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.
flip
flip
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
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19 comments:
Since it's Tom Hunter day and all, I am going to...
"Take a breath of the new day and make it part of ME" =)
Stacey David
Sherwood Community Preschool
Commere MI
Happy TOM HUNTER DAY!
To celebrate, I am going to go plant an apple tree.
Yes, Tom, I will love you for a long, long time.
My love to Gwen, Aeden and Irene as well,
Martha
woah. you got a day named after ya. ha ha, like that's your style. ;)
xoxoxoxo
rachel
I love the idea of planting a fruit tree for Tom Hunter Day. Something sweet, nourishing and strong. I'm actually going to plant two....one for the house where I live now and one in a pot to take to my next house. Tom's blessings will continue to spread from neighborhood to neighborhood.
I've got the mayor's proclamation posted on my office door.
HI Tom-- Thank you for the great radio talk show you hosted in the 80's in the Bay Area. I listened to you each Sunday am as I drove from San Francisco Theological Seminary to Sebastopol for my internship. I enjoyed your challenging words, your conversations with guests and a bit of music! It was great!
Mary Olney-Loyd
(sent a few days ago, but we can't find it amidst the many inspiring messages sent. )
Dear friend Tom, We were so very sad when we heard of your illness from your parents a few weeks ago. Then we went off on a remarkable Palestine-Israel pilgrimage with Pilgrim Place friends, continuing to hold you and your family in our prayers. As we returned two days ago,memories from earlier years flood in, with great gratitude: groups we led together at First Pres,Palo Alto in the 70's; your wonderful early Sunday morning San Francisco radio program of progressive talk and music; your always fresh and creative songs (from "Monster in the Closet" to the Christmas ones);your visits and concerts here at Pilgrim Place;and so much more. Now, dear Tom, Gene and I thank you for the gift of your life, your ever-loving spirit, and your music that continues to touch us and others deeply.
With peace and love to you and your great family, Barbara Troxell
I'm not at all sure that my heart feels that it is a good thing for it to be "Tom Hunter Day"....at least for these reasons. I wish we all could be celebrated for the good things that we do and say.....right now, in this moment....not when our lives are fleeting.
But bring on the parade, the kazoo band and every bit of brass we can find...to celebrate all the life Tom has brought into our lives.
I, too, will be planting today.
Marilee S.
HOORAY FOR TOM HUNTER DAY
So I am singing (off tune) today all the million songs that Tom has planted in my heart.
Love,
ruthie merrell
Hi Tom,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and Gwen and Aeden and Irene from here in Northern California. Both Daniel and I are expecting our first kids this fall, and I know without a doubt that they will grow up loving your music as much as we did and do. You have brought much light and joy and song into this world and I know that you will continue to do so.
Take care of each other Hunter family, and know that so many people are thinking of you.
Love, Hannah (Thomas-Glass) Heller
Tom:
My boys are 15 and 19 now and we still sing your songs that they learned back in preschool. We always have loved how tender and insightful your songs are. We especially like "My Turtle's Name Was Fred" and the "Eraser" song. Thank you for all of your songs, your community Christmas celebrations and for all you have given to the community.
You are a gift.
Carolyn Casey
Tom, dear Tom . . . get those clapping hands ready – I had such a “Keep it going “ moment today, I couldn’t wait to write it up and share it not only with you, but with everyone who has been brought into this community – what an amazing group of people; it’s been incredible to be part of it.
(Flip, I’ve also been thinking a lot about you talking about Teacher’s Camp as one of the most radical events you are part of – at first, it seemed like an extreme statement – it didn’t feel so radical to me, but then, this morning happened.)
So imagine a group of kiddos sitting down to play a matching game – you know the space, it is where you slept once. Gus who is 4, Lexi who is 4 as well, and Madeleine who is 3 all sitting on the floor with me to play. Claire Bear toddles over and plops herself right in my lap. Perfect. We are getting the game ready and Trae who is 5 comes over and announces he wants to play too. (In my head I think, “Hmmm, 4 cards, 5 friends . . . “ & quietly wait to see what happens.) Trae announces he is on Lexi’s team, but I remind him that he needs to ask her if that’s ok with her. She politely says, “No thank you.” Undeterred, he moves on to Gus, who also replies, “No thank you.” Persevering, he comes to Madeleine who just as graciously says, “Sure!” and they settle into the game. We have a great time finding matches and helping each other fill up the cards – even Claire gets in on the action, pulling out shapes and passing pieces to friends.
And then it hit me. What had happened was extraordinary. This was no simple “Isn’t that nice those kids playing together” – it was revolutionary and I mean that in a deep sense. Here was a child not bent on exclusion. She was not hemmed in by rules that must be enforced at any cost. No “4 cards, 4 friends” for her. The humanity in the act of sharing a card cut through expectations of “Sorry, you’ll have to wait until someone is finished” and the implied message, “There’s no room for you here.”
