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I remember meeting TC for the first time, he was at my friend Nicole's house. I noticed him with his beautiful blue eyes and huge smile that never seemed to fade. He was really friendly, everyone's best friend. It then turned out that TC was in my Spanish class and I really got to know him. He was this incredibly sweet, funny guy who always made me laugh and smile. TC and I really became close at the Homecoming dance, we spent the entire time together and danced the last dance together. Soon after, TC and I were working on My Fair Lady together and then one day he came up to me and in the cutest way asked if I would go out with him. Although, it didn't work out between us, I feel fortunate that I was able to get to know such a great person. It upset me that we didn't keep in touch, but I always cared about him and I always will, he will always hold a special place in my heart. May you rest in peace TC. I'll miss you.
Hollie
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The past couple of days have just been pure hell... seriously.. i was pretty good
friends with t.c ...it has been really hard actually believing that he is gone
now.. when i first heard about the news, i didn't think much of it because it
didn't seem real to me. as tc's condition declined, it dawned on me that we might
lose him. when we unfortunately did, it still didn't sink in.. it was only when i
saw the crying facves of others did reality sink in.. it showed me what was
happening was real.. it wasn't a dream anymore...
he was such a great kid.. he was good looking, loved sports, was always smiling,
had a good sense of humor, and always knew had to make someone laugh when they
were down.. there were some days last year that he had me rolling on the floor in
US history..
on friday, the last day he was at school, we were waiting by the door
in english and he kept on saying "hi" to me non- stop and i remembered then how i
thought it was so annoying.. looking back it makes me smile and it brings back
other memories of t.c. i really am going to miss him as will the rest of us.. it
is really heartbreaking that he will not physically graduate with us this year,
but i am sure he will graduate in our hearts and minds and his soul will live on
through each one of us at herricks high school for the rest of our lives,
reminding us of how precious life really is..
Jennifer Tobin
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Tom was the kind of person that evryone wanted to be 'round, just because he was such a cool kid to hang out with...i went to school with from kinder. to 2nd grade and then we stopped talkin bc i left ND..but a couiple of yrs later I saw him and we started talkin again and we hung out couple of times when we both had the chance..I see that some of you were REALLY good friends with him and others saw him as just another kid and then there were his friends like me...in the middle... today I drove by the spot and i had to stop the car bc i just broke down...i couldn't believe he was gone...i started to cry....it's so hard to think about someone you're own age -- being GonE..."why the good, they gotta die so0o0o young?" but you gotta stay strong that's what i tell myself... he's in heaven with his father now..this is my heart right here...i'm here with y'all....i loved him..he was a good one...and sometimes i wonder if there is a god, why do you take the wrong ones?..i wonder that now all the time..
thanx..for everything Tom aka TC aka Tece (and your many other inside names)and thank you for reading my heart.. ----Nick Yannaco
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It
started last year on basketball, when he hung around just because he
liked one of the girls on our team. however..he soon was branded our
"manager" and became a great friend. He was always there with his witty
comments, smiles, and was always there to cheer people up.
I remember
one time I sprained my ankle..he was there on the bench just sitting
there with me and joking around to keep my mind off my foot. He was the
sweetest guy ever, in the fact that he thought about everyone else, and
really never himself. He was a selfless guy who would hang around at
school to 7 or 8 just to watch the girls finish our basketball games. I
remember I always took his fisherman's hat just to spite him, and he
never got mad. all he did was chase me around cuz his hair was screwed
up. When he started going out w/Lisa, I saw those two together very
often. I still remember his bright red st. john's hat which everyone
could see from down the hall cuz he was so tall. i also remembered that
he was friends with a senior that I liked, and he would always mention
the senior's name when I passed cuz i asked Tom to talk to him for me.
Everytime I talked to Lisa, she described him as the "tall skinny Irish
boy." I think that Tommy was the best guy in the whole world because of
his sense of humor, his attitude towards life, and his selfless acts
which made people smile. I think that this whole experience showed me how short life is really is. Tommy never deserved to die Young, and it was a complete dose of reality for me. It was just friday that I was talking wtih him after school. I never expected that he wouldn't be there on Monday morning. And even after the accident, I was more along with my thought of "tommy's gonna pull through. This stuff when they die are only in the movies and television." How wrong I was. I never expected for someone so bubbly and fun to be here one day and gone the next.
TC~ I hope to see ya up there man. Be there to
always make me smile. I Love you! Melody DAi
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tom was one of those people who you could always count on for a friendly hello, or a good conversation if you needed it. Unfortunately, I never realized exactly how important my friendship with Tom was until now. I wasn't one of his closest friends, and I don't even know if he considered us good friends. But I considered him to be somewhat of an anchor in my everyday life. He was a person who I knew for the last few years, and someone who I saw quite frequently. Because of that, he brought a sense of familiarity to school, even when everything else was changing. I'd always walk by him, and yell out, "How 'bout those Mets?" Thomas Charles Ehrhart was a person who I could always count on, whether it was for a simple hi, or an important discussion.
I'll miss you Tom.
Scott Frieberg
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The first time I met him in was in
health class.. just last year.
He was a great guy. He always knew how to make people laugh. He was like
always happy and smiling.
He loved to have fun and play sports. He lived his life to the fullest.
I remember one time we did a project together in health.
