allowed us to share such a raw, emotional and intimate time with you. I know that I am not alone in saying "Thank you for your graciousness" .
I wish so badly that I could wrap my arms around all of you and give just a fraction of what Tom has given to myself and so many others.
Our family listened to your cd's all day today. We held you close to our hearts on this special Fathers Day, in honor of you, a man who has Fathered so many of us.
It is with much love,warmth,peace and positive energy that I send these words to you.
I love you I love you I love you!!
Thinking of you all today, and holding you in my prayers.
Good evening: I only met Tom for but a moment in time - I am most thankful for that moment. Praying for peace and grace during this time for your family Sherry - Canada
I love Tom, now, I love you. I will pray for you. {reminds me of that old song; love is something when you give it away
give it away, give it away, love is something when you give it away, you wind up having more.
I think he'd like that connectin.
We are really here. My dear friend Joyce Des Rochiers, (mentor, go getter, doer of good, teacher) and i, were hoping to go to camp next year. I am so sad. She has really loved Tom & knew him better-I was hoping to.
...as I'm sure, were we all... Love lasts! It transcends time, bouys lives, illuminates the heart,
blooms, in the seasons of the mind. where is the comfort I can offer? How?
Dear Gwen, Aeden, and Irene,
I saw Tom at several regional NAEYC conferences in the 1980's, and he came to the preschool on Bainbridge Island that my daughter attended back in 1988 or 1989. Then, later, I arranged for him to come to the Island School where I worked, and he led workshops and sang with us. We continue to sing many of his songs at our Monday Morning Sing-a-longs. Tom is inspiring and giving. It is hard to fathom the speed with which this disease takes a person, and I am sad, but I am inspired by your messages. I have been playing Tom's tapes anew these past few days, and plan to order some cd's so that I have the modern technology. My heart is breaking. I have an excerpt from a book which was written by Crescent Dragonwagon. I have found it comforting during times in my life when loved ones have died:
"But what if you die?"
"My loving doesn't die.
It stays with you, as warm as two pairs of mittens on top of each other. When you remember you and me, you say:
'What can I do with so much love? I will have to give some away.'
So, you love thunder and lightning, dogs, snakes, snow, and planting cabbages. You dance with other people in the leaves and are in plays with them and run away with them. You love them and they love you and you eat raisins together."
"So it will be okay?"
"Yes, my love, it will."
I am glad to have known Tom Hunter. I will keep him in my memories and remember the good stuff I have learned from him.
Love, Barbara Ferrin
Dear Tom, Gwen, Aeden, and Irene,
It's Father's Day, so our thoughts and memories have gone back to times that our kids have been touched by Tom. We thought you might enjoy a couple of stories.
Our daughter, Chanda, was with us today and when Linda showed her this website and she saw all the names of Tom's songs, she wanted every one of them. She loved listening and singing all those songs as she was growing up.
We are remembering the time when Chanda was in second grade, in 1980, and Tom and Gwen stayed with us. It was the night before the BIG elementary school science fair. Chanda had been planning for weeks on doing a project to grow crystals on coal, but on the way home from school had found some tadpoles in a mud puddle. She was so excited and wanted to change her science fair project to tadpoles instead. We were both very involved with PTA and other community activities and both of us had meetings that night, so Tom volunteered he and Gwen to help her accomplish the project. When we arrived home she was in bed, the project was done and all was well. She took the project to school the next day, the winners were announced and guess who won the grand prize?!
FAST forward to the year 1988. Our son, Trent, was coming home to Suquamish after his freshman year at Pacific U. in Forest Grove, Oregon. He had been working really hard studying for tests, taking tests and packing his car getting ready to come home. He was all ready to get into his car and leave, but it wouldn't start. He wanted his parents to take care of the problem like we always had, but alas, we were in Washington and he was in Oregon. Besides that, we were not even at home! We were once again doing our community meeting thing. We returned home to find a number of messages on the answering machine. They went something like this: "My car won't start... HELP! What should I do? I don't know what to do. I think there must be something, but I don't know what. Maybe if I just keep talking, you will pick up the phone. Well, I guess not." (beep) "Well, it's me again. I found a phone book and I'll see if I can call a garage." (beep) "Hi, there was a mechanic at the garage that is only 3 blocks away. He'll look at it." (beep) "Are you there? Hello! Hello! He said he could fix it and it shouldn't take too long." (beep) "(Trent singing) I'm comin' home, I'm coming home. With laughin' tears of joy, I'm coming home."
Tonight we talked to him on the phone and talked about Tom and Trent said he wants a copy of that song. Linda and I looked through our old records and found our 1977 autographed copy of "Comin' Home" by Tom Hunter, along with all the words. Yeah!
