|
Thomas Eugene Broderick, November 9, 1929 - May 19, 2008, son of Thomas Martin and Marjorie Ellen. Survivors include sister,Judith Kay and Ken Garloch; nephew, Thomas Eugene Garloch, Rob and Karen Keuhne and Roxanne and Graham whom he considered his grandchildren; dear friend, Barbara Anderson, and generations of other dear friends and family blessed by his spirit. Tom's family first drove from Youngstown to New Mexico for sister Gerry's asthma during the Great Depression, and with older sister Mary, too. He liked the state and its people so much that he came back in 1969 and stayed for good. As a boy back in Youngstown, when the papers showed the allies at Normandy, his little sister Judy thought they were wading through snow. He said "That's not snow, that's water!" When she heard mom say, "Oh let her thinks it's snow-" she knew he was right. He and his buddies liked Tarzan, and other comics and movies, and later, Rebel Without a Cause. He was pleased to meet the original actor who played Tarzan, once. Tom was a graduate of Boardman High in Ohio. He was a sharp dresser and even in the Army had his uniforms tailored immaculately. On leave, he enjoyed traveling from Bragg and Ft. Belvoir to DC and also once hitchhiked home to see his parents. He would later use the topography skills he learned in the military as a successful printer and photographer. He loved jazz and all other kinds of music. (Except for rap.) Once, as a zoot-suited young man visiting NYC, he saw a lot of good live jazz, boxing, and nightlife. At one spot, he had a dance or two with a woman- she seemed to share much in common, but just when it seemed nothing could go wrong- she pointed to a man across the way he would have to pay if he wanted a date. Needless to say, Tom kept his money that night. With an honorable discharge from the 62nd Engineers Topo Company in 1950, he returned to Ohio and worked at a variety of jobs, played golf, and eventually was drafted as a top negotiator for the local printer's union. On one occasion, he enjoyed throwing a contentious contract out the window. After that, they got their deal. Tom moved to Albuquerque in 1969. He developed a deep complexion here. Once, a coworker even asked him what tribe he was from- "Ireland," he replied. He worked for a number of print shops before opening his own, named after his favorite car, Mercury Graphics. He often traveled to Juarez to shoot the bullfights in those days. Tom visited Youngstown in the late 70s and brought his nephew some western gear. They put flowers on Mary's grave, and he showed his nephew how to drink water from a pump like the cowboys out west. Later, in the nineties, he and his nephew enjoyed a great written correspondence. After college, his nephew came out west to hang out with Tom for a year. He taught his namesake a great deal about life and introduced him to the Catholic Church. By this time, Tom had retired from business and devoted his full time to his art. He found many beautiful subjects to photograph- old churches, descansos, cars, rodeos, kevas, jornos, clouds, and people. He also was honored to spend time printing the Harvey Caplin portfolio. Tom loved to show his friends around the New Mexico that he knew. Tom enjoyed helping out and showing his work at area co-ops and galleries, Mountainair especially, and in the Clubhouse at Vista Del Rio. Tom loved to meet new people, and was a gifted, quick witted conversationalist. Tom attended mass and prayed the Rosary regularly. He is responsible for several other thankful converts. He was also a gifted writer of short stories. He had a dream once that he would get to go live with his mom and dad on May twentieth, and he couldn't wait to go see them. A memorial service will be held in Belen, at the Rio Communities Clubhouse, on Saturday, May 24th, at 1:00 p.m.
|
