So my phone rang this morning and they told me that Tom died.

[TomInTib]

That's Tom Snyder, not me.

For those of you who didn't have the great pleasure of knowing that man, I want to tell that he was definitely one of a kind.

Until about two weeks ago, we would sit on our own bench on our own deck on our town's (Tiburon, CA) little Main Street and solve all of the world's problems every day. This bench is actually referred to as "Toms' Bench". We would hang out with our dogs (my beautiful Golden Retriever, Seamus, and Tom's wonderful Olde English Sheepdog, Trevor) and make lewd comments about tourists and george bush. Man, he absolutely detested what is going on in our country today.

Tom had been in the entertainment business since he was thirteen years old and decided that being a paperboy was just too much fucking work (he talked like that, you know). He knew everybody.

And stories. God god a'mighty, that man could tell you stories until you either wet your pants or collapsed a lung laughing.

He was a really big guy, you know. All the way around. As I type this through tears, I have this mirage-like image of him shambling down the sidewalk wearing those crazy pajama pants that he always wore and that beat-up old windbreaker with his name embroidered on the chest (you should've seen that jacket - "You know, Tom, when you get something that works, you better hold on to it."), shoulders kind of hunched up and walking his dog. Saying hello to everyone he knew in that great big ol' voice of his, not giving a damn about any conversation or thought that he might be interrupting.

Because Tom just didn't give a shit. And he would let you know up front.

I just awoke to this bad news and I am going away now. I just had to throw this down for my dear friend.

See you on the other side of the screen, buddy.

Damn.

Just damn.

Tom (Wright, not Snyder)

[I Have A Dream]

1. I'm so sorry for your loss, Tom.

:(

[NYCGirl]

2. Fire up an extra Colortini for me, Tom. He was one of a kind. NT

[merh]

3. My condolences TomInTib

I didn't know him and felt a loss this morning when I heard the news.

He inspired me to stay on top of politics, his show was what spurred me on. I never met him, but I did, you know what I mean?

May your memories and the laughter ease your pain, may loving your friend and being loved by him give you some comfort. Don't forget the laughter he shared and you shared with him.

Thank you so much, Tom Snyder, for all you gave to so many of us. Rest in peace. :(

:hug: :loveya:

[mzmolly]

4. I remember Dan Akroyd's impression of Snyder back in the good ol' days of SNL.

RIP Mr. Snyder.

Sorry for your loss Tom.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

5. My dear TomInTib...

I didn't know your friend at all...

Until now...

What a loss...

My deepest condolences to you and everyone who knew and loved him...

[ellaydubya]

6. Tom & Tom

When I read the news this morning, first thing I did was think of you since I knew you two had become good buddies. I am very sorry for your loss and for others that he meant so much to. Makes you want to make the most of every moment.

As always,

LA

[TomInTib]

8. Thanks, LA.

I can hear him, right now.

You know what I mean.

T

[liberalnurse]

23. Let me give you a heart-felt hug...

:hug:

O8)

[Why Syzygy]

7. He was

extremely funny and intelligent in the loftiest of ways. I adored him too. You were fortunate to have known him. May his soul have peaceful passage.

[frogcycle]

9. I loved his program way back when

have wondered periodically what had become of him

thank you for sharing this

[tularetom]

10. God he was a great interviewer

And what I loved the most about him was that I think he made the network suits extremely nervous. Of course this somewhat limited his exposure to prime time audiences but when you could catch one of his shows you didn't forget it. Far from Larry King style pablum, his interviews were knowledgeable, factual and incisive.

Tom Snyder was too good for todays crappy information bidness.

[TomInTib]

13. Do you remember his John Lennon interview? Well, Tom didn't.

I saw a thing on cable last year about the influence of drugs on the entertainment biz and one of the segments was that interview.

So I mentioned it to Tom the next day and he told me that he didn't remember even doing it.

Said he had the video and all but that he was so loaded when he did the interview that he couldn't remember doing it.

[Old and In the Way]

11. We sure could use more Tom Synder's covering current events...

great story, I can imagine that he was just this kind of guy.....

[frazzled]

12. You were lucky to know him

For those of us enough old enough to remember, he had a big impact on our psyches, and we missed him when his broadcasting career was over. That you got to partake of his wit and personality all that extra time was a blessing. I'm sure he's out there in the airwaves somewhere.

[zalinda]

14. I will always remember his laugh

know what I mean?

zalinda

[TomInTib]

15. I can hear it right now.

Yeah, I know what you mean.

I am going to walk down the hill, now.

And drape my gallery in blue, for it was his favorite color.

[Skittles]

16. count me as a fan

I enjoyed his interviews way back when and I thought he was a colorful character

[driver8]

17. A great tribute to your friend, Tom...

I was always a fan of Tom Snyder -- I was very sad this morning when I heard the news that he had left us.

