Olongapo SubicBay BatangGapo Newscenter

Monday, May 26, 2008

TOM CONOLLY

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO KNEW HIM, TOM CONOLLY PASSED AWAY SAT, 24 MAY, 2008. HE IS PRESENTLY AT ST. MARTINS FUNERAL HOME PENDING FURTHER ARRANGEMENTS.

TOM WAS ONE OF OUR MORE COLORFUL CHARACTERS HERE IN THE SUBIC AREA. HE OWNED "T s" TAVERN ON GORDON AVENUE AND MADE BUNDLES OF MONEY DURING THE 80s and 90s. NO ONE WOULD EVER KNOW IT BY HIS ATTIRE AND THE CARS HE DROVE. HIS CARS LOOKED LIKE THEY JUST CAME OUT OF THE JUNK YARD. HOOD AND TRUNK LATCHES DIDN'T WORK, MIRRORS AND MANY LIGHTS EITHER MISSING OR BROKE, AND DOORS WERE HELD TOGETHER WITH A COAT HANGER OR OTHER PIECE OF WIRE OR JUST LEFT OPEN WHEN HE PARKED ANYWHERE. HE DID CARRY LARGE SUMS OF MONEY WITH HIM AND TO MY KNOWLEDGE WAS NEVER HELD UP.

HE USED TO SAY THE OLD JUNK CARS KEPT HIM SAFE.

HE LIVED ALONE ON GORDON AVE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF HIS FAVORITE DOG. HE TOOK THE DOG EVERYWHERE AND WHEN BAR HOPPING THE DOG WOULD BE PERCHED ON THE NEXT STOOL DRINKING MANGO JUICE OR BEER. SOME BAR OWNERS AND CUSTOMERS COMPLAINED BUT MOSTLY THEY LET IT BE.

DURING THE NAVY DAYS, THE BASE EMPLOYEES WOULD GO ON STRIKE, CATCHING MANY SHIP BOARD SAILORS IN THE BARRIO WITH NO WAY TO GO BACK AND NO MONEY. TOM WOULD LOAN PERFECT STRANGERS MONEY WHICH ENDEARED HIM TO MANY A SAILOR. HIS BAR WAS ALWAYS PACKED AND HE CLAIMED NO ONE EVER RIPPED HIM OFF.

HE AND I WENT ON LIBERTY IN MANILA MANY YEARS AGO, ENDED UP IN A PILIPINO BAR AND GOT TO DRINKING WITH A THE HEAD OF PRESIDENT MARCOS SECURITY DETAIL. HE TOOK A LIKING TO TOM AND FOR MANY YEARS AFTER THAT, THE COLONEL SENT HIM A XMAS CARD. TOM WAS VERY PROUD OF THAT.

THOSE OF US WHO KNEW HIM, WILL CERTAINLY MISS HIM.

MIKE "THE MAG"

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