We had to make a catchy product that would sell. We came up with the "Sperm
Terminator".
A contraceptive that is a laser and shot sperms.. HaHa. Everyone from health
should remember what
i'm talking about. Our advertsimenets for it was hilarious too.
TC, u enjoyed that product right man?
I can still see ur face smiling from when we presented it to the class. =)
I wish i could have shared more memories with you.
But our time together was short.
Your kindness and attitude towards life has made an impression on me and
inspired me
in many ways. You're one of a kind and i wish i knew alot more people like
you.
I will never forget you Tom... I really won't. We miss you. Take care, and
rest in peace buddy.
our friend Rich Fu
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In 9th grade I was looking through old pictures, and came across my nursery school class picture--and recognized a face. I remember going, "hey that kid goes to my school now!" Sure enough, it was TC.. I became friends with him towards the end of 9th grade. He was just one of those people that could sit down next to anyone and have a conversation with them--and make them smile.
We were never close, but we had a "special" friendship--he LOVED teasing me about the Knicks! He signed my sweet 16 book starting with "knicks suck! just kidding..." But his favorite was "Go NY Go NY.... NO!" and standing up next to me and going "wow you're short!" then i'd punch him or something and he'd make a puppy-dog face like i'd actually hurt him! TC had the kind of humor that made me roll my eyes and start laughing at the same time. I'll miss his baby blues and his smile that could make the world feel better.
These past few days we've all learned that we could be here today, gone tomorrow, that life is short and we shouldn't take it for granted. Most of all, I've learned that I need to tell those people I care about how much I do. For some reason, last week at school before the accident.. something forced me to go out of my way to see TC and say hi and talk to him as often as possible. Something I can't explain, but it happened and I'm greatful my last memories of TC are ones of laughter. Everyone, please be strong, but don't be afraid to show your emotions. It's the best form of healing.
*and i have the sense to recognize that i don't know how to let you go, every moment marked with apparitions of your soul, i'm ever swifly moving trying to escape this desire .. the yearning to be near you, i do what i have to do...* Sarah McLachlan
*The Class of 2001 may graduate one body less, but TC, you will always be in our hearts*
Pam Sackoor
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have known Tom for many years. I remember meeting him at a basketball game at my friend steve's house. Since then, I have become a friend of Tom Ehrhart, of course he was a frined to everyone. I can't think of one enemy he had. He was such a joyful person who was always smiling and laughing.I played all kinds of sports with him, he was good at almost every sport we played, hockey, baseball, basketball, football. I was also on a soccer team with him for three years. He was the funniest guy on the team and always made the team laugh even when we were losing. He could beat me in everyone of them. He could block any shot I took in basketball, he could always hit my pitches, he could always outrun me and out throw me.I envied him for his athletic abilities and his ability to always smile and laugh.
The last time I was with him was when we went to a Mets Game at Shea Stadium about 2 weeks ago. I remember him criticizing me for being a Yankee fan and laughing at me when I got tar on my shoes. It was a fun experience mainly because of Tom even thought the train broke down at the stop before ours. I remember him making his mother take us to play minigolfing after she picked us up even though it was nearly midnight. We played minigolfing for a long time just driving balls, and of course I lost to him. He was a great guy and I was never unhappy when I was with him, he could always make me smile. When my friend had called me and told me what had happened I was shocked and speechless. When I found out that he had died on Monday night I couldn't stop crying in bed. He was a great guy and the world has truly lost a great kid. He could have done so much for this world but I guess he already influencing people's lives. If you judge a man's sucess my the amount of friends he has, then Tom was the most succesful person I know. I will truly miss him and everyone will always miss him, I know I do. I can still remmeber his voice and remember the last time I saw him.
Chris Nyberg
"Naudberg" or "Newburgh"
(Erhart's nicknames for me)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TC- what a kid. i knew him since i was in 3rd grade when my friend keith sales
was his best friend. i would go over keiths house and there was TC one
hell of a friend. one friend i will never forget!! Tt was nice having a
friend that always would make u laugh i was talking to Tc the other day
(9/7/00) were he told me to join his fantsy football league were we would
play but we never got a chance to. The most memorable moment in my life with
tc was on 8/27/00 when me TC and 2 other people went to the met game
together. At the game me and tc and Chris Hart were cracking jokes about
joining the golf team the plan was for TC to join and me and chris to be his
Catty when he was on the team. After the game we went to the golf course at
about 1 Am and were taking the balls and smacking them on to marcus ave that
was one hell of the time. TC one hell of a friend that will always be inside
of me MAy u R.I.P Your friend, Steve ROSa A.k.a Rosa to U
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I first met TC in band during my freshman year. He was the only kid i knew who was as tall as me, and weighed less than me! I got close to Tom during my sophmore year when we played baseball together. I'll never forget how Tom helped me out during practice, and helped me adapt to the outfield, which I had never played before. We used to chat while we waited for coach to hit us pop-ups. I'll never forget his smiling face coming down the hall as he screamed out my name. He was one of the only people I knew who always had something nice to say, or a joke to lift up your spirits when you were down. I'll never forget the last conversation we had. It was during the first week of school this year, when Tom found me in the hallway and asked "How about those Mets?" Yeah, Tom was a die-hard fan, just like me, and we enjoyed talking baseball together. Tom's spirit will always live on inside of me. I know I'm gonna see you on that baseball diamond in the sky in the future, Tom. *RIP TC*
-Alan Ratner
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tom... I hope you know how much you meant to everyone. We all love you and no matter what you will live in our hearts forever. Tom was the kind of guy who you can easily get along with. He was sweet and caring. Tom and I were good friends. I have known him for three years and all three years were worth every minute of them. I cherish his friendship and just because Tom has gone on doesn't mean he has broken any bonds with any of us. He is probably smiling down at us from heaven. Now that he is with his father I think he's is happy and he feels safe. We will all miss him, but remember to keep him and his memories in you heart. No matter what happens Tom... I will never forget you and all the memories we have together. Rest In Peace.
