As news spread about Tommy's passing, folks from all over retold the many ways that Tommy had helped them professionally or personally. From his early days in marching band at Marion High School, his year at Berklee School of Music, the early days in rock bands, through his many years recording in studios as a longstanding member of the AFM-Local 257, Tommy's music family in Nashville, his Drum Forum community in cyberspace, his hockey buddies in the CB League... all who respected, enjoyed, and loved Tommy began asking how they might "pay forward" what he had done for them. The Tommy Wells Foundation (TWF) grew out of that desire to honor and remember Tommy by helping others at the same time.
Anyone who knows Tommy knows that he loved two things best - drums and hockey. Tommy played hockey regularly for over thirty years with his buddies in the CB Men's League - his last game in his #3 jersey just the Sunday before he passed away.
“I played hockey with Tommy almost
every Sunday for the past 10 years. Tommy is among the top three human beings I have ever known,
anywhere. He was modest but always
confident, never boastful. He was always
welcoming without ever being demanding.
He was a pleasure to be with whether sitting in silence or chatting
about issues of personal importance. He
was funny, but he never demanded to be the center of attention. And he was kind. Perhaps most of all he was kind.” ~ Peter Skeie, teammate, CB Men’s Hockey League
Tommy also spent 20 years helping coach kids in youth hockey, starting with his son Dylan and continuing even after Dylan left home to play Junior A and college hockey. There's no doubt that Tommy would be happy and humbled by the generosity of his colleagues and friends in helping kids learn to love music and hockey as he did all of his life.
“Coach
Tommy! Thank you for all of your
training, coaching and support! Thank
you for your high expectations!! It was
not always easy, but I am a better goalie for it!! You are a great coach!! You have helped me so much!! Thank you!! Thank you!!!” -
Thomas Ito, #30, PeeWee, Jr. Preds
"Tommy Wells was much more than one of my many coaches in the hockey world, Tommy was a great friend. Tommy was one of the first people I met when I started playing ice hockey and no matter where I played he was there to help me out as a player and as a person. Going to the rink everyday it was almost impossible not to be greeted with a smile and a conversation with Tommy. I have had the great fortune to travel all across the states and Canada with Tommy and he has always been there supporting Dylan, me and all of his boys. Tommy was and will always be one of the kindest and supportive men I have ever met in my life and it was a blessing that I had so much time to be around the one and only Tommy Boom." - Anthony Golio, Player
"Tommy Wells was much more than one of my many coaches in the hockey world, Tommy was a great friend. Tommy was one of the first people I met when I started playing ice hockey and no matter where I played he was there to help me out as a player and as a person. Going to the rink everyday it was almost impossible not to be greeted with a smile and a conversation with Tommy. I have had the great fortune to travel all across the states and Canada with Tommy and he has always been there supporting Dylan, me and all of his boys. Tommy was and will always be one of the kindest and supportive men I have ever met in my life and it was a blessing that I had so much time to be around the one and only Tommy Boom." - Anthony Golio, Player
The TWF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization that sponsors events each year to raise money that goes directly to support youth in hockey or music programs. We hope to see you at one of the fundraisers! If you can't make it, please stay in touch. And thank you in advance for considering a donation to what we think is a very worthy cause in memory of a very fine fella'... "See ya!"
