"In a stunning weblog post, Susan recounts personally witnessing Thomas Leonard's passing"
As the person who was closest to Thomas Leonard, both in proximity and in ways of the heart and spirit, it's come to my attention that details leading up to his very unexpected death, have not been publicly disclosed. And discussing them might allow some folks to have some closure related to his passing. If not closure, possibly more understanding....
As most of you know, Thomas was a prolific writer, creator, innovator and the like. His modus operandi was full speed ahead then recoup/hide under a rock. Repeat. As far as I know, this was how he always operated. Room for improvement on the life-balance scale? Possibly. We talked about it often and he wasn't into life balance, so the concept didn't interest him in the least.
The fall before he passed away (August - December 2002), Thomas and I embarked on a 13+ city, nationwide tour. (Actually, the tour took us to London and him as far away as Sydney). We were basically on the road for 3 and 1/2 months straight.
The toll this trip took on both of us can not be underestimated. Especially in the event of his heart attack 8 short weeks later. We both took it relatively easy during the month of December. As a matter of fact, he pretty much went underground for the holidays. He didn't 'do' the holidays, so this really wasn't much of a surprise and didn't seem to be anything out of the ordinary.
Then about 2 weeks before he passed away...he sent me this email....
Sent: Tuesday, January 28, 2003 3:15 PM
To: Susan Austin
Subject: can you come over and help me on wed morning?
i just cancelled scott and my massage guy for today -- and put a call into (name removed) to see what could be causing this spacey/woozie thing. exactly same thing as i felt last time and it lasted for a week.
i gotta snap out of it. 1400 emails in my in box, stuff is way late, etc. worked a couple of hours today but making very little progress -- it's all very blurry. like i'm on some drug or had bad tequila or something. my spirits are fine; my ability to concentrate/perform is zippo.
if you can help me for a couple of hours on wed a.m. i am hoping that will kick start me into revving up again.
ugh
t
My reply was a very simple...certainly, what time on wed?
His:
tks, sweetie.
9am?
i can barely keep my eyes open. it's too weird. hoping (name removed) can shed some light on this. had about enough! no more trips to XX until i can sort out whatever side effects are going on. ugh.
t
We talked about him not feeling well and didn't come to any firm conclusions. Are you coming down with something perhaps? It doesn't feel like it, etc.
That weekend Thomas and I hiked South Mountain in Phoenix and we were out on the trails for over 8+ hours. I couldn't keep up with him and basically said...go on ahead without me (he did) and we'll hook up later at the car. (we did). While we hiked together, we talked about the future... our future....life...his vision for CoachVille among other things. His spirits and health seemed wonderful. His tiredness/sluggishness seemed to be a fluke. Nothing more was said of it.
Tuesday, February 11, 2003, started like any other day, except I needed to borrow his laptop for some work I was doing. This bothered him to no end. Couldn't stand to be unconnected from the world. I kept getting calls... "are you finished yet?" "how bout now?". I finally returned it to him around 2:30 and we said good-bye. Nothing overly rememberable about the day.....just like any other day.
He walked me to the door....we hugged, kissed, said I love you (we always said good-bye like that) and when I went to return the keys I borrowed...he said...."You keep them, they are yours now".
Thomas then proceeded to do a little work, talked with Dave Buck and went to his scheduled work-out at 4pm. During his work-out he started to experience chest pains. He finished his workout though and then proceeded to throw-up when he was done. In hindsight, these are very telling signs, but it isn't unheard of for folks to throw-up during or after a work-out. Not normal, but not unheard of either.
His trainer suggested he go see a doctor, to which Thomas completely shot the idea down.
He then drove home. Climbed 3 flights of stairs. Took Fringe for a walk. Checked the mail. Chatted with a neighbor (said nothing of the pains and neighbor said he looked/sounded great), and climbed 3 flights of stairs again.
I was teaching a class at the School of CoachVille. At 6:01 I hung up and the phone rang. It was Thomas.
(freaked me out for a second, cuz he called just as I was hanging up the phone).
This is how our phone call went. The last time we spoke to each other.
"oh hey! I just go off a call. How are you?"
"I think I'm in trouble"
"What did you do now?" said lightly. Figured he sent an email he shouldn't have, etc.
"No, not that. It's my chest"
"What about your chest?"
"It's been bothering me for a couple of hours"
"What do you mean "bothering you?"