Love Always,
Khyati Mehta
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We think we live in the perfect world,
One where we are invincible,
Where we can't be hurt,
Everything happens to someone else,
Someone we don't know,
But never to us,
So clueless from reality,
It's so near our face,
Just beyond the tip of our nose,
There lies the truth,
So blind that it's really not even there,
Through times passing,
Our nosetip becomes visible,
Like a sunrise,
To show us the light,
It brightens the darkness,
We live in the night,
Our own deep dark place,
A very safe place,
Until the real truth arises,
We come from our false world,
To the very real one,
The cruel reality we all come to know,
The dreaded truth is not well-liked.
My name is Michael Jaronczyk of New Hyde Park and Thomas Ehrhart was a friend of mine that was well-liked by many people. I am very upset to have lost him to a car accident. I dedicate this poem to him with all my heart because he was such a great guy. I played baseball and soccer with him and I was in Boys Scouts with him, too. He lived behind my aunt's house, where I saw him on many occasions. Thomas Ehrhart will be greatly missed by everyone and this poem was written in his memory.
~from Michael Jaronczyk
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Hi everyone...I'm Lauryn Candreva and if you can't think of who I am I think that I was just about the only at the hospital who was more in absolute shock than absolute tears. I guess that I just really didn't think that it was happeneing, I felt more there to help everyone else than to actually sit down and realize what an absolutely perfect soul was slipping right by us. During school an announcement was made, and sad to say it my dense head still didn't realize anything...I walked into my english class and looked at the seat behind me thinking , oh, TC must be absent today...and when the class went on my teacher didn't remark so it was just oh ok he'll be in tomorrow...which I only wish were the truth. I also wish that I had gotten to know TC a lot better than i had. He was such a great person but I guess it was one of those things that we all take for granted. I have hung out with him a few times and have to say that some of my funniest memories of high school were sitting next to him in band while we both "attempted" to "play" the clarinet. He was just the greatest person ever and whatever God's reasoning was it better have been a good one because it has really hurt alot of people in the process. While I was at work today it finally hit me that one of the greatest souls was gone. I can't start to express the convulsions i went through and shortness of breath because I'm sure that we've ALL experienced it in some form from Saturday night on. I have to say that as absolutely HORRIBLE the whole entire situation is, I always learned to try to see a bright side. Through the tragedy that friends and family have experienced, TC is letting others live when they thought it almost impossible by donating his organs. He has also brought us together as a school and community. I could never imagine talking to anyone that I encountered at the hospital. We all had one common bond -- We were all there for TC -- I'm not sure that everyone had known that before they saw another's face at the hospital. He has helped us learn what it is to appreciate something, whether it be his friendship, sense of humor or whatever we loved him for, which there is an ongoing and neverending list. By reading all these letters I think that we can safely assume he was EXTREMELY WIDELY loved and will always live on in our hearts. All we need to do is learn that we can all talk about him to eachother. I think that we are our best medicines because we can all relate. Please feel free to contact me to talk via email...
MUCH LOVE TO TC----BABY YOU WILL ALWAYS LIVE IN OUR HEARTS---WE WILL NEVER FORGET YOU OR THE JOY YOU BRANG TO OUR LIVES---THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE. I HOPE YOU ENJOY IT THERE WITH YOUR FATHER--UNTIL WE SEE EACHOTHER AGAIN I WILL ALWAYS BE THINKING AND PRAYING OF YOU...
<3 Lauryn Candreva
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I can still see the first time i met TC. I was a freshman during 8th period lunch and we started 2 play handball together. Everyone at that period had a bond that was felt all year cuz we always had that 30 mins. to play hand ball together. Then it moved to my freshman baseball season
where TC had us laughing all year. He was one of those guys that always had the biggest smile on his face and didnt let the smaller things in life like test grades bother him. He was the best kid to have in math class cuz he simply enjoyed himself. Though he would hand his hw in 2 weeks late, Mrs. Choi still enjoyed having him in class. I loved having him as a teammate, as a classmate, and most of all as a friend. We grew really tite as the years continued and I always told him that I enjoyed having him in class and on the field more than anyone. 2000 bar beach was really cool to man. We had a lot of fun. You dont realize how close you r to someone until they r gone. After just one short year, me and TC were good friends and that continued thru my sophmore year and into physics class this year where we were lab partners from the second the bell rang on day one. TC bro....i'll never forget u, and u'll always b in my heart kid. You were a true friend, and I will remember u in the classroom, on the field, on the b-ball court, in the halls, and ofcourse the times we just hung out. I tell this to everyone man, u really r the people's champion and i'll never forget that about u. RIP bro..we luv ya kid
Vin Ochani aka Vinnie Mac
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I didn't know TC that well. TC had a few classes with me, and that's how I met him. In class he would always be smiling, and working so hard, it's really hard to believe that he's not going to be there anymore smiling. The funny part was that he never sucked up or did anything, and he was always the teachers pet, everyone loved him. I wish I did get to know TC better, and that I could have been more than just a school friend. He was one of the sweetest people I had ever met, he would always lend me his walkman!! TC, everyone will miss you so much..... RIP TC, we love you!!!
