(Submitted Photo)

Dear Friends,

I have never been a big fan of lobster. I love the taste. It’s more about the work that goes into eating it. It’s messy. Butter gets everywhere. It’s just a lot of work for what I consider a little bit of meat. Crab legs are even worse. You need a bucket of them to get any kind of satisfaction, and then you’re left with a pile of leg carcass, you’ve probably cut your hand at some point, and you’re covered with butter up to your elbows. Boiling a live lobster isn’t too much fun either. The first time I was faced with this was over twenty years ago, when I attended my first “Lobsterfest” event, by invitation of my friend Tom Morrone.

I was saddened by the news of his passing last week. I have spent a lot of time thinking about him and our friendship over the years. It all began when I worked for WCDO Radio, selling ads. Many of you know that when I became a sales person there, my job was to expand Chenango County, so I set off to get to know the business community.

One of my very first sales calls was Christman Motor Sales. There I am, new to sales, a new suit, hair all done, bright eyed and bushy tailed! I strode into the showroom of Christman Motors, ready to give the gatekeeper my pitch so I could get a meeting with the decision-maker. To my surprise, I was greeted by Tom. I instantly forgot my opening line, lost my confidence, and panicked. I awkwardly smiled, introduced myself, and said I wanted to talk with him about radio advertising. He looked me up and down, smiled and said “Sure, lets’s talk” and led me to his office.

I was so incredibly nervous. In my head, I was lecturing myself for being so bold to come here, when I barely knew what I was doing. He’d see right through me. Tom was very kind. He let me do my sales pitch, and seemingly ignored my nervousness, which was evident through some weird high-pitched laugh I had suddenly developed. To my complete shock, he agreed to a trial package, and I walked out of there unsure of what just happened. After this first meeting, we began meeting almost weekly when I was in Norwich. Tom always made time for me, and if he was with a customer, I would wait for him and we would spend a few minutes talking shop before catching up.

Months later during a visit, Tom asked me if I liked lobster. In truth, I had never eaten it, but I said “Oh yeah, sure. Love it!” He handed me two tickets to an event called “Lobsterfest”. I remember attending and being amazed by this man. I knew he was a pillar in the community, a sought after advisor and did he ever know his business. I had no idea the level of his involvement, the leadership positions he held, or the stature of this man. To me, he was just my friend, Tom.

There are people that come into your life when you need it most, and they inspire and guide you. Over the years, we developed a friendship and Tom was a mentor to me. We regularly ran into each other at Chamber events, and occasionally met for lunch. I became friends with his daughter Mary Anne and got to know his family over the years.

I always looked forward to our meetings and when I wasn’t able to make the trip to Norwich, I would call. Fast-forward twelve years, and my decision to leave my job at WCDO and go to college full-time.

I talked with Tom about how torn I was with this decision. He told me that if I didn’t take the opportunity now, when was I going to? There would never be a perfect time, there would always be something in my way, and if I had this opportunity, I should take it. And I did. From college to a job in higher education, I had less and less opportunities to see him over the years. I would occasionally attend Lobsterfest and once in a while I popped into a chamber event, and a couple of times a year we talked on the phone. I was unaware then that he was keeping tabs on me and my career.

It would be another seven years before I resurfaced in Chenango County, and had the chance to speak with him. In August 2019, I started in my new role as President & CEO of Commerce Chenango, and soon after we held our Summer Soiree. I was walking through the tent, the crowd parted, and there was Tom! I had not seen him in so long, and I was so overcome with joy. He said “Hey, Kid” and gave me a big hug. Next he said, “I am here for you. I am so proud of you, and what you made of yourself. You are the perfect person for this job, and I wanted you to know I am here to support you”. The look of pride on his face, the joy I felt at seeing my friend, and knowing I had his support was overwhelming. To think about it now makes me happy and sad.

To understand the impact that Tom had on my life is hard to put into words. I regret that I did not have a chance to see him recently, although we did speak on the phone a few times and I ran into him right after he retired this past fall. I only hope that he is proud of the work I am doing, proud of the woman I am and that he knew how important his friendship and support was to me. Knowing who Tom was, I am sure there are many stories out there like this. People who he took a shine to, took under his wing and guided – whether they wanted to be or not!

At the end of that first Lobsterfest he had a good laugh when I was handed two live lobsters and I asked him what I was supposed to do with them. He said “You probably should boil them … and don’t worry when you hear them screeching – it’s normal”. He took one look at the horrified expression on my face, and burst out laughing.

To my friend, Tom, a heartfelt goodbye.

~ Kerri