In Loving Memory

of

Thomas  Milan Sawdei

" Tom "

Thomas Milan Sawdei

" Tom "

March 10, 1978 February 5, 2009

To Those I Love and Those Who Love Me "

When I am gone, release me, let me go.

I have so many things to see and do.

You mustn't tie yourself to me with tears.

Be thankful for our many beautiful years.

I gave you my love, you can only guess,

How much you gave to me in happiness.

I thank you for the love you have shown,

But now it's time I traveled on alone.

I won't be far away, for life goes on.

So if you need me, call and I will come.

Though you can't see or touch me, I'll be near.

All of my love around you soft and clear.

And then, when you must come this way alone,

I'll greet you with a smile and say-

" Welcome Home. "

" Author Unknown "

" Death is Nothing At All "

I have only slipped away

into the next room.

 I am I,

and you are you;

Whatever we were to each other,

that, we still are.

 Call me by my old familiar name,

speak to me in the easy way

which you always used,

put no difference into your tone,

wear no forced air

of solemnity or  sorrow.

 Laugh as we always laughed

at the little jokes we shared together.

Let my name ever be

the household word that it always was.

Let it be spoken without effort,

without the trace of a shadow on it.

Life means all

that it ever meant.

It is the same as it ever was.

There is unbroken continuity.

Why should I be out of mind

because I am out of sight?

I am waiting for you,

for an interval,

somewhere very near,

just around the corner.

All Is Well.

" Henry Scott Holland "

" I am standing on the seashore.

A ship spreads her white sails to the morning breeze

and starts for the blue ocean. 

I stand watching her until she fades on the horizon,

and someone at my side says,

" There she is gone! "

" Gone where? "

Gone from my sight - that is all.

Her diminished size is in me, not in her.

Just at the moment when someone at my side says, " She is gone, "

there are others who are watching her coming,

" Here she comes! "

" And that is dying."

Henry Van Dyke

" Struggle Builds Character "

From very early in his life, Tom loved participating in athletics and would give his all to any sport he took up. He was active in swimming, soccer, t-ball, water polo, basketball, track, sailing, snow skiing, fishing, baseball, roller hockey and football. His soccer team won the Belmont Cup.

His favorite sport in the early years was baseball where he went on to play on many All Star teams in the post season. tom was not a flashy player and he played in an unassuming but skillful manner. This was Tom's personality. He let his actions speak for him. His dad will never forget his surprise when a coach told him that Tom's batting average for the year was, 430. Those batting lessons with Rod Carew really came through.

Tom possessed a real zest for life and loved all people. He was always out and about meeting new friends and neighbors. At age four his entrepreneur skills kicked in. Tom decided to sell his dad's Playboy magazines to the neighbors. By age nine he was selling raffle tickets with nothing to raffle off. And while vacationing in Hawaii with his friend Scott, they started their own " pee wee " vacation camp at  the hotel. The hotel wasn't to happy as Tom and Scott had put together a program that the children preferred over the hotel's version.

Tom loved playing football for Wilson High School in his junior and senior years. He really enjoyed the physical demands and won recognition by being selected as part of the coach's " Most Dedicated and Improved " squad. Tom worked hard to catch up with several of his teammates who had played football during their early years. Eventually, as number 77, Tom earned his varsity letter in his senior year. As always, Tom was not impressed with the trappings of success and rarely wore his letterman's jacket.

Tom and his dad enjoyed several Alaskan and Canadian fishing trips. Tom was excellent at both fly and tackle fishing, and on one trip, Tom landed a 65-pound King Salmon. This was a camp record.

An unfortunate accident in 1997 left Tom with a serious spinal cord and leg injury. It also left him with a broken spirit. He gave rehab his all to get out of the wheelchair and even encouraged others along the way. On Christmas day of 1997, he tried to conduct his own rehab session at Memorial Hospital as he didn't want to skip a day. Tom was very good at holding his pain inside and acting like all was fine. He became his worst critic while he helped so many with their struggles in life. Tom was afflicted with pain from this accident for the rest of his life.

When Tom saw the beautiful University of Colorado campus and the Flat Iron Mountains, he turned to his dad on a preliminary scouting visit and said, " I could really go to college here. "  Tom did very well at CU's Leeds School of business. He graduated with honors and was on the Dean's list. He was elected to the Golden Key Society, the Honor Society of beta Gamma Sigma, and the National Honor Society of Phi Sigma Theta. Tom was admitted to CU's Wolf Law School and completed one year.

In high school Tom worked at PetCo. He had a real love of animals and shared an amazing bond with the three dogs in his life, Brandy, Chester and Mac. Tom also worked for Ameritech Home Lending, Bergan Brunswig, Mainstream Marketing, Foote Cone and Belding and most recently for Outsource Telecom. He took  great pride in his work and was highly regarded by his peers and superiors.

After his accident, Tom spoke to many school groups on bike and traffic safety. In addition, he read for the blind while in college and volunteered for the Special Olympics.

Tom loved his family and friends and was always interested in what everyone was doing. At his death Tom had a very special relationship in his life. Tom and Lindsay had been together for seven years, and we are forever grateful to Lindsay and her family for all the love and support they not only offered to tom but also to us over the years.

Tom also shared a special connection with his 92- year old nana who is suffering with dementia. He sensed her pain and gently guided his mom in her dealings with nana.

Tom was a kind and sensitive soul and was very slow to judge anyone. He was as comfortable striking up a conversation with a CEO as he was with a homeless person. He had a quite nature that did not allow him to complain about his problems. We never met anyone who had a disparaging word about Tom.

May God embrace him, give him everlasting peace and grant him fair winds and following seas.

The Sawdei Family thanks you for all your friendship and support.

 
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