"Sharp pain, trouble breathing"
"OMG, we need to get you to a doctor"
"No-No, I'll be fine. It comes and goes"
"Thomas...are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure"
Now, keep in mind during this entire conversation, he is talking with me like he always does. Except for what he is saying, there is no indication he is having a heart attack. His voice is calm, he seems fine.
"Do me a favor."
"Yes, anything"
"Go online and see if you can find out what the diagnosis is for chest pains. See what the options are"
"I don't need to go online to know that"
"Do it anyway"
"I'm going to call you back..the pain is starting again"
"Thomas you are starting to freak me out. Let me call 911"
"NO"
"I'm coming over then. I think you need to see someone"
"No...I'll be fine. No doctors"
Shit.
At that point, I didn't know what to do.
"Just check the web and tell me what you find out"
We hang up. I call his trainer and say.."What's going on? Thomas is having chest pains."
"Yeah, they started when he was here"
"Do you think he could be having a heart attack?"
"I don't know. He walked out on his own. He seemed fine when he left. He had drunk some water and it went down the wrong pipe, so to speak, so he thought that was what it was."
"Can that happen? Can you drink water the wrong way and it causes chest pain?"
"I've seen it before. But to be safe, why doesn't he get it checked out? I told him to get to a doctor while he was here, but he wouldn't hear of it"
"He's going to call me back, he doesn't want to go to the hospital"
"He should"
"I agree"
I frantically get on the web and try to get a medical diagnosis for chest pains and throwing up. At this point, the adrenaline was ripping through my body, as the truth of what was happening was become clearer, first on a cellular level and slowly to an intellectual one.
I found a website. The minute I saw the questions they asked me I knew without a doubt he was having a heart attack:
For how many hours or days has the chest pain been present? 2-3
I hated to see this question. This told me heart attacks happen over a period of time. Which was bad news. I was hoping it couldn't be a heart attack as he seemed fine talking to me. If it was a heart attack he wouldn't have been able to drive home would he? This one question was all I needed to read to really know. It just got worse from here.
How old is the patient? 46
Is the chest pain sharp? Yes No (Yes)
Shit.
Is the chest pain dull? Yes No (No)
Small twang of hope.
Is the chest pain crushing in quality? Yes No (Yes)
OMG.
Does the pain spread out to the shoulder? Yes No (Yes)
There was no doubt at this point.
Is the patient a smoker? Yes No (No)
Does the patient have a family relative who has had a heart attack or angina? (Not sure)
It turns out Thomas' family history is ripe with heart attacks and male deaths at an early age due to heart failure. I did not know this at the time though.
When I completed the quiz and hit enter two entries came up:
1. Myocardial Infarction
2. Heart Attack
With the strong warning to get said individual to a hospital as soon as possible.
When Thomas called me back before I could say a word he said...
"Okay you win. Come get me. I'm scared"
"I'll be right there Thomas. Stay by the phone. I'm on my way"
And that was the last time anyone spoke to Thomas J. Leonard.
This was about 6:15ish, as he had called me right as my call ended at 6:00pm.
It took me no more than 15 minutes to speed my way to Thomas' apartment.
(normally would take 25 minutes)
I'll never forget what happened next.
I put my key in the door and screamed his name.....
"Thomas!"
Before he could answer or before I stepped over the threshold I knew.
I knew it like nothing I've ever known before.
He was gone.
Way gone.
I ran back to his bedroom and he was laying on his bed.
I wish I could say he had a peaceful look about him.
He didn't.
He looked like someone who died in pain.
The woman downstairs came up and she is a cardiac nurse and proceeded to try and revive him as we waited for the paramedics to come.
We never got any kind of life signs from him and at the time, it was all I could do not to make everyone stop what they were doing. Needles and electric shock, being poked and prodded. His worst nightmare.
But I knew we had to try.
How can you not?
I was completely in shock at this point.
Trying to answer questions I didn't know the answers too.
Feeling helpless and completely out of my league.
"Does he have a history of heart failure in his family?"
"I don't know"
"Does he have high-blood pressure"
"I don't know"
"Is he taking any medication"
"I don't know"
on and on it went.
Turns out Thomas did have high-cholesterol, but I did not know that at the time. And honestly don't know how much it, the stress or anything else in his life direclty contributed. I think, if I remember correctly, he had an uncle who died of heart-failure in his mid to late thirties.
Questions without answers. Only speculations.
The drive to the hospital was a nightmare.
Folks I don't know, or care about, trying their best to keep my spirits up.
"It might not be as bad as it looks"
Numb.
