Poems/Dedications
by - Jaclyn, Gina & Janine Meo-
Twelve years ago, a boy was born. He was made with a twinkle in his eye and was happy-go-lucky.
Our brother Thomas was a warm, loving twelve-year old who lived each day of life to the fullest. Everyone loved Thomas; he had a smile that was contagious! Tommy was honest, loyal and forgiving. He was the one who was always there if you needed something.
Our brother was bright, smart, and clever…and a terrific athlete. He was into all sports - baseball, basketball, football, hockey - especially hockey! When he was not at practice or a game, he was riding his bike, skateboard, scooter or his beloved go ped. (You should have seen how his eyes lit up, when he came home on his 12th birthday and saw that go ped!)
Our brother enjoyed so many other things - playing video games, scary rides, collecting things, building tents or working on his "Club House", our new garage. Holidays like Christmas and Halloween were his favorite. He'd spend hours making lists of what he wanted or getting organized for shaving cream fights!
There was little that our brother Tommy didn't like to do except, of course, homework! Hew was in the 7th grade at St. Bernard's and enjoyed his reputation as "Class Clown". But, Thomas was so much more.
Tommy was a true friend and a good caring person. He looked out for people, he protected them. He would look to include someone who was left out, or didn't quite "Fit-in".
Tommy's friends came in all ages - older and younger. He put his arms around bigger and smaller kids and made them feel welcomed to join in whatever the fun was.
He was compassionate too. He joined in the "Kids for Life" Program at the ice hockey rink, helping mentally - handicapped children enjoy a day on the ice. Taking their hand, together they enjoyed the ice - that was him!
Tommy drove our mom crazy but wouldn't consider starting the day without her gentle kiss. Once she left before the daily kiss to get our sister to school, he called her on her cell phone to please come back. He needed his kiss! As a brother, Tommy was always teasing us and playing jokes. I could depend on him to beg me for a ride or for a run to McDonald's for a quick snack. When he wasn't doing that, he'd be asking for a few dollars to do what recently made him feel really cool - going t LaVilla's alone!
Our brother was a true hero! He lived life to its fullest in his very short twelve years. But he made his mark. He touched each and every one of us… in ways we could never have imagined
That was made clear by the enormous out-pouring of love and support during his wake and funeral.
Nothing can bring our beautiful lovable fun-loving brother back to us. Little
can relieve our breaking hearts. But our brother will live on in all of our
hearts and spirits.
We have set up scholarship funds in his memory! Please honor our brother's memory
and support us in our pain by helping us put another child through high school
with the scholarship fund in Thomas' memory.
We know Thomas is watching and looking down on us. We know he loves all of you very much.
Tommy's our shining star and he will always shine brightly over all of Bergen Beach and especially for those of us who loved him so dearly.
- Jaclyn, Gina & Janine Meo
by
Angelina Favuzza
On May 29, 1988, the Meo Family was blessed with a beautiful baby boy named
Thomas (Tommy) Meo Jr. Tommy was a pleasant boy who was always there lending
a helping hand, if needed. Tommy had a radiant smile, and when you were down
and Tommy walked in the room, everything was better just because you saw his
smile. He always liked helping people; on the weekends he would do just that
by going to play with children who were sick or had no one. I remember when
a new family moved on the block, and the boys from the neighborhood were outside
playing football, and Alex, the boy who just moved, was playing basketball;
Tommy made an effort to go meet this boy and introduce himself so he could have
a friend. Tommy was very popular because he was kind, funny, athletic and because
he has the type of personality that you always wanted to be around. Tommy played
hockey at Bergen Beach fields where he was one of the stars, who one day could
have been a professional. Tommy always talked about sports and always wanted
to be including in the neighborhood sports that were played by the children
of the neighborhood. I remember that Tommy would knock on my door and ask us
if he could borrow a ball to play baseball or basketball, and my mom, not knowing
where any of the sports equipment was, would go in the garage and search for
what Tommy needed. I also remember how my mom stocked up barrels of candy and
once in a while, Tommy and his older sister would ring my bell for candy, because
everyone knew my house was "The Candy House." Most of my memories
are with Tommy and Gina (his older sister) from Manhunt, baseball, swimming
or just hanging out in the backyard because there was nothing better to do.
He was also the class clown, but because he had intentions of making people
laugh and not for attention, teachers did not mind it. Tommy was one of the
best people I knew because of his grace, beauty, love, and kindness that he
let everyone see all of the time. Tommy would have gone to great places and
was given a talent by God, but on September 22nd 2000, Tommy's life was tragically
taken from him. This incident struck the whole community and anyone who was
touched by Tommy's kindness; this month was so difficult because all we can
say was, "Why Tommy," the beautiful little boy who was nothing but
kind and appreciative of everything.
Tommy will always be remembered as an angel who was put in heaven to watch over
us. And at his mass, everyone just kept saying, "Tommy, you were always
an Angel, but now you have wings." As life goes on, we cannot still question
"why," all we can do is live our lives through Tommy and do the good
that he should have done, and appreciate things more because you never know
when beautiful things will be taken away. Hopefully one day, we will see Tommy
again in heaven, lighting up the sky with his smile and his personality.