Wednesday, December 9, 2020
Nancy and I have so many wonderful memories spanning the 41 years of the friendship we shared with Tom and Mimi and Ti it’s hard to know where to begin, but I will always remember the first time Tom and I met....when he walked into my magazine publishing office in NYC resplendent in his ever present blue blazer and straight forwardly “announced” — “I need a job”, in such a disarming fashion that I hired him on the spot, and never regretted it.
Unfortunately for both of us, that particular magazine group didn’t have too much more life in it - but, so began our enduring personal relationship. And, for Tom, his new career was launched - when, as part of his job, he met barter kingpin Al Lino, who introduced Tom to a whole new world of opportunity. From then on everywhere he went he carried the barter opportunity with him. So Nancy and I got to witness at lot of deals getting done. He never gave up!!
As the decades unfolded before us the Conlons and the Nolan/O’Briens relentlessly vacationed together: quick trips to Breezy Point, to “Eagle’s Nest high above Sandy Hook in Atlantic Highlands, to our charming little lakefront cottage in north Jersey, as well as annual excursions to ski at Stratton, swim and snorkel in St John, golf on St Thomas, and finally to our beachfront home in Sea Girt - Tom’s favorite destination, where he proudly declared himself to be “the perfect guest” as Nancy described in her tribute.
To me, he was certainly that - but so much more. He was my brother.
I use the words “I love you” very sparingly: my wife Nancy Nolan, daughter Cara, son Liam (and Amy), grandchildren Owen and Zoe, my brothers and sisters, and Tom.
I have loved him for a very long time - and I will miss him very much.