"The facility they are taking him to is very good"
Numb.
None of this matters.
My friend was gone.
We were never going to laugh together again.
I was never going to tell him I love him again.
The life we were planning together was never going to happen.
My heart was crushing from the pain of it all.
And yet I was eerily detached from the proceedings.
I noticed the folks who drove us to the hospital went way to slow.
Like they were in no hurry to get us there only to find out the truth.
When I arrived, they escorted me into a room by myself and the doctor explained all that they tried to do to save him, but that they couldn't.
I stayed with Thomas' body for about 1/2 an hour, holding his hand, crying at the stupidity of it all. I was so sorry I didn't do something sooner.
So sorry I didn't follow my instinct and call 911 despite his protests.
So sorry he had to die alone.
So sorry he died in pain (a fear of his).
So sorry that it had to end this way.
None of it seemed real.
Like any moment it would prove to be a big mistake.
I started to get very claustrophobic at the hospital.
Get me out of here.
I need air.
I need space.
I want to get out of here.
Paperwork and more questions I can't answer.
"Who is his next of kin?"
"Um"
"His dad I guess"
"How can we get a hold of him"
"I have no idea"
"Did Thomas have medical insurance"
"um. I don't know"
"Can I leave now?"
There was only one person for me to call.
One person on the planet who could get me through this.
My coach.
Anna Dargitz.
I called her when I was driving to Thomas'.
Very cryptic call.
"I'm on my way to thomas'. He's having chest pains. Might be bad. Stay by the phone. I gotta go"
When I called her outside the hospital, she answered the phone..."Is he okay?" "No. He had a heart attack" "Oh my god, he'll be okay though won't he?" "No. He didn't make it"
"Oh my god Susan"
"I know"
"OH MY GOD"
"I know!"
Tears, shock, more tears....
"What do I do?"
"I wish I could be there with you and give you a hug right now"
"I know...me too"
"I've never had to do this before. I don't even know what to do"
"Don't worry, we'll figure it out. We need to get you home"
It would be 4:30 before my head actually hit the pillow and alls I could do was cry and keep Fringe close to me.
I was completely numb and running on adrenaline for the next 48 hours. The levels and significance to his passing was something I could sense, but could not be with for the moment. That would have to wait. CoachVille would have to wait. The world would have to wait.
Even as I was informing folks and telling people what happened over and over and over, the same thought kept flirting in my mind. You should have called 911 sooner. You shouldn't have let Thomas talk you out of it. You should have hung-up on him, to call 911. If you had done that, he would be here today. If you had done that, your friend could have been saved.
I've since been coached, counseled and mentored on this subject numerous times. I get that Thomas was his own person and is ultimately responsible for his own life...but every once in awhile, especially when going back over the events of the day, I still stop and wonder what could have been......
Its been a year now.
Although in truth, if feels like just a few short months ago....
A year of tremendous pain.
A year of tremendous disappointment.
A year of disallusionment.
A year of being let down.
A year of letting down.
A year of letting go.
A year of loss.
Did I mention pain?
And yet....
Anyone who doesn't have a spiritual side would miss the very obvious signs that we are so very spiritual beings. Despite the crushing pain and the crushing disappoinment, loss, and grief. There is something in each one of us, that will not stay down. Will not stay beaten.
Life moves through us, whether we like it or not.
Call it creativity, spirituality, whatever you want to call it, there is something that gets someone out of bed, when there aren't any reasons to.
And it's that something inside of me that is wanting to get out....that makes me smile and very glad I am alive.
And honored to have known Thomas, even for the short time that I did.
Miss and still love you tons t....
xoxo
s
Thank you, Susan. Thank you for sharing the information that so many of us wanted to know. I know it was painful to write, and oh so painful to experience. You are a true friend to Thomas and his memory. He was lucky to know you.
Posted by: Pat Gundry | February 11, 2004 at 09:20 PM
Pat said it better than I could. And I feel lucky that you connected me to Thomas. Thanks, Susan.
Posted by: Chris Hutchinson | February 11, 2004 at 09:50 PM
Susan, thank you for answering the unasked question of what happened that day. My heart goes out to you.
Posted by: Syl Leduc | February 11, 2004 at 11:09 PM
Thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing such a powerful and candid account of Thomas's passing. Frustrating, aggravating and ultimately ennobling... I am stilled.
Posted by: Andy Wibbels | February 12, 2004 at 09:00 AM
Susan, I've wondered and wondered and wondered about Thomas's last day and last moments. Now I'm haunted with the truth. It was just another day. And his heart went bad. And he realized it just a little too late.
