Thank You, Tom

As Tom Anderson and I walked out of his office earlier this week, he handed me an envelope with my name on it.

“Open it,” said the Lakewood YMCA branch manager, who will retire next week after more than three decades on the job.

I did as instructed and pulled out a greeting card. On its front was written “THANK YOU.”

Inside was a photo of a smiling Tom, standing in front of a bulletin board. Above it was a sign that read “Tom’s Tennis Courts,” along with a plaque with his photo on it. Tom loved tennis. In his day, he was one of the area’s best.

The card also included, in part, the following:

“I’m going to miss the Lakewood Y … It was such a gift to be able to manage this place for the past 30 years. Thank you for the years of friendship.”

I slipped the card back into the envelope and walked out the door to the parking lot. When I reached my car, I sat in the driver’s seat, compelled to read it yet again.

My first thought was: “I should be the one thanking Tom.”

It was billed as “an evening of memories and laughs.”

Organized by Scott Mekus of Eventz by Scott and the Lakewood YMCA staff that included Crystal Rodriguez and Lisa Montgomery, they somehow managed to keep what I will always remember as the “retirement party on steroids” a secret from Tom for weeks. For all the Russell, Pennsylvania resident knew, he was joining his family for dinner.

But a funny thing happened on the way to a quiet meal with his mom, Nancy; and his wife, Judy, and their sons, Cory and Troy, at the Doubletree Hotel in Jamestown. About 150 people showed up. So when Tom opened the doors to the banquet room, the crowd yelled in unison “Surprise” and “Happy Retirement,” and he promptly broke down in tears.

Could you blame him?

After spending most of his working life planning, organizing and supervising events for folks in our community, Tom was caught completely off-guard by the mass of humanity standing in front of him. It was the kind of “gotcha” moment that was the perfect way to celebrate all he has done since he joined the YMCA team in the late 1980s.

After dinner, it was showtime.

From a table in front of the podium, Tom watched and listened as family, friends and working colleagues “roasted” him. Among the people who took their turn were master of ceremonies Mike Johnson, Bob Goold, Tom Priester, Kellie King-Work, John Barber, Mark Eckendorf, Matt Johnson, Jamie Sposato, Anne Smith, Jon O’Brian, Ronda Migliore, Mekus, Janet Calabrese, Lynn Kinnear, Marlene Sandberg, Emily Storms, Katie Clark, Tamer Calimeri, Matt Dimas, Montgomery, Rodriguez, and Troy and Cory Anderson.

And Tom never stopped smiling.

Asked for a reaction to it all nearly a week later, Tom was still overwhelmed. But maybe what he didn’t completely understand is the impact he’s had on so many through the years. From little kids to retirees, Tom has befriended them all.

Barber, the vice president of operations at the Jamestown Area YMCA, said in an email that Tom’s “contributions to the Jamestown YMCA are unique and irreplaceable.”

“He joins the ranks of many other YMCA legends, and he has used his professional role within the organization to benefit the whole Jamestown area community,” Barber added. “He has brought a youthful and playful spirit to his work while also advancing the mission of the Y with persistent tenacity.

“His leadership at the Lakewood YMCA has won the admiration of many members and staff. His daily leadership will be deeply missed. He retires leaving the Lakewood Y in a very strong position to continue as a successful branch, making a positive difference in the lives of many.”

The walls of Tom’s office are covered with photographs that highlight his Y career. For those keeping score, he’s conducted, among other things, road races (92 in all), and pickleball, tennis and basketball tournaments; and overseen an enormous indoor soccer league, a popular gymnastics program and, of course, the Battle of the Businesses.

And then there are dozens and dozens of other photographs that are labeled and stored in a plastic container. As we talk, Tom pulls out two that were taken at a benefit boys basketball game in 1999 at Jamestown Community College, featuring Southwestern and Jamestown high schools.

Two of the teenagers in those images were the Trojans’ Nick Sirianni, now the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League, and the Red Raiders’ Maceo Wofford, now a member of the Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame.

Guess who organized that game?

Tom, of course.

Nearly 24 years later, he’s ready to call it a career. But not before the community has a chance to greet him at the Lakewood YMCA next Friday — his last work day — from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Cake and punch will be provided.

Oh, by the way, don’t forget to tell him “thank you.”