Danielle Bauer
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I didnt know T.C. that well, but last year we had spanish together. I remember so clearly us making fun of Ms. Throne.... ha we had so much fun or the time when we would have 2 bring out books for review and T.C. would always forget........and hed laugh and make up so dumb ass excuse.... he was the best and even though i didnt know him that well just those memories in spanish class and everything i heard he will always stay in my heart 4eva.... he was madddddd chillin and i wish i had gotten to know him better.........Rest in Peace Sweetie.........we love u
~Cindy Morico~
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hey everyone its nick tullo
i just wanted to say a couple of words in reguard to tom ehrhart. recently in the past two days i have struggled to get through school. i realize now that just trying to hold back my tears just makes everything worse. Thankyou to all those who were there for me in the past two days i appreciate all your suppourt. the reason why i have been getting so upset is that i have known tom since when i was in kindergarden. we shared the same bus for many years. he was always concerned to make sure i made the bus on the way home he stopped the driver sometimes just to make sure i got on. he has touched my life in so many ways that are not explainable. i now feel that my meaning in life is to live the way tom did. he took his time to help other and make them smile. i can still picture him in my head his big freckles and braces. he meant so much to me and i wish he was still here. i prayed to god the night of the accident for him to take my life but it was evident that tom was the one God wanted to hold onto for safe keepings. today in english class i began to cry. my teacher recommended to meet that i write about tom to remember all the great things he has done for me. i now read this letter whenever i need suppourt from tom to help me get through the hard times you might want to consider doing this also anyway here it is:
I was sitting in class today thinking about the accident,
if only i was there to stop you this would of never happened.
When i heard the news i started to cry,
that's when i prayed to God and wish that you wouldn't die.
I asked God to take my life instead of yours,
but God refused mine because he wanted yours to adore.
You lived a life that many can't dream of,
but now your with your dad up above.
When i saw your picture in the paper with the smile on your face,
I knew you were happy in your own special place.
I wish i could be with you right now to tell you that i miss you,
but God says my time will come when i will lay in the grave beside you.
I don't know when God will take me with him maybe tomorrow, in a month or maybe 40 years,
but now ill sit back and think of you and wipe away my tears.
When i see you in the future we will be happy together,
but for now your in my heart and there you will stay forever.
I thankyou for all the memories that we shared,
which showed me how much you really cared.
With your big smile and your blue eyes,
I miss you so much to me you never really died.
T.C. Ehrhart you will remain in my heart forever,
I love you T.C. Ehrhart one day we will be together.
R.I .P Tom Ehrhart Now and Forever
...remember crying is the medicine to letting all your emotions out dont let anyone ever make you feel that crying is a bad thing it will only make you feel worse. i love you all. I LOVE YOU TOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
from Nick Tullo
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Dear everyone,
Today was really hard. In one hand it was great to see how many people cared, but on the other, so hard. People who knew him loved him for his sarcasm and always expected witty comments. From playing sports with him I realized just the Kind of person he was. My friend Bryan that also new Tom said it best. God takes the "bad" people because they are not good enough for the earth, however he also takes the good because they are too good for the earth. We all know what category TC was in and now all we can do is pray for his family to be strong. He will always be remembered by many. No matter what form they saw him . "The tall white boy" or as I called him while we would play basket ball "The short kid on skinny white stilts" All those names out of love and respect. And for all those having trouble moving on as we all will, just close your eyes and you will see him standing there in his fisherman hat smiling at you. Please send this to anyone who didnt get it that would care enough.
Love always
Justin (shaky pants) Damers
T.C. WE ALL MISS YOU R.I.P.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tom Erhart may not have been my best friend or even close to me as he was to some of my own close friends, but i was a little friends with him. the past few days i have seen how this horrible tragedy somewhat brought the herrick high school population together. its just a shame that it took something like this to make that finally happen. Tom was such a great person inside and out. he was one of those guys that will be somebody in life not just a someone!!! he touched every persons heart whether he knew it or not. the past few days i have shed so many tears that i feel that i have no more tears to shed. but mrs.oleary helped me to realize thats not true anymore. i will always remember the few times i hung out with him and laughed about the silly things, especially when he was gonna tell a person i liked that i like him. but he wouldn't do that b/c he's TC, a respectable kind of guy. everyone be strong! i am trying to hold myself together and i hope that even those of u i don't know that u can help me so i can help u. those of u who need to talk to someone u are more then welcome to emial me and i will gladly give u my number. sometimes its weird- u are in the same grade as someone and ready to graduate with them and then the next day they aren't there. May Tom rest in peace and live in a happier place in heaven with his father! Tom will always remain part of the class of 2001. everything is deticated to u hun. we love u!!!
Love Always,
Jenn Biegel (class of 2001)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
One moment of silence is not enough to remember everything about a person like Tom Ehrhart. He was a person with a heart of gold, always wanting to please everyone and always ready to help anyone. His sense of humour, his smile that spread from ear to ear and how his blue eyes would twinkle every time he made someone happy will always be embedded in my mind.