And then, it got even bigger. I thought about what Madeleine had done without even a second thought – something she embraced in this moment of how she was going to choose to be with her peers. And I realized she had embraced an incredible life skill. “4 cards, 4 friends” thinking shuts down dialogue and problem solving. It reinforces that some people have to be left out. It supports the notion there is only one way to do things and we should just do it without thinking of the effects. But what Madeleine had done in that small act was to show us all another way; a way that models creatively bringing people in, whether it’s into political systems, solving housing problems or food shortages.
Now some may argue that is a huge leap to make – sharing your matching game card to getting involved in such large social justice issues. To me there is no leap at all. Here is a child, with whom I am lucky enough to spend my days, who understands the importance of making a little space for those that need it.
I think we will be doing much to Keep It Going – thanks for reminding us to pay attention to the important stuff – the really important stuff.
Kelly Matthews (on behalf of her amazing kids)
A Place For You
Iowa City, IA
As if I weren't already thinking of you often enough I'm getting daily reminders of what you have brought to my life and my school. For instance every time I hear the phrase, "we've been waiting for you..." I automatically think of the deeper meaning behind that and the many conversations we've had.
My students love to say "wow" the Tom Hunter way, with three fingers on either side of their mouth which opens for the O. It always makes me laugh.
Our school once had a banner outside painted by our own principal which said, "We're glad you're here."
Our sixth graders came home from science camp today and we heard how they sang, "Ma Kay too Aye" for the camp staff. Mr. Walton lead them and he said he sang right along!
Your influence is evident every day and it will never go away. We won't let it.
With love to you and your entire family
Debbie Handy
WHEREAS, you have served as "ministrel" to this land - bringing folks closer to song through God - for more than half a century;
NOW, THEREFORE, DO WE, sing your praises, Tom Hunter.
Today I sent out notes to just about everyone in NAEYC and the ECE world I could think of, so that early childhood folks far and wide can pray and send their love. Everyone who has communicated with me has said something like, "He's such a wonderful person!" Tom, you are loved all over our country from sea to shining sea, from purple mountain's majesty, and waving grain to rocky shore. Most important of all, you have made a difference in ECE. Rest easily knowing that children sing more because of you.
Love, MaryAnn
Margie and I are working in Southern California today and we all declared today Tom Hunter Day in California. We have an alter set up for you and we played your music and laughed and cried and got mad together. Did you feel all that energy coming from us!! We love you.
Deb, Margie, Kisha, Mary Courtney, and 140 other groupees.
Dear Tom and Family,
I don't know where to start. Mom and the fam told me the news. They told me the blog, but I was reluctant to visit it-making it more real. I wanted to live in my nice fantasy world-where you would soon-year or so be marrying my fiance and I at FCC. But then I realized you will be there, orchastrating from above.
My church here in Maryland holds you in their prayers-and I know you are big time and all-especially having a Day named after you (that's pretty big!) but it turns out people over here even know who you are! But not the Dad, the joker, the director, the real joy jester I know. Thank you for touching my life-as well as many around the country and the world. Not many can say that they have achieved so much, thank you for being "a whispering angel" here, now and forever.
-Mari Wepprecht
Your day...
You're a great person to have a day named after!
Thank you for the songs that marked the milestones of my life and making our wedding even more meaningful and memorable. I was confident in our decision to ask you but the gift you gave us was far greater than we had anticipated. Thank you, again, for the time, dedication, love and wisdom you shared with us during the preparation.
I'm forever bragging about being your niece, am very proud of your accomplishments, and cherish the relationship we have.
I love you, Uncle Tom.
Laurel
Every day is Tom Hunter day in my classroom. I teach Head Start in Everett Washington and have been blessed by attending a Tom Hunter event every year for the last 4 or 5 years in a row.
Because of you I am a better teacher. Because of you I am able to truly celebrate my squirrely little boys instead of merely enduring them. Your love of music and children will continue to bless teachers and their students for many years to come.
Thank-you for coming to our annual Staff Celebration this past December. It was great!
May God hold you in the palm of His hand and wrap His loving arms around you and your family.
"They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall rise up with wings of eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40: 31
Rondee Fuchs
Snohomish County Head Start
Everett WA
Hey there, Tom,
I am anxious to tell you about the journey my husband experienced on "the other side" when he was ill last year. It's an amazing story! Maybe I'll write it down and mail it to Gwen so she can read to you. Rest easily knowing what is to come is better than anything we ever dreamed could be.
Your friend,
MaryAnn
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