Tom Ellison -- R.I.P.
-Our Friend and USMS member Thomas P. Ellison died tragically Tuesday, May 17, 2011, of a brain injury. He was 60.
-Tom, aka Mr. Moose, Ralph, Rocky Walker, and Stillhere, was a frequent contributor on this forum. Tom swam for years with the North Texas group and was a Top - 10 ranked long distance racer during the late 1990's.
-Tom was very proud of his service in the Marine Corps.
-At age 25, he was severely injured. Tom spent many months in the hospital recovering, but those injuries continued to affect him for the rest of his life. Despite this, his fierce competitive spirit led him to success in USMS as well as the Alcatraz and Golden Gate swims in San Francisco.
-Tom later married and raised a family in NC, FL, and TX. He worked in the airline industries for many years.
-Tom's sense of humor and irony never failed. He was a gentleman who treated all with respect. He leaves behind three children and many friends.
This news comes as such a shock. I've not been on the forums in so long. Tom was always such a gentleman and often defended me during the flame wars a few yearss ago. He had so many struggles...we talked a lot about life and the challenges he faced. I'm so sad I lost contact with him. It just goes to show you that life is fragile and we have to cherish every moment. Rest in peace Tom. You are finally out of pain. I'll miss you my friend.
This news comes as such a shock. I've not been on the forums in so long. Tom was always such a gentleman and often defended me during the flame wars a few yearss ago. He had so many struggles...we talked a lot about life and the challenges he faced. I'm so sad I lost contact with him. It just goes to show you that life is fragile and we have to cherish every moment. Rest in peace Tom. You are finally out of pain. I'll miss you my friend.