My life hasn't been nearly as interesting or exciting since he's been gone. And I'm sure there are thousands of others who would say that.
Beyond that, I've wondered and wondered about you, and what you're up to. We wrote once after you disappeared from coachville. So glad to discover your blog. I've missed your voice and missed your words.
Posted by: ken winston caine | February 12, 2004 at 09:39 AM
Susan,
When I read this last evening I was near tears.
Again, your gift for honesty and making an intimate connection has shone through. Thank you so much for sharing.
I am so glad that at this special moment your voice has returned to my life.
Posted by: David Stocum | February 12, 2004 at 12:00 PM
I worked in Cardiac Rehabilitation for 7 years and I know this probably won't change your view instantly but, as an expert, there was nothing you could have done to change that day.
t reminded me of many of my clients: headstrong.
You loved him and it's typical to run that wheel in your situation. It gets easier, eventually. One day you will see a photo of or think of him and "that feeling" will be different and you might find a smile on your face.
Take your time and know there are folk who get it.
Posted by: mark | February 12, 2004 at 12:27 PM
Dear Susan,
(Tears.)
I echo all of the above. It helps to know... thank you so much for sharing. I'm very sorry that the events leading up to t's death were so scary and painful for both of you. Life (and death) certainly isn't always as neat and tidy as most of us would prefer it to be.
I have great compassion and empathy for the losses, etc. you have been experiencing. I, too, have wondered about you... where you were, what you were doing, and how you were doing. It's good to know about you too.
I am very glad that t had you and you had him as a great friend... for some reason there is comfort in knowing that piece. Being the one left behind can be such a big adjustment, and such a long process… I know that pain.
For some reason, I felt a connection to t... from when I met him on-line and then in some of his teleclasses while he was living in his RV in Missoula, MT (I live only 100 mi.away). His path crossed mine at a critical point in my life, and he was very generous to me.
I was grateful to finally meet him in person at the first Vegas conference. It was an unusual moment when he was alone... we both happened to be in the near deserted hall at the same time.
Synchronicity...I believe that moment was meant to happen. It was important for me to look deep into his eyes, heart and soul and honor him with gratitude. I could tell by his eyes that his spirit “Got it” the very deep, heartfelt message from my spirit to his. Yet, I have no idea how that encounter was perceived on the cognitive level.
This story I share just to add to the other 1000’s of us who were touched (at many levels) by t. After he died, I looked up some astrology info based on our birth dates... then, I understood more about the connection. I would imagine that his & yours would be telling as well.
Thank you for being you, Susan… and sharing of youself and those last moments with t with me/us.
Best,
Heidi
PS
Something that you may find of interest regarding how t used his creative energy. You spoke of t's "modus operandi' as being "full speed ahead then recoup/hide under a rock. Repeat." My guess it that this was t's "natural" energy style. There is an assessment called the PROSCAN that helped me to understand myself in that respect.
According to the PROSCAN, there are basically three energy styles (people usually have their natural style, and an alternative/adapted style). 1) THRUST- a rocket launch style. A highly inner directed, self-starting and intense energy. Expends energy faster that it can be maintained; thus, the crash/down time where the energy level gets realigned with the capacity. 2) ALLEGIANCE - A dependability or maintanance style. A carry through capacity that is often from an outer directed source. 3) STENACITY - continually steady, the plodders.(They often see thrusters as chaotic. Some people mislabel "thrusters" as manic-depressive as a way to "put them in a box").
What do you think of these thoughts on energy types?
Posted by: Heidi Wendell | February 12, 2004 at 04:51 PM
Having ready your post, I now sit here in front of my computer ... quietly ... sadly ... wondering, "What IS it I want Susan to know?" ...
... but there are no right words ... there are no satisfying answers ...
... so I continue to sit ... holding this space ... for you.
Posted by: Barry Zweibel | February 13, 2004 at 11:09 AM
Thanks for sharing this with us.
Posted by: Rob | February 13, 2004 at 09:12 PM
That evening is etched in my mind too. Coming home from facilitating A Course in Miracles, of all things, and hitting the message machine to find your shaky voice speaking the unspeakable. I said to Darryl...Could you even imagine Thomas dying? No way. Could not let that in. Then as I reached to return your call, the phone rang. And there you were. The rest is a blur except calling Andrea, on a tearful conference call and each of us getting flight reservations ASAP. Don't leave Susan alone, went through my mind.
