Thomas C. Galmore, Jr.

A Tribute from Sister Shari to Her Brother Tom Growing up just two years apart, Tom and I were more than siblings—we were partners in crime. From pulling pranks to making each other laugh until we cried, we shared a bond that only comes from a childhood packed with mischief, love, and a whole lot of inside jokes. One of my favorite stories? The Homecoming Escape of the Century. I had been grounded (for something I’m sure was totally unjustified), and Tom, being the best big brother ever, helped me stage a great escape. He actually propped a ladder up to my window so I could sneak out. I went, I danced, I had the time of my life! That is... until I came home and found Mom standing there with that look. She simply said, “I hope you are both proud of yourselves,” and then—classic Mom—never mentioned it again. Not a word to Dad. Our secret was safe. Tom had a legendary sense of humor. He and I used to buy these things called “cigarette loads”—little prank devices you’d stick into the end of a cigarette, and when someone lit it... boom! End of the cigarette-gone. We got Dad more than once, and even our sister-in-law, while she was at the hospital working as a nurse. I can still hear that pop and the startled scream followed by all of us laughing like maniacs. But beyond the jokes and pranks, Tom was good at everything. Seriously. He could fix, build, or figure out just about anything. And every summer, like clockwork, Dad would have us wash and wax the boat. We’d roll our eyes, do the work, and then—reward time—Dad would gas it up and off we’d go. Life was good on the lake. Water skiing, sunshine, and of course, more mischief. One of our favorite tricks was spraying innocent bystanders on the dock with water from the skis. If you were standing on that dock when Tom or I was behind the wheel, you were getting soaked. Guaranteed. Tom wasn’t just my brother—he was my co-conspirator, my protector, and one of the best parts of my life. I miss him dearly, but I’m so grateful for the laughter, the adventures, and the memories that will always make me smile. Here’s to you, Tom—forever my favorite partner in crime.