Requiescat in Pace

This is addressed mainly to those who knew Tony Gorman.

Tony died on Sunday August 19 of the wounds inflicted during his battle with life.

Ann remains for the time being at their house in Skye, her mailing address being;

4 Kilmuir, Portree, Isle of Skye, UK  IV519YR

I am certain that she would pleased to hear from anyone and everyone.

As a tribute to Tony, one of my small band of blood brothers, I wrote a few lines of blank verse:

To Gorman, in tribute

The longest-serving of my blood brothers

Has now quit the accursed mortal hell

That he endured throughout these past few years.

As he drew his final breath so perished

That malignant beast that had gnawed at him

So unrelenting and unwavering

He and his beloved Ann fought it hard

And heroically, but unable

Were they to terminate its awful creep.

And so at last his soul has been released.

At this ill-fated time we best recall

Those days when Tony lived and was vibrant;

A dedicated seeker in research,

He was the one with the most restless mind

Never content that others had it right,

He was unremitting in his pursuits

Searching ever deeper for hidden truth

And not resting until it was reveal’d.

Not a sufferer of fools, he shunned those

Whose work he was unable to respect.

Tony was a teacher of immense talent

Making efforts of Herculean force

To impart knowledge to the precious minds

Of the students in his purview, and they

Respected him for those caring efforts.

Many are the scholars in today’s science

That bear a lasting affection for him

Recognizing his dedication and

Commitment to their training which has giv’n

Them a useful start on their career tracks.

.

Tony was a social animal who,

Although a tad aloof at first meeting,

Once you showed yourself to be a person

Above his high threshold for acceptance

You would be invited into his sphere

And if you were, like him, partial to beer

That threshold would not be a major hurdle.

Fortunate was I that the two of us

Grew tightly close some forty years ago.

I thank you and salute you, dearest Tone.

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2 Responses to Requiescat in Pace

  1. Tissa Gunaratne's avatar Tissa Gunaratne says:

    It was sad to hear the loss of Tony. One of my best teachers and I was searching about him all over the internet last month or so to get some updates. Goodbye Tony and may rest in peace!
    Tissa (BGSU ’03)

  2. David Creed's avatar David Creed says:

    Beautiful tribute Mike.

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