Wade, Thomas                                                       * Home  

1965(Vestal Central HS)     2000(Glassboro, NJ with wife Meryl)

Bio from Tom, August 22, 2000

My history, such as it is:  after graduation from VCHS I attended the

Oberlin Conservatory where I studied piano, graduating in '69;  I

attended graduate school studying piano for another 5 years, first at

the University of Connecticut and then at the University of Colorado.

I never became a very good pianist, but still practice and perform,

exclusively on the campus where I teach and can do little harm.  I

married in '70 to Meryl (a Philadelphia girl), who also studied piano at

Oberlin.  We have three children -- two girls and a boy--no

grandchildren yet.   I taught at Eastern Illinois University for two

years '74 - '76 and have been teaching at Glassboro State/Rowan

University in Glassboro, New Jersey for the last 24 years:  elementary

piano and theory to music majors.

When not involved with family or career I spend my time studying and

practicing Raja Yoga, bicycling(on-road only -- I own three bikes), and

tending our gardens --  in that order.

  Commentator:  Bull              ,  Vanderlip       ,  Candace  7/16/00

Candy's love was Tom Wade, though he may not have always known it. Candy, who was at Ohio Wesleyan at that time, drove  to Oberlin (with Donna

Wing?) to see Tom. She later heard that he was engaged and wished she could have attended his wedding

(wasn't invited)… but then again, maybe not. She hopes Tom is doing well in his life. He's on our missing list.

  Commentator:  Corpron         ,  Corpron         ,  Carren  9/4/00

I really liked the snap of Tom wade and his wife I would have known him anywhere very distinguished and a VERY accomplished pianist he played for

Vestal Voices and practiced endlessly as I passsed  by his house on the corner of Oak St and Old Vestal Rd.

I could always hear him playing.

  Commentator:  Corpron         ,  Corpron         ,  Carren  7/16/00

Tom Wade lived on my street, Oak Street he lived on the corner of Old Vestal Road and Oak Street very smart very Quiet hung with Larry Caskill , and Dick

 Sileo, and Joe Sacklad ( all Honor society students )

  Commentator:  Corpron         ,  Corpron         ,  Carren  6/10/00

Tom Wade like I said was my neighbor very smart but friendly always would talk to everyone

  Commentator:  Corpron         ,  Corpron         ,  Carren  6/8/00

Tom Wade was my neighbor on Oak Street

Commentator:  Johnson(2)     ,  n/a               ,  William Michael (Mike)  1/8/01

In response to Tom Wade's comments about Betty Congdon and the party -- I remember that night very well myself. Wouldn't you? What Betty and I were

 doing was sitting (or perhaps reclining) out on the front lawn talking. It was fairly innocent.

As I remember, I knew what I was doing was likely to hurt Tom's feelings if he found out, and I apologize. In those days, any woman who showed the

slightest interest in me was likely to have it returned instantly

regardless of her -- or my -- other commitments. I was not at all sure that Dick Heath would not pound on me for a while. I was talking real fast.

  Commentator:  Krestalude      ,  n/a               ,  James A.  8/26/00

I read Tom's blurb and I got a laugh out of it.  I remember him coming up to my house, but I don't remember the big deal over the M&M's.  My father

owned a building over in Endwell and one of his tenants owned a vending machine business.

We were always in his candy and always had it at our disposal.  I guess that's how I developed my sweet tooth.  Also, that's why

my mouth is now 90% silver.  I've cut down greatly over the years though, thinking about diabetes.

  Commentator:  Mason           ,  Wing             ,  Donna  7/5/00

She remembers Tom Wade as being a gifted pianist... much like Ginger Chandler who she admired too for being so gifted musically.

  Commentator:  Wade            ,  n/a               ,  Thomas Henry  8/22/00

Brian Sorber alerted me to the existance of your work -- this virtual reunion!  What a wonderful use of technology!  I was surprised at the

incredible flood of deeply buried memories that innundated me as I read some of the entries,

opened up the '65 yearbook, and recalled old times.  I was deeply saddened to read of Rich Shirley's death.  I didn't know.

I was stunned to read that I was a "secret love" of Candy Vanderlip.  Quoting the warden in Cool Hand Luke, "What we've got

here is a failure to commuuuunicate!"  Karma.

I visited Jimmy Krestalude after school one day in Junior High.  He was a latch-key child that day, unsupervised by parents and had access to a bowl of

M&Ms.  I couldn't imagine such freedom and luxury!

I hope his acting and day job still have him unsupervised with unlimited M&Ms.

 Commentator:  Wade            ,  n/a               ,  Thomas Henry  8/22/00

Once in the 9th grade I worked up the courage to say "Hi" ( just that one word ) to a girl sitting accross the aisle whose social status was

stratospheres above mine.  I still remember her look for undisguised affront.

The next day Carren Corporon took the time to tell me that my faux pas had been reported to her by the offended party, and that she,

Carren, had defended me.  I was moved by this small kindness.  It still stands out in my mind, obviously.

There was a party in Spring or Summer of '65, perhaps a Sherry Garvey party, to which I took Betty Jean Congdon, whom I was dating at the time. 

Sometime during the party I became separated from her and couldn't locate her.

My nearly constant companion, Dick Heath, was there, saw my predicament and informed me that Betty had gone off with Mike Johnson.  Dick graciously

and drunkenly offered to help me locate them and "beat the shit out of Mikie-Pure."

I was smart enough to instantly realize that if I wished to confront Mike and Betty, Dick's 220 lbs of muscle and bone would make more of an impression

than my 131 lbs of skin and bones.

  Commentator:  Wade            ,  n/a               ,  Thomas Henry  8/22/00

I accepted his offer and off we went into the yard calling "Mikie-Pure, where are you?"  To my amazement  Mike actually interrupted whatever he and

Betty were doing to answer us.

(He must have been snockered but good!  It probably was a Sherry Garvey party.) Well Dick grabbed Mike and started dragging him away to beat him up.

Betty looked very embarassed and worried for Mike and begged me to spare him.

Dick was waiting for my word.  Actually horrified at the prospect of blood I asked Dick to let Mike go.  I think the rest of my

date with Betty didn't go too well that night.

(Dick always talked meaner and tougher than he acted, except on the football field.  I wonder if he were capable of violence.  I never knew him to hurt

anyone.  He was probably grateful that I called  him off.)

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