It is hard to understand how a person like Tom can be taken away from us. He was someone with a lot of potential to succeed, due to his passion and dedication to his goals. For someone like him to have his life cut short is a tragedy to say the least.
I guess while everyone is reading this I feel the need to speak what is on my mind. Although it takes tragedy to learn a lesson, I pray that everyone has learned from this. We are not invinsible and accidents do happen. Everyone says it can't happen to me, but it can and it did. So please I beg you, if not for you and if for noone else, do it for Tom. Be careful. Wear your helmets. Obey the speed limits. Pay attention to stop signs. I would not wish this pain and grief we are all going hrough upon my worst enemy. It broke my heart to see teenagers that attended Herricks High School speeding down Shelter Rock Road the day they announced T.C.'s death. So please, for everyone's sake, be careful when you are driving.
Another thing I would like to say is to cherish your life. It is a gift so appreciate it and live it to the fullest. Do not waste your time hating others, and being jealous of things you do not have. Instead embrace your friends and be happy with all that you have.
Although Tom's body is no longer with us we can never forget him. The memories we shared are forever embedded in my heart and will always be cherished. I pray that he has found his father in heaven and that they will be safe together.
Thomas Ehrhart may your soul Rest in Peace
~Sarah Shmuel
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ok well here we go at first when I was reading all of these things I got in
my mail, I figured id just read them and think bout him, but I realized I
have to do something else because I cannot just sit here. After the grueling
day that most of us spent together at the hospital I consider some of you
that I just met my family. The question that remains is why did it take a
tragedy like this to bring us together. TC though will always remain in our
hearts and I know none of us will ever forget him. if you haven't heard
already this Sunday at the 530 mass it will be completely dedicated to him.
After mass with the youth ministry there will be a get together were we will
all go and share our memories of TC. i think that it is important no matter
what religion we are that we be there and try and remain strong for the
family. i know personally that i am still in shock and don't even know what
to do with myself, i sit and question why it had to be him, why it had to be
someone that we loved so much. but i know in my heart and i truly believe
that he is in a better place with his father looking down on all of us as
our guardian angel. his family unfortunately has been hit with a terrible
tragedy and i think its important for us to be a second family to his mother,
brothers, sister, and the rest of the family. i know that i need to talk to
people but if anyone needs to talk email me and ill give u my number
thank u all and may Thomas (TC) Rest In Peace
Barrett
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This poem is in memory of TC.
When tomorrow starts without me,
> > And I'm not there to see,
> > If the sun should rise and find your eyes
> > All filled with tears for me;
> > I wish so much you wouldn't cry
> > The way you did today,
> > While thinking of the many things,
> > We didn't get to say.
> > I know how much you love me,
> > As much as I love you,
> > And each time that you think of me,
> > I know you'll miss me too;
> > But when tomorrow starts without me,
> > Please try to understand,
> > That an angel came and called my name,
> > And took me by the hand,
> > And said my place was ready,
> > In heaven far above,
> > And that I'd have to leave behind
> > All those I dearly love.
> > But as I turned to walk away,
> > A tear fell from my eye
> > For all my life, I'd always thought,
> > I didn't want to die.
> > I had so much to live for,
> > So much left yet to do,
> > It seemed almost impossible,
> > That I was leaving you.
> > I thought of all the yesterdays,
> > The good ones and the bad,
> > I thought of all the love we shared,
> > And all the fun we had.
> > If I could relive yesterday,
> > Just even for a while,
> > I'd say good-bye and kiss you
> > And maybe see you smile.
> > But then I fully realized,
> > That this could never be,
> > For emptiness and memories,
> > Would take the place of me.
> > And when I thought of worldly things,
> > I might miss come tomorrow,
> > I thought of you, and when I did,
> > My heart was filled with sorrow.
> > But when I walked through heaven's gates,
> > I felt so much at home.
> > When God looked down and smiled at me,
> > From His great golden throne,
> > He said, "This is eternity,
> > And all I've promised you."
> > Today your life on earth is past,
> > But here life starts anew.
> > I promise no tomorrow,
> > But today will always last,
> > And since each day's the same way
> > There's no longing for the past.
> > You have been so faithful,
> > So trusting and so true.
> > Though there were times
> > You did some things
> > You knew you shouldn't do.
> > But you have been forgiven
> > And now at last you're free.
> > So won't you come and take my hand
> > And share my life with me?
> > So when tomorrow starts without me,
> > Don't think we're far apart,
> > For every time you think of me,
> > I'm right here, in your heart.
> > Send this to all those you care about...
> > Because you never know what's going to happen tomorrow...
> > Show them how much you care, before it's too late...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Many of you probably dont even know me but I thought I might try to offer these words of comfort.
Grieve not...
nor speak of me with tears...
but laugh and talk of me...
as though I were beside you.
I loved you so...
'twas Heaven here with you
Love Pat
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hey Guys. For those of you who dont know me, im Katie. i went to Notre Dame and Herricks with TC. Although i never was best friends with him, i was close enough to know how great of a person he was. Im really glad to see that all of you have too, and are taking the time out to console each other and keep tc's memory alive. All of the letters i have read are wonderful, and they really show how much TC will truly be missed and remembered. I too, did some writing in school today, when we all took a moment of silence in memory of TC. Its not very good, but i just would like to share it with the rest of you. Rest in Peace TC, we'll all miss you.