What strikes me the most of this entire year, was the strength and determination Susan and Andrea had to continue Thomas' legacy...to keep Coachville SOC going with the same innovation, sincerity, unconventional connectedness, marketing savvy and entrepreneurial zeal that were the cornerstones of Thomas' vision. You got up every day and did your jobs even better than before...if that were even possible. You actually traveled abroad to do the live events that were promised the members. You traveled constantly over the next several months. Andrea steped up her efforts and made sure that the Certified Mentor Coach Program was launched on THE DAY that it was scheduled.
No one can know the heart and soul that was poured into the following months by the two who truly inherited Thomas Leonards mind, heart and soul. I only wish you had been honored for who you were to Thomas and Coachville, by Coachville, in a way more fitting than just having you disappear. This was not right.
I am honored to have known Thomas, as I've said publicly many times. AND, I'm equally blessed and honored to know you two, Susan Austin and Andrea Lee, for the inspiration and wisdom that you so generously toss about you. For the heart and soul that makes working with you both such a joy...evey single day.
Posted by: anna dargitz | February 17, 2004 at 12:09 PM
Thanks Susan for your courage to share those intimate memories on that dark day.
It was helpful for me to hear this to bring closure to that event as I'm sure is true for many others.
I hope to reconnect with you again in some way in the future.
warmest,
steve
Posted by: Steve Davis | February 18, 2004 at 03:02 PM
Hi Susan:
Thanks for sharing... I was wondering too, what happened... very sad, indeed, especially for you.
I'm sorry you had to go thru all this.
I'm sorry you are left with guilt and pain.
I'm sorry you had to be the one.
Please know that others support you, and that you are doing what you can to keep Thomas' memory, and many lessons, alive and kicking.
Please know that we support you and encourage you to learn what you can from this, and go on... continuing to make a difference in lives.
Please know that at least one other person (me) will try to learn from this, too, as I probably would have handled it the same way he did ("no doctors, I'm fine. It'll pass")
Thanks for being who you are, sharing with us, and continuing to lead us (coaches, caring professionals, followers of Thomas).
Thanks for your courage to press on and not give up.
Thanks... and as Thomas would say, My best.
- [email protected]
Posted by: Matt Perelstein | February 24, 2004 at 05:09 AM
Susan;
Many Great Blessings and Doves of Peace to You. You respected t's wishes and now have to deal with the aftermath of living on and making sense of it all. I am greateful for you giving such remarkable detail of the last expressions and moments in that day. I am happy to hear you are back again to share and express your most marvelous self with us. I miss you on the calls, the live events and hope to find you somewhere else to lend your wisdom to us coaches wondering to wander in the right direction. I am greateful to have met you and t at live events in Boston and PA and will never forget the Musing and Awareness you presented to those present. May you move with Joy and great HONOR to be a part of one's passing to the next level. It is a gift for you to have brought him to the portal and now you have many new bridges to cross with his spirit beside you. I have helped a few to graduate to the next level and hope you can understand another perspective.
Many Blessings, Peace, Joy;
Janet
Posted by: Janet Spittler | February 26, 2004 at 12:45 AM
Hey Susan - What a moving and dramatic account. I can't imagine how traumatic everything has been for you. You've performed gargantuan tasks in this past year. I hope you've healed enough to move forward on new, joyful projects full of the blessings you've received from having known Thomas. You've got great work ahead of you! I can't wait to see what you do in the future! much love, Julia
Posted by: Julia Stewart | March 05, 2004 at 12:59 PM
Dear One,
My heart is racing! I had so many why questions come up when I was reading it. Probably a lot of the same why questions you have asked yourself and others will ask themselves after reading this as well.
Today all those why questions don't matter. What matters is that with what you and everyone else knew, you did the best you could with what you had at the time.
To me it was a sad sad loss. No mamby pamby sugar coated everything for a reason cliche can erase that for me. Thomas died, maybe he didn't have to then, that sucked and what a loss.
Since then I too think of you often. Perhaps because while I loved having email correspondance with t, I always felt connected to you in person. To me his magic, genuis and mystery and uniqueness really came through in his short email blubs and his "long winded" thought put out in his R & D emails.
Not going for an eloquent response here - just wanting you to know that for me - you and t were very much a team - a joint effort that complimented each other.
I hope that what continues to come next for you brings you joy and creativity and companionship.
Something tells me that wherever you go in this world, you have a HUGE group of people rooting for you, supporting you, watching your back.
