Tom VerEecke

Theatre/Travel especially Cruises

I've been working in Food Service since high school - Stouffer's in Garden City where my Mom was a waitress.
I got my degree in Psychology and my Masters in Guidance Counseling at Hofstra - but couldn't get a job in my field, so I stayed in food.
I've cooked for many famous people including Mrs. Bob Hope, Mrs Dan Rather, VP Dan Quayle, Linda Gray (Sue Ellen on Dallas)
I've been executive chef at the Texas State Capitol and used to make Ann Richard's breakfast and then George Bush's lunch.
After teaching cooking classes at Central Market in Plano, Texas- a very upscale grocery chain for 9 years. I am still there. I work on the Food Journey Team...doing demos, trainings and tours of the store....I work 3 days a week with no thoughts of fully retiring.


Like my Dad, I am very involved in my church choir - have been for over 20 years.

I forgot to mention also that I am a cancer survivor. I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2000 - at the young age of 47!
It runs in my family - my Dad had it along with my oldest brother, Rich and my younger brother, Peter.
Fortunately, it was caught at a very early stage and I have been cancer free ever since my operation in 2000.
So guys... if you've been putting off that prostate exam...
Since the reunion, I was also diagnosed with melanoma. Fortunately, it was caught at a very early stage and I am once again totally cancer free!

UPDATE: My son, Terry passed away in June of 2022 as a result of a terrible car crash. He had just passed his 40th birthday.

I remember in the 5th grade we had Sister Immaculate Delourdes as our teacher. We bought her this big statue of Jesus with his arms outstretched.
She was transferred the next year to a parish in Elmont.
One day I was in the playground and saw the statue was still there, so I went to the nun who now had that classroom and explained the story and she let us have it and we personally delivered it to her in Elmont(she later became Sister Constance Kennedy.) I guess I was kinda pushy for a 6th grader!