Tam lost his fight with cancer last Friday. He was in extreme pain and his decline was fast. He did not get the gentle passing and care that he deserved. I am still in shock. I left the hospital after he was finally able to get relief from his terrible pain. He was finally calm and peacefull. His mother Pat remained by his side, refusing to leave despite my encouraging her to go home and get some rest. I believed Tam would recover. I came back to the hospital to bring him the lip balm that I had forgotten to leave. He passed right before I got back to his room.

I remember Tam as a child, teasing me by tormenting my favorite stuffed animals. I recall him being a dare devil doing brave and foolish gravity defying acts on his bike. He took risks that I wouldn't because I was afraid of getting hurt or getting in trouble, he wasn't. The thrill and excitement he felt was evident when he shared the stories of his escapades and near escapes. He was a dare devil and did not know when to say when.

Tam always loved music. At a young age he made a drum kit out of baskin robbins icecream bins. He gave me my first record album when I was in second grade. Tam always wanted to share all the good things that he encountered. He loved to make people laugh. He was forever attempting some off the wall skit to get a chuckle and smile from his friends. Tam was generous, foolish, thoughtful, kind, and stubborn as hell. He will be missed by many.

Please contribute and share to help his family cope with this tragedy. He was the bread winner. Every little bit helps.