If you ever find yourself in Orange, CA, you always have a place to stay.
Holding you in a happy place,
Julia
Posted by: Julia Ferguson | March 05, 2004 at 03:41 PM
Susan;
So here you are.
Funny, whenever I think of Thomas Leonard, I always also think of you. I knew you were both deeply connected with each other from the first time I heard your voice on one of his teleclasses.
I remember Thomas saying that if he died right now that would be OK, because he had already lived 5 or 6 lives. That memory brings me some comfort and I hope it will bring you some comfort too.
Posted by: Katherine G. MacRae | March 05, 2004 at 08:37 PM
writing this must have taken so much courage. thank you. honestly. *hugs*
Posted by: Loraine Powell | March 06, 2004 at 03:12 PM
Susan,
What a tender expression of your friendship with Thomas -- and the day it crashed. You were with him all the way, matching his tone, meeting each request, honoring his boundaries, being a true companion. And, he knew you were on your way...
When I think of who you were and are and all you've been through, I know Thomas would be as proud of you as we all are. You are a continuous blessing!
God is surely with you as you press on through the sorrow, through the changes, and into the sunlight.
Peace,
Jessie
Posted by: Jessie Hipolit | March 24, 2004 at 08:33 PM
This is the first thing that I have read since becoming a member of this site. I was invited by Ms. Stewart, because I am considering becoming a coach myself. I am so impressed with the support among the coaches. When Susan's tragedy struck, her first reaction was to call HER coach. Anna was there for her, like a friend would be, but with a firm, convincing decision that they would get Susan through this. Congratulations, Susan and Anna. I did not know Thomas, but you two struck me as such beautiful coaches that I feel like Thomas must have been very special as well. Thanks for allowing me to read this, and learn. Thank you, Ms. Stewart.
~Michelle
Posted by: michelle_e_corey | April 22, 2004 at 09:33 AM
Thanks Susan for sharing this event in your life that you could have easily kept to yourself. I will never forget receiving that news in email, and I was honestly shocked. Just joined Coachville at the time, now SOC studedent, and love his visions and concepts that are presented. You, and your co-workers have done a fantastic job keeping up his legacy to the fullest, he is proud.
I get the feeling that he shared a lot with you and his closest staff/friends, and this is what keep Coachville growing and improving at such a fast pace.
Thanks again, and let the new joys of life lift you spirits day to day.
Posted by: Susanna de Beer | July 02, 2004 at 07:07 AM
Susan,
Thank you for illuminating the last page in the life of T. It was an insight I and many others needed to share.
I met you both in London in October 2002. Like most, I came away with confirmation that the promise was real and stimulated by the opportunity to create a future connection with T's incredible life force. The possibilities for new innovations, new insights, new horizons!
A handshake and a brief conversation was all there would ever be on a person to person level. I wasted five months of possible access to T while I concentrated on my consultancy, waiting to sort things out before renewing any contact again.
The shock of his death had a deep impact on me, quite unreal. This was soon echoed around the world as others revealed the pain felt by their own severed personal connection.
It must have been amazing to be abe to share the times you did,
being a close friend of this incredible human being.
I'm sure he will be happy to see you reaching out through this blog, and excited about all the new paths you are crossing outside of Coachville.
It's great to connect with you.
Posted by: Paul Dennis | October 13, 2004 at 07:37 AM
I met Thomas at a gay bath in Providence Rhode Island in January 1997- nice man, but not really approachable. Seemed detached or in the closet regarding being gay.
I did e mail him at the turn of the century- or shortly there after.
He was pleasant-but not too friendly.
Thomas had so much to offer to the gay community- but remained very closeted.
He is at peace now-
Peter in Connecticut
Posted by: Peter S. Mizla | January 20, 2007 at 02:15 PM
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Posted by: denci tevfbdi | June 23, 2007 at 01:01 AM
Today - August 1, 2007 at 11:41 am EST
I type in Thomas Leonard and let google
search. Reading your words on the
day after the birthday of Thomas
might seem like an odd way to pay
tribute to such a deeply missed soul.
Thank you for sharing this very
important piece of the puzzle of his
life story.
The name - Thomas Leonard - continues
to be spoken outloud and thought of in
silence daily by people across the
globe.
I think he is continuing to speak to
many. You gave Thomas friendship and
for this I am grateful. I hope you
are peaceful today.
Thank you, k
Posted by: Katherine Gotshall English | August 01, 2007 at 09:19 AM