You weren't supposed to leave us Tece,
I thought you'd get up and walk away.
When i saw you in that hospital bed i cried-
But i thought you'd be okay.
You weren't supposed to leave us Tece,
You weren't supposed to die.
I really thought I'd see your smile again,
Or that twinkle in your blue eye.
Last night i saw you dying Tece,
It really made me cry.
You may not have considered me a friend anymore,
But i sure considered you mine.
Looking at your chest slowly pumping,
I just thought it wasn't true.
There was no way you were going to leave us Tece,
No way- it couldn't be you.
People asked you for one more game Tece,
One more walk to the park.
They promised to let you win this time,
and say no joking remarks.
You were a great kid Tece,
Im sorry you had to go.
But where ever you are I know you're happy,
Believe me, I just know.
I prayed real hard that you'd come back Tece,
I know it's selfish to say.
But God knows whats best for you,
Because he took your life away.
So smile like you always have,
As you stand by your father's side.
Crack a joke, and laugh real hard,
And keep your sparkling eyes open wide.
I'll miss you Tece,
I really will.
But until we meet again,
Goodbye.
Rest In Peace.
Please pass this on to anyone who knew TC. We have to keep him alive.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hey guys. Most of you probably don't know me very well, but I'm Rebecca Skrezyna. I have known TC for about 2 years. I am so happy that I got to know him. There was this one time, when people were over my house, and he was there. Something smelled, and we all had a feeling it was dog sh*t. Everyone looked at their shoes and who had dragged it in my house but TC! It was all over. We sprayed my house with vaniella leaving Lisa V. almost having an asthma attack. TC was one of the greatest, and definitlely funny people I have come to know. It's nice to know how many people care for him and to see all of the friends he had. Please keep him in your thoughts and memorys all the time. He's happy where he is now with his father. As much as we all wish he was with us now, he's in peace, and he will rest there.
Rebecca
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear the beloved friends of the late Thomas Charles Wesley Ehrhart (better
known as TC),
My name is Lisa Valletutti. You may not know me, never-the-less it
doesn't matter. You may not even know who TC was, but I'm asking you to just
take a moment of your time to read this email and to express your love. As
many of you know, Tom and I were very close earlier on this year. Although
we didnt speak much the beginning of this school year, I still knew that he
cared about me. To those of you who have not yet been told, TC was
pronounced dead yesterday, September 11, 2000 at 4:30 pm. Myself, along with
a few others were permitted to go visit him alone for the final time.
However, most of the people that we on the list yesterday went up to say
goodbye to him as well. This experience has not only brought me closer to
God, but I think it has brought me to him as well. Everyone that knows him
knows that if God were to pick one person, it's a shame that it had to be TC.
We all knew him as the "tall skinny Irish boy"; many just knew him as "Tom".
But others, such as myself, and the closest of his friends, knew him on a
much deeper level. Tom has touched every single one of our lives in some
way, shape, or form. I attended school today, Tuesday, and was alarmed to
see the amount of people that were grieving from this experience. If you
would have asked him, he would have said that he "was a loser and had no
friends." Apparently, that wasn't true. Tom has the absolute biggest heart,
and even if you only said hello once to him at school or whatever, you knew
just how special he really was.
This accident, despite how terrible it really was, brought many people
together. I know that it has completely changed my life, and that losing Tom
as a really close friend has not only brought me closer to God, but closer to
everyone else that knew him. The wake will be held at New Hyde Park Funeral
Home on Lakeville Road on Thursday and Friday of this week. They will be
held from 2-4 and 7-10 on both days. The funeral mass is going to be held at
Notre Dame church at 10:15 on Saturday morning. TC's accident was just
another one of those bumps in the road that God throws at us. That's how I
know that this is only for the best. Tom is with his father, Joe, now. I
promised him Mets in 2000, and I let him know just how many people really
cared, even the ones that he didn't even know. On Sunday night, over 100
students from Herricks came to the hospital with hope that they would see
him. Unfortunately, even his closest of friends were denied access to see
him, which left many people in tears. I thank God that I met Tom, because he
will always, especially now, occupy a deep part of my heart. Please keep him
in your prayers. God gave him an ultimatum. He told him that he could
either stay with us, or go home with his father. Any of us that really knew
TC knew that the one thing he really strove for was to see his father.
During school today, or at least what I attended, I spent most of my time
in the guidance office, speaking to his guidance counsler, Mr. Krant, as well
as my own, Mrs. Kriess. Myself and a few others came up with the idea of
starting a campaign in his honor at school for enforcement of bicycle helmet
usage. I think that this is an excellent idea because it will not only carry
on TC's name to people forever, but it will help to save thousands of lives
each year from accidents just like this one. Also, as most of you know, on a
more positive note, Tom is donating his organs to people that really need
them. What eased my pain somewhat was knowing how many happy families there
were out there last night, because they had hope for their own child to live.
I know that at least I, and many others also want to discourage driving
before 17. One can only imagine with this 16 year old driver is going
through right now, because he was driving underage. If people just waited
until they were 17, they'd have had more practice, and accidents like this
one may have never occurred.