My thoughts are with you.

[Forkboy]

18. He was one of a kind,for sure.

Johnny and then Tom was a nightly ritual as a little kid,and I always tried to follow Tom on any channel he was on after that.One of the best interviewers I've ever seen,and man,that laugh. :)

[NJCher]

19. how fascinating

I didn't know one of our own was a friend of Tom's. Thank you for writing your tribute and giving us an insight into TS's later years.

Boy, the things you learn on DU!



Cher

[ClusterFreak]

20. Sorry for your loss.

Tom Snyder was one of the last of the thoughtful, enlightened late night interviewers.

I wonder if David Letterman will have anything to say about Tom's passing tonight. I imagine he will, if Dave's show is new tonight. David, for the benefit of others on this thread who may not know, was responsible for both replacing Tom at 12:30 on NBC about 25 years ago AND for encouraging him to do the Late Late Show (pre-Kilborn/Ferguson) following him on CBS in the 90's.

[Raejeanowl]

21. David Letterman and Tom Snyder

I've been thinking about some of the same things today. According to my Late Show newsletter, it's a new show tonight. If so, I'd be VERY shocked if David L. didn't take a moment or two to remember Tom.

As for the rest, well, I'm a Snyder admirer from long ago, most recently his website/blog, and despite the health problems that plagued him even before the CLL diagnosis of two years ago, I think I'd always hoped he'd make yet another "comeback." That a big, hearty, loud guy like him could never be stopped. I'm still a little stunned and trying to get my mind wrapped around his being really gone.

My sincere sympathies go out to his life partner, daughter, grandkids, the big shaggy puppy, and nearest friends, but frankly, I'm also feeling more than a little sorry for me. It's a sadder, quieter, less interesting world for me without him in it.

[TomInTib]

22. It's funny you know...

After Letterman tried to make it happen the second time (and NBC tried to hook Tom up with Rona Barrett) Tom and Letterman never really spoke to one another. David could make that right, tonight.

But Tom talked to Leno almost every day.

I will probably see Jay tomorrow.

And I will let you know what is going on, Raejeanowl.

Tom

[merci_me]

24. I'm so sorry for your loss and the country's loss

I didn't know until I saw Olbermann tonight. Kind of ironic, that I would learn there. For me, there are a lot of similarities, that I never thought about, until seeing them together tonight in clips.

I'm an old night owl and an info junkie. Tom Snyder kept me company so many nights along the way.... nights I watched while rubbing the back of one of the kids with an earache or later, sitting (pacing) and peaking out the window praying one of my teens wasn't wrecked in a ditch and alternately cursing them and then shushing them when they came in with a made up excuse, cause Tom was talking.

I didn't have the pleasure of knowing him as you, but still, he was a part of those years. It's so hard to lose a friend, the ones who are more than a friend, the ones who are a part of you. Alas, we reach that time in our lives, where friends begin to pass on, but they never leave. Keep talking to him TominTib. As long as you hold him in your heart and keep sharing your thoughts with him, he will live on.

[LorriCollins]

25. Tom made me laugh too

Dear Tom W.,

I'm crying again. I knew Trevor and Ollie and painted their portraits for Tom. He was just tickled pink when he saw them. He loved his dogs so much that it was hard not to love him back.

We had lunch a few times and I delivered his paintings to him and we kept in touch. I remember the day he called me and bluntly told me "Lorri, I have leukemia". I was so stunned that I couldn't speak and asked him if he was kidding. "No, I've had all the tests and I've got leukemia but they tell me it's manageable. First they tell me I can't drink and then they stick a pacemaker in my chest and now this."

At first it seemed as if he would pull through it alright but when his messages became few are far between I hoped that meant he was just busy. The last time I spoke to him, his voice was so weak it just tore my heart apart and I feared the worst.

I will never forget him. He had a huge impact on my life for 8 years. I cried all day yesterday and today is not much better.

I know he's up there sitting on a cloud with an arm around Ollie and a Colortini in the other hand but my heart is broken.

I know what you feel.

Best regards,

Lorri Collins

[Raejeanowl]

27. Wow

I'd just now been unsuccessfully casting around, trying to remember your name from the link on his Colortini website.

My sincere sympathies, Lorri.

[zalinda]

26. Just to let you know, Craig Ferguson has done a clip of Tom

You can see it here http://www.cbs.com/latenight/latelate/comedy/ it's really a good one, and I think captures Tom.

zalinda

[Crocodile Hunter]

28. I'm sorry to hear about this death

I'm sorry to hear about his death, as I always am when anyone dies.

TominTib, I have sent you a PM about something.