A Tribute to Tommy

Dear Tommy friends,

 

I was so warmly overwhelmed by the loved we shared for our friend Tommy today.

I spent a lot of my time just listening around to what was being said and the tender heartfelt words I heard gave me great comfort. 

The preacher assured us that Tommy will live on in a spiritual way but I also now know that Tommy will live on in our hearts and actions.

One of Tommy’s gifts to us all is each other!  Lets keep that gift alive and as close as possible.

 

Thanks to you all,

Greg

From Boden Sandstrom

This morning is the memorial service for Tom. It is a time to celebrate the

life of a warm, generous guy who had a giant brain but a bigger heart. I do

not plan on speaking this morning being a shy sound engineer who prefers to

behind the mix board rather than in front of a mike, but I do want to

remember Tom who I knew mostly as Tommy. I came to Washington, DC in 1972. I

was a librarian who missed music (ex French horn player). I went to my first

Women’s Music concert and saw a woman mixing – I instantly knew that I

wanted to learn how to do that. I was directed to Casse Culver, a singer

with a small PA who wanted to train some one to do her sound and who is now

my partner. Right away people wanted to hire me to do their sound too but I

needed more gear and more knowledge. I called every sound company in town

and asked for help but the only guys who were willing to share their

knowledge with a female were Tommy and Greg of National Sound.

My first “sound” experience with Tommy was when they invited me down to the

warehouse on Edsall Rd. to learn a thing or two. I spent hours in the early

morning unloading with Tommy and the guys, what seemed to me then,

impossibly big and heavy speakers from a giant truck into the warehouse. Of

course, I had to keep up and some how managed not to embarrass or injure

myself. It was the start of a great friendship. Tommy and Greg mentored me

and Casse with incredible love and generosity. I learned just about

everything I know in sound from those two. We had so much fun at jobs, in

the warehouse, and after gig hours. Because of their help Casse and I were

able to start the first woman sound company (Womand Sound) which became

quite successful. When we started to get hired for big jobs we reciprocated

by always hiring National, not just to pay them back, but because they were,

and still are, the best in town. We did countless huge rallies on the Mall.

I would always be tearing my hair out waiting for Tommy to finish his

incredibly meticulous wiring job, but then when we fired up the system and

heard that impeccable sound in every corner of the Mall and surrounding

streets, the thrill was always as if it were the first time. 

There are many more stories I could tell but suffice it to say, Tommy; you

won my heart as you shared yours. Thank you for everything.

Love,

Boden

Hi Greg – I’m so sorry to bother you at the funeral.  I just checked out the website and was privileged to read a little about your friend Tommy… some wonderful stories there from a lot of friends and family who will miss him.  We wish you pleasant memories of times past…

I appreciate your kind words about how Holy Cross Hospital helped him – providing care to the uninsured is part of our mission and we do it to the best of our ability.  During our fiscal year 2006, we provided approximately $20 million in community health benefits and direct charity care to the under served.  That figure will more than likely rise in 2007. 

We would be honored to accept memorial donations on behalf of Tommy Linthicum which will benefit our Community Health Ministry program.   Checks should be made payable to the Holy Cross Hospital Foundation, earmarked for the Community Health Ministry, in memory of Tommy Linthicum and sent to the following address:

Holy Cross Hospital Foundation
11801 Tech  Road
Silver Spring, MD  20904

Let me know how else we can be of service and thank you for thinking about us.  

Arthur C.G. Hyland
Acting Executive Director
Holy Cross Hospital Foundation
11801 Tech  Road
Silver Spring, MD  20904
(301)754-7139
(301)754-7137 (fax)
hylana@holycrosshealth.org
www.holycrosshealth.org

Tommy Linthicum  was a “Gentle Man” in life. He was an Audio  professional, A perfectionist for GREAT Sound and a person that would go out of his way to help EVERYONE.

There are not many people that you cross paths with in life, who stand out more as a true friend, than Tommy Linthicum.

I remember Tommy coming to trade shows, and you could see him walking down the Isle towards you with a Smile and could not wait to say to you, “How’a doin”? . He was always concerned about others. even thru his days of illness, he was always asking about others that were in need.

Tommy and I had a long business relationship with Crown Amplifiers and his love for BIG POWER. He liked to do it right and he worked VERY hard all his life to perfect his craft.

All the knew him have blessed to have known, Tommy Linthicum. God Speed, My Good Friend.

Sam Helms

There will be a visitation at the Advent Funeral home Monday, July 30th, 2007, between 5 and 8 pm.

The Funeral service will be held at the Advent Funeral Home at 11 am Tuesday July 31 2007.

Interment will be at the National Memorial Gardens directly following the service.

There will be time in the service for rememberances from Tommy’s friends so come prepared for brief comments.

The Funeral home has an audio and video system that can play music or video slide shows if someone would like to prepare them.

Please let me know if you wish to contribute any presentations.

In lieu of flowers we are suggesting contributions to the Holy Cross Community Service Program.

This is the program that helped Tommy, which helps uninsured people in need of health care.

We will post their contact information as soon as we make the arrangements.

After the service, we will gather at Pistone’s Italian Inn – www.pistonesitalianinn.com 6320 Arlington Blvd, Falls Church – (703) 533-1885

Advent Funeral Services
7211 Lee Highway
Falls Church, Virginia 22046
Phone: 703-241-7402

National Memorial Gardens
7400 Lee Highway
Falls Church, Virginia 22046

Pistone’s Italian Inn

6320 Arlington Blvd

Around 7 pm Thursday July 26, our dear friend Tommy passed on.

He was a dear friend to us all and will be greatly missed.

Funeral arrangements are posted.  See Funeral Plans Category.

May my dear friend Tommy rest in peace.

Love,

Greg Lukens

Back in 1968, some friends and I went to a concert at

At first, I would find any reason to travel out to

But also, and most important, Tommy is my friend. In the darkest days of my life, Tommy was always there to impart some small bit of wisdom that helped me see whatever truth it was I needed at that time to get through a day. There were many such days.

One day, soon after Louie’s

Time after time I would take a vacation from work to do an Irish Folk Festival, an Inaugural or some other prestigious event just so I could spend some time with my old friend. The last gig that Tommy and I did together, he ran sound for the band I was playing in at my 30^th Anniversary High School Reunion. I had the pleasure of telling the people I went to high school with, that the band I was playing in “Was privileged to have my mentor and best friend Mr. Tommy Linthicum running our Front of House console tonight.” The people there who knew me, all rose and applauded Tommy and in typical Dr. Wires fashion, he took it all in stride. It was just another day doing what he loved.

That time has passed now, and I will never have the opportunity to do another gig with Tom, but I will forever be indebted to him for all the years of learning, friendship and comradery. Life will go on, but somehow it will be diminished, weakened, and less meaningful as I look ahead to a future without him.

GOD speed Tommy and I will see you on the other side my friend.

Dave Fletcher