I know that I am not going to let TC's accomplishments go unnoticed. I
am doing everything in my power to keep his name alive in every single one of
our hearts. I can't promise you that I can talk for long, but if you have
any questions, you're better off dropping me an email. Please forward to
anyone that you think would care. Please be strong. Thank you so much for
your time. He'd be so proud of himself right now. I apologize if you
received this email more than once. They're all the same. Keep him in your
prayers and in your hearts. We all love him.
Love Always,
Lisa Valletutti
"Come, follow Me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of Men"
-Matthew 4:19
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
hello everyone this is joe ferrante...i am a senior at herricks..i would just like to thank on behalf of myself and everyone who knew him in any way shape or form for visiting tom. tom and i go back to the fifth grade when i had first moved on the block and tommy and chris hart had approached me...i remember it word for word...tom was one of my first friends when i had moved here...i remember the many times we played skip ball...the many memories of sports teams in and out of high school...he was the first person to attempt to teach me that god awful game soccer..high school again was no different always there to talk to me...always buggin me about the damn mets..
can someone explain to me how someone can always have a smile on his face..through good and bad..AND DEATH...only an amazing person that was specially sent by god..one hell of an amazing person..someone that god spent a little more time on...that was tommy...today i was listening to a song by eric clapton called "tears in heaven"...the song by eric clapton was dedicated to one he loved that had passed...we all love tom...
today it was brought to my attention that peer leadership had announced me and lisa guillino to be the heads of a very important process of bringin up money for the scholarship fund as well as a surprise that will be seen during the wake...i have taken a further step to add much more to those hopeful accomplishments for tommy...
Tommy has touched the lives of all those that have cared about him and spoken to him..he has brought out happiness and joy for so many people...it is so sad to see a man of such great attributes that would have been given to a society..lying before those doctors helpless..we all know he is in a far better place.. the poems have been so great to read and see...and while i am not sure why i was nominated to take such a responsibilty i fully promise in the spirit of tommy that i will do what i can and do it to the best of my ability..i will push for what the people who know and love tom want..it is those whose voices have been herd that gets the benifits..those who had known tommy as i have, have the right of way to tributes, charity, etc...
i ask on behalf of all those that loved tommy to believe in me...i need help..i beg for help from you..this is something that i would love to so many people participate in....to everyone's whose screename had appeard on the abundance of mail recieved by me i checked those profiles that were available in order to get to know you better...we will all miss our dear friend tc...but while gone physically he is alive and perfectly well spiritually and the benifit is that he is in all our hearts..tommys life and spirit will live on with all those who remember him and talk about him as days go by.....
please never forget the smile on his face...that smile is with me forever and i will cherish it..i am sure people do not know this but as well as lisa i am very dedicated to the word of god.. i have prepared the speech i hope to make for tommy....
REMEMBER tommy has the prayes across the nation and even more impressive the entire world..TOMMY LIVES..and he will forever....never forget...
Psalms 111- THE WORKS OF THE LORD ARE GREATLY SOUGHT OUT OF ALL THEM THAT HAVE PLEASURE THERIN..HIS WORKS ARE HONORABLE AND GLORIOUS AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS ENDURETH FOREVER..HE HAS DONE HIS WONDERFUL WORKS MADE TO BE REMEMBERED. THE LORD IS GRACIOUS AND FULL OF COMPASSION.
PROVERBS 3- THOU SHALT FIND FAVOUR AND GOOD UNDERSTANDING IN THE SIGHT OF GOD AND MAN..TRUST IN THE LORDS DOINGS WITH ALL THINE HEART NOT YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING AND BELIEFS..THE LORD SHALL BE OUR CONFIDENCE
1ST THESSOLONIANS 5- ALWAYS REJOICE, UNCEASINGLY PRAY, IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS..FOR WHAT IS DONE IS THE WILL OF GOD..
REMEMBER TOM LIVES...
joe ferrante
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TC was one of the more genuine people I knew at Herricks. In a sea of teenagers, it's hard to find someone who stands out from the crowd. One of these rare people was TC. I sat next to TC for three years in band, and I consider myself very lucky to have known him. The thing that stands out most in my memory of TC was his sense of humor. He always had a funny comment to make, or something to say to make me smile on a bad day. It made my day brighter, knowing that there would be someone else there with me to struggle at the clarinet with and laugh with as we desperately tried to get the notes right. I will always remember TC, and I know everyone else in Herricks will too.
Rest in Peace.
*Ashleigh*
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
i know this is a tough time for us all to realize that someone we knew past
away. i ask that everyone says a prayer for his family and him. his poor
mother had her husband and now her son pass away. may he rest in peace with
his father.
-andrew
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tom was one of those kids who always wore a smile, if we could all as
hard as it is going to be stay strong for him and and pray for him and his
family. His poor family has been plagued with tragedy, and they need love
and support, if we could all be there to help them out. As Andrew said he is
with his father, hopefully he is happy, he is in a better place now. To know
someone our age to pass on is a terrible thing a reality check for all of us,
we have to stay strong and be there for each other, we are all going through
a rough time. Just keep praying and keep Tom in our hearts. Thanks for the
memories.