We cherish the opportunity to have you visit us in Suquamish a couple of times, once with Aeden as a toddler. It was a special joy also to have Tom visit us in March 2007 when he had a workshop in Tigard. As Linda and I sit here remembering, we realize the special place your family has in our hearts. We have appreciated reading your words on the blog and have been touched by your faith, your relationahip as a family and the obvious presence of the Spirit in your lives. Tom, we will miss you "well."
Love, Linda and Dick Kroll
A week or two ago, I made a request to NAEYC to dedicate a page to Tom in the next Young Children Journal. I got a reply back this morning:
"Mark Ginsberg asked me to follow up with your request to include a page about Tom Hunter's contributions to the field in the next issue of Young Children. This is not something we typically do, in part because the content of each issue of Young Children is set far in advance of publication. As an alternative, we will post his Young Children articles in the Beyond the Journal area of the web site and alert readers to their availability." Jerry Koralek, Editor-in-Chief, Periodicals and Related Resources. NAEYC dkoralek@naeyc.org
I think this is a big step--and I appreciate it greatly. let's hope that they post them soon! and anyone who feels like I do that Tom should get a whole page in our Journal, even if it's in 6 months, please contact Jerry or Mark and let them know.
anne broussard
NAEYC just emailed me again and said that they are on a deadline to get the Journal out this week, therefore, Tom's articles should be posted by next week. anne
Dear Tom and family,
I was introduced to Tom's music about four years ago through both the REGGIO-L listserv and through my mentor and early childhood director, Dr. Francine Herold. Francine came back from a conference all fired up about Tom's music, and she quickly taught all of the teachers and students the lyrics and some hand motions to "I waited and I waited." This became one of my favorite songs.
In 2006, Francine was diagnosed with adult leukemia and sadly passed away a few months later. I miss her dearly, and I would not be at this place in my career if it was not for her. I often see or hear something that reminds me of Francine, and I just have to laugh...she was so full of life, and she still blesses my life now. Hearing Tom's music always brings a smile to my face and makes me remember all the good times I had with Francine.
Tom, I send you and your family my most heartfelt thoughts and prayers. Your spirit and your music will live on through the thousands of lives you have touched along your journey. And, I will help to spread your love and your vision by sharing your music with others.
Hi all,
I am constantly surprised and wonderfully encouraged by the web of connections that are visible through this blog. Even in my own private and work lives - the weaving of people and places who know Tom and the music continues. So many of us in the United Church community in Canada, including those from Naramata Centre, are including you all in our prayers. We send love.
Gillian
Hello all,
Tom does not know me, but I have been priviledged to have been in several of his classes/workshops in the last 15 years or so. Without knowing it, he has been one of the greatest influences in my life. The last workshop I went to Tom was talking and singing about boys and how their brains develop differently than girls brains. I just happen to be the mother of 2 boys and I really needed the information he gave me. I use "big and loud" in teaching my boys and I pass that on to the staff of the daycare I am the director at as well as to anyone who asks!!
I also love the idea of singing to learn, instead of learning to sing:) So thank you Tom and thank you Tom's family for sharing such a wonderful man with so many people!
Lisa Cusick-Cordie
Hood River, Oregon
Dear Ones,
I found this to be a moving, sweet piece...thought I'd pass it along for anyone who's interested.
So many touching connections from oh so many people...I thank you all and think of Tom and his family throughout every day...with tears and a grateful heart,
Sherry Baugh
Well, the tears seem to fog up my eyes AND my brain...here's the link:
http://pixiesplace.com/trainride
Sherry Baugh
Tom, Gwen and family, you are constantly in my thoughts and prayers. I'm keeping a candle lit all the time - OK, so it's a battery candle : ) - to remind me of you, your friendship and the love you have shared with so many people. I was remembering today that every time a group I was in sang Night Rider's Lament, Tom would look at me at the break and say, "Yodel it, Bitsy!" And I'd always reply that I didn't know the yodeling part of that song. And Tom would always say, "Just yodel anything 'cause nobody else knows the yodeling part, either." It became a kind of joke. So, I'm yodeling for all of you around the...well, around the battery candle and sending warm hugs. Bitsy
Dear Hunter Family,
I have not posted a message in a few weeks.....although I hope you have received the mail I sent. I have been updated daily by the Beautiful Nighttime blog. Thank you so much for giving so much of yourselves during this time. I just wanted you all to know that we are still thinking of you and sending love and prayers and gratitude for sharing Tom with us. On my hard days, I think of your days, and my frustration turns to admiration for you and your continued strength and love. In the Tom tradition, You are Inspiring.
Love,
The Kosinski Family
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