Tom is a teacher I used to work with in my first teaching job.  He was a great guy:  funny, bigger than life (literally - the guy was BIG) and always had a nice word for everyone. I even had a slight crush on him.  He was nice enough to write me a letter of recommendation.  I lost touch with him over the years.  I ran into a former co-worker last week who told me the news:  Tom had gotten strep throat and died a few days later.  Obviously there must have been complications.  Strep throat?

It is so sad.  His laugh will be sorely missed.

I hope this is the last death diary I have to write for a while.