Hi Friends, I don't know if I've got a well crafted narrative for you, and I don't have a lot of pictures. But Tom had a great impact on my life, so I want to share a couple of thoughts. I first got to know him a few years ago when I started working at the Box Shop. I was just starting to work with metal, and he was already an accomplished metal artist, so I was amazed at the work he did. As he built steel globes, some early tank bells, and worked on that Brian Goggin piece with the books, we'd chat about technique, the artistic process, music, or whatever. In a lot of ways, just everyday casual conversation, but coming at a time when I was eagerly pushing into a new field, these conversations meant a lot to me, and were a big influence on my perceptions of what metal art is about. The metal globes in particular would later influence my thinking when I decided to start a robotic art project, where the robots have spherical shells made from aluminum. A couple years later, Tom was talking to Ben Cohen about what would become the Topsy Turvy Bus project. Ben, having seen a lot of bad rollover accidents on snowy New England roads, was worried about safety, so Tom brought me in as an engineering consultant on the project. On many levels, this was one of the best projects I ever worked on. I got to do some good engineering, collaborating with Tom, Haideen, Flash, Chris deMonterrey, Cybersam, and other good folks Tom introduced me to, and was able to pay some bills in the process. At the same time, we were contributing to an important political cause, with the good work Ben's organization was doing. Rarely in my life have so many of my interests been concentrated in one activity. I know it was also a lot of back-breaking labor, and I wish I could have been around for a more of it. But it will always stand as an incredible example of what can happen when great people put their hearts and minds together, and I will always value the memories of the great people I got to spend time with. Since then, most of my interaction with Tom has been back to sharing ideas at the Box Shop. To the end, I was always impressed with his optimism, his ability to see the best in people, his ability to work hard in the face of incredible odds, and his readiness with a smile and a kind word. I think he truly lived his beliefs, and he will always stand as a good example of what a truly inspired human can achieve in a life. He left us too soon; there was a lot more good he could have done in this world. But that just drives home the importance of always pushing to realize your dreams, since you never know how much time you've got. I resolve to do my best to understand Tom's mission in the world, and to forward it in what little ways I can. My thoughts are with you, his loved ones, the incredible community he built around him. I will miss Tom dearly, and my heart breaks for your loss. My thoughts are with you in this difficult time. Peace, -Michael Prados