In Memoriam

My son, Terry Jr. Died on 7 August, 2002 after many years fighting the side-effects of diabetes. He was 32. We were very close and always worked together as Amateur Radio operators on public service events which he loved. TJ was more than a son, we talked and shared as friends and more. I think at times our souls touched. During his last day, holding his hand in the hospital emergency room, I can remember looking into his eyes and knowing what he wanted to say, even though he couldn't form the words. Soul-to-Soul, we confirmed our love for one another as father and son, as friends, forever and always. I miss him with all my heart.

I will expand on this page later, for now, I offer the following pictures of my son who was very much a part of me, starting with my all time favorite from when he was 5 or 6 years old.

The picture was taken when he was 5 or 6 while I was out doing a Freelance Photo shoot (a farmer needed pictures of his prize bull for a farming magazine and I could do 4X5 pictures). Since dad had a tripod under his camera, TJ needed one too, so he set up next to the farmer's house to do a picture of me. As he was getting set to snap his picture of me, I caught the picture above and printed it myself. It captures TJ's joy in life and a period in his life when he was truly happy. It is my favorite picture of him.

Public Service work can be cold work. TJ (for Terry Jr), call sign N7NDE often worked with me on Public Service Projects.

TJ at the Seattle Marathon, December 2001

TJ at the Opening Day Crew Races, May, 2002

This is my last good picture of TJ, taken at the 2002 Flying Wheels Bicycle Ride in Redmond.

It was a sunny day, but TJ was cold ... and then warm ... and then too warm. He eventually stripped himself down to shorts and T-Shirt and subsequently got a sunburn on his legs, but he enjoyed himself, spent some time talking to the wheelchair racers and other people, and helped out monitoring the amateur radio net providing communications for the event.

TJ at the Bellevue Arts Festival, 2001

TJ's long time love was dragons, so any image of a dragon was something he wanted to see. Here is one we found at the Bellevue Arts Festival in the early summer of 2001.

As recently as 1999, he was able to walk about with us. In this picture, taken during a trip across the North Cascades Highway, he's out looking at the scenic overview. he used to enjoy camping, bicycling, and many other pursuits that were gradually closed off to him as the complications continued to get worse over time.

TJ enjoyed playing games on the computer and was very skilled at designing web sites. At one time, he had his own web site all about diabetes. The site was very professionally done with many links he discovered himself. He was well versed in computer games as well as those for the Nintendo, Sega, and other game systems. He loved to play while he could, but gradually his deteriorating control of his hands and his diminishing sight meant that he had to give these up as well.

Terry and I worked with the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) in Kirkland. This picture was taken for his 2002/3 Badge which he never got before he died.

The picture below was taken at the Puyallup hamfest in 2002. He and I spent the day walking around and talking to people. His hat with his Amateur Radio call sign was puchased at the 2001 Purallup Hamfest. It was a special event we both enjoyed together.

The picture to the right was done of TJ in one of his favorite T-Shirts ... from the American Diabetes Association. The family portrait below is one of the few we have with all of us together.