Walter Edward Hileman Jr.

Tom was a smart fellow, who went on to share that talent with others in his philosophy classes at a community college.  Tom was better read on the masters of philosophy than I but he was kind and entertained my perspectives and comments.  I was fortunate to have been in a rock band for four years with Tom who played bass and had an extremely high vocal falsetto. He even wrote a few songs that we played at clubs. Tom played baseball and was every much a gentleman.  I will miss this all around talented friend, and think of him often.

To all his family members he was a great soul and will be missed.

Richard Arnold McClean

Richard Arnold McClean

The evening of October 10th, 2008 was deeply touched by a sense of grief, sadness and loss. This evening was also made glorious and exhilarating by the presence of several hundred of Tom's family, friends, colleagues and present and former students, all of whom were there to show their love and respect for Tom. It was my privilege and honor to be asked to deliver a eulogy for my friend. The following are my opening and concluding comments that evening.

Tom Davis is my best friend, my brother, my kindred spirit, my mentor, my teacher and best man at both of my weddings. I first met Tom fifty-one years ago in the 5th grade at Lincoln School, in Ridgefield Park, NJ. "Tommy" and I became instant best friends a year and a half later when the Davises and McCleans moved around the corner from each other in Bogota, NJ. Back then, during Tom's Bogota years, the core of our boy pack was Tom "Fuzzy" Davis, Ronny (Parente), "Rat" (Frank Rattacasa), "La" ( Michael Caffaso), Billy and Dennis (Parente) and myself. Our days together were an annual cycle of softball, stickball, football, basketball, hardball and hockey. Here, I would like to acknowledge Ron Parente, Tom's good friend from the Bogota years, who is with us tonight.

Since Tom's passing I have revisited a thousand crystalline memories of those years: 

     - Tom's intricate and meticulous, self-designed games of basement basketball and hockey.

     - Tom's, equally  meticulous, handwritten listings of Horror movies, both seen, and to be seen.

     - Our 8mm home horror movies, during the making of which we dragged a living lizard across Tom's HO scale train set.

     - Listening to "Meet the Beatles", over and over, and over and over, and over and over again. Each time for the first consciousness changing time.

...

My memories return also to our college years, when it was Tom, Ed, John, Thom, Eddie (Hileman), myself and all the other "Children of the Sixties" we met along the way. I have revisited our days spent in the Ramapo woods and our on-going dialogue which encompassed all things from the infinitesimal to the infinitude. I say dialogue, but, in truth, I did a lot of listening.

...

Perhaps my fondest and most treasured memory is of a crisp, clear Spring day Tom and I spent together in the Harriman woods. On this particular day we posed a series of inquires to each other as we contemplated the tree buds reaching like praying hands toward the light. These inquires included the following:

     - Do I possess Faith and Hope?

     - Do I believe that there is a God?

     - Are we a part of an infinitely larger and more sublime reality?

     - Is there more to this reality than meets the eye, and that is told us by our very limited senses?

If you know Tom, then you know that his answer in each case was a resounding, Yes! Yes, the Oversoul, or Godhead, or Omega Point, or whatever name you choose to give it, is real.

Perhaps, the most comforting thought I dwell upon when a loved one passes is this, no one with a family ever really dies. One of the blessings bestowed upon truly gifted teachers like Tom is that they possess an extended family of hundreds, if not thousands of former students and colleagues. As long as you remember the ideas that Tom taught - as long as you care about the thoughts that Tom offered you - as long as you do these things - Tom lives. For, no one with a family ever really dies - as they stay alive in our memories forever. 

I ask you now to remember that Tom believed deeply that something of the individual Human soul, something of the self, remains when we pass to the other side. If Tom was correct in this belief, and I fervently believe that he was, then Tom is not gone at all. He is very likely here with us tonight in this very place. This space populated with his grieving loved ones and friends. I ask, also, that you take a leap of faith with me - to transcend these surfaces we merely skate upon. I ask you to take joy in the belief that Tom is here tonight - between us - and among us - and within us.

I conclude with the same three words with which I began - Tom Davis is. 

Frank Rattacasa

I agree 100% with everything Rich McClean wrote about Tom.  My most vivd memories of Tom were the times of uprorious laughter we shared.  Tom was an incredible, talented human being. I remember his imitation of Vaughn Meader imitating President Kenendy and how we laughed at the audio recordings we made at that time. Tom could do it all: sports, music, and comedy. I'll never forget all the good memories I have of those days. I always say that I had a wonderful childhood, and Tom was a big part in making it so.