I first met Thomas when we were in 6th grade, in August of 1996. I was never one of his friends he knew the longest. Many people knew him better and longer than I did. But we were in almost all the same classes that year. We had a lot of the same friends, and quickly became really good friends as well. Throughout the rest of middle school he was a very good friend of mine, and one of the people I respected the most. As high school began, everyone sort of went their seperate ways. But I still hung out with Thomas during school and a little in the summer after our Freshman year.
Everyone who knew Thomas, which there were a lot who did, knew he was possibly the nicest person they knew. I know he was one of the nicest and most caring, respectful and respactable people I'd met. I left FHS after our Freshman year and went to another high school. I saw a lot less of most of my long-time and good friends. Two years passed since I left that school and I kept in touch with some people as well as I could, and others not so well. Unfortunately I didn't keep in very good touch with Thomas, and a few other people. I did see Thomas a little more often during my junior year and summer after it. During my sophomore or junior year, he even came to practice with my and Rick's band we had at the time. Thomas and I wrote a few riffs together. He was a very, very talented and creative musician.
After that, I still saw Thomas some more, and talked to him to catch up on things whenever we saw eachother. In the past 2 years, when I lost touch with a lot of people, I still saw him about 5 times, but never really got the chance to hang out for very long.
On the afternoon of July 23rd, 2002, Thomas Hart's life came to an end at just the age of 17. It happened in Montana on a trip to National Glacier Park, and while hiking. I'm not really going to go into detail of what happened, partially because I do not know every single detail really. But everyone found out very soon. Since then, everyone who knew him, (as i mentioned before, thats a lot of people) has been mourning his death and either in tears, or in shock. But everyone loved him, and never could have expected this to happen. I myself was in shock for a whole day, before I pretty much lost it later on. Thomas Hart was one of the greatest people I knew, and I didn't even know him as well as most of his even closest friends whom he had known since elementary school. But I respected him so much, and enjoyed his company so much, he was such a wonderful friend, and just as everyone else, I will never forget him. His life was influential in so many ways to so many people. Every memory I have with him is a very great one.
This little webpage is dedicated to him. I am currently in the process of writing an instrumental song dedicated to him, and the beginning of the song is the riff that him and I wrote together. I see that as very fitting and appropriate. My heart goes out to everyone affected by this. And this is a terrible loss to us all.
I can't even imagine how his family must feel, probably thousands of times worse than we can understand, but we all have eachother at least... and we all feel the loss. I know I sure do, and will never ever forget him. WE LOVE YOU THOMAS.
Thomas wouldn't want to see us sad like this. We all know that. He lived an adventurous life, and would want us to remember him how he was, and not be terribly sad about his death. Of course it's tragic, and no one will completely heal from this. But Thomas was strong, and we should remember the life he lead, and how much of an inspirational person he was.
And please sign this guestbook, and leave your memories of Thomas or anything you want to say about him. Share your thoughts. I know there are so many people out there who have so much to say, and who can say things much better than I can. Those of you who knew him very well, you especially need to sign it.
Pictures of Thomas Hart
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