Tom you will never be forgotten. You are with God now, by you be
forever happy and Rest in Peace
STOJA
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
i loved t.c sooooooooooooooo much......... he was the FIRST PERSON EVER TO
SPELL MY LAST NAME RIGHT ON THE FIRST TRY!!......i promised who ever was
sitting on my stoop that day ANYTHING they ever wanted if they spelt it
write....after 2 people had failed T.C pulled through....but the gentlemen he
was..he didnt ask for anything.....he told me...."come on, you think im
actually gonna make u do somthig for me?!?!?" it was reallly sweet...even
though it was a small thing it ment a lot to me.....he was a very extreamly
sweet guy--but we all have to be strong...i know u guys are proably
thinking...whoa look who this is coming from..someone who cries very loud and
cant control herself...but i promise EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU, i will try to
keep myself, joe, tk, and everyone else out there together....i promise
R.I.P --T.C. (Charlie)
Jessica Schacor
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I don't think I've ever known anyone who was always happy like TC was. He
was a good kid and never did anything to hurt anyone. I've known him for
over 12 years, and I never thought anything like this could have ever
happened. I basically grew up with him, taking for granted that he'd be
there. These past few days have made me realize how important friends are
and the impact they have on my life as well as others, so cherish every
moment you spend with your friends and help each other through this tough
time. Try to be strong. I think TC would want everyone to happy, and I
think he will be also. Keep TC in your prayers, in your hearts, and in your
memories.
-George
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You ever hear that saying "you dont know what you have until you lose
it?" atleast for me that is exactly what happened... Tom was my friend,,, not
my best friend or anything but a friend. we've known each other for 10
years. One thing i can say about TC is that he always did what u wanted..not
matter what. Tom you will forever be missed and never be forgotten. Rest In
Peace bro.
-Mike G
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Even though most of you dont know me i new TC for a while! he was always
soo nice to me he had everythign going for him. When he was going out with
my sister he would hang out wiht me most of the time i thought it was pretty
cool! he's the coolest person ever!!! I LOVE YUO SOO MUCH!!!!! TC R.I.P!!!!
P.s everyone has to be strong have faith in yourself! trust yourself always!
Jill Valletutti
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Although many of u people dont know me, neither did TC. I probably introduced
myself once. and saw him twice. From hearing all u guys, wow he was such a
great guy huh, remember those memories. Keep it real, i regret never having
such great memories with such an amazing guy. U all r so lucky yet U guys r
so so strong, keep it up, Although he's gone-His memories Live forever. RIP.
Much Love,
Jess Lee
PS May him and his families prayers be within u always..
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I didn't know TC at all... I've seen him walk through the hallways once or
twice, but I never was lucky enough to get to know him. But for all the
people that did know him that I am friends with, they have all told me the
same thing... That he was the nicest person that basically any of them had
ever met. I regret the fact that I didn't know him, I wish that i did. His
life was short, but it was so well worth living due to the fact that everyone
that has ever known him, has shed a tear for him on this day. That means
that he touched everyone's life in one way or another. I prayed to God every
day that he was in the hospital that he would recover and be happy once
again. And god answered my prairs... He has recoverd because he is resting in
peace, pain free.... and he is with his father, and that, im sure, brought
him back to happines. Rest In Peace!
~JiLL~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
T.C.... what else could i say man... Rest In Peach.. You were one of
bright happy people in Herricks High school, and a hard working student who
know right from wrong. Althought u may have left us so early in the year,
you will be remember past graduation.... You will be remember until The day
we meet again... We all Love you T.C., and i hope your watching from above so
you can see just how many people here love you, miss you and pray every night
for you and your family.... We will always remember the great TC Of herricks
2001... RIP ....
Allon Theilen
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My family knew TC's pretty well. and my brother and his brother matt were
also friends. Although I didn't really get to know TC, I know what a great
person he was by what everyone is saying. Even though his life was not as
long as we wished it would be, he was put here with a purpose and that
purpose was fulfilled or else God would not have chosen this time to take him
into heaven and reunite him with his father. Wherever he is now, we know he
is happy and watching over us. You guys are so amazing and strong! I didnt
know him but I shed my tears too and it is so hard. Keep his memories alive
and never forget what a great person he was! RIP TC we love you
~Anna Lundgren~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I've known TC for a while now, starting with some neighborhood baseball and basketball games we both played. I never was very close to him, but I got to know him pretty well, mainly by being his partner in Spanish class for two years. He always had something funny to say, and if it wasn't funny, it was about the Mets. A quick funny story: One day we were doing vocab about bullfights, and I asked him which page we were on and he said "the bull sheet." We were both laughing really hard, but nobody else in the class heard it--except for Ms. Throne. "That was close," she said to us. Only with Tom could something like that happen. Like everyone else, I was shocked and devistated when I heard of the accident and eventually his passing. You never think about how special a person is until they're gone, which I now realize. It's struck me how everyone has pulled together to deal with it; I'm amazed at how many people care. But it's no suprise, Tom was one of those people that was friends with everyone he ever came in contact with. Tom Ehrhart, R.I.P. You will be missed greatly.
Here is a poem I wrote:
Why do bad things happen to good people?
Why are the ones that make you smile,
The ones who early on die?
17 short years, immeasurable impact.
Tragedy strikes,
Lives forever changed.
And a boy holding his father in heaven.
Hugs and tears,
Eerie silence.
Friends having to face their fears.
A community together as one,
One life lost,
Countless lives affected.
But memories last forever.
-Dan Mandelkorn-
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