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| "Tom Cat" Riepenhoff at the 1997 Wisconsin State Fair. |
On March 7, a Memorial Service was held for Tom, who passed away on March 2. Tom’s nephews came together to play his acoustic guitar, banjo and lute. They took turns singing verses of the Irish ballad “Roisen the Bow”, one of songs Tom taught them. To hear his instruments played in harmony like that was a treasure for the ears and the heart.
Tom’s long-time buddy Brian Leahy, with whom he performed Irish music, sang two of Tom’s favorite Irish songs: “Wild Mountain Thyme” and “Black Velvet Band.”
Before the service I spoke with one of Tom’s cousins who was handing out green carnations tied with a green ribbon to some of the ladies. She had also given black ribbons to Mom and me to wear in our hair in memory of Tom.
Several musicians from various bands that Tom had performed with spoke of his talent and his unique sense of humor. The humor that would surface on-stage was nothing compared to his private conversations. He penned an Irish tune called, “The Outhouse Song”...which served as a warning that the house was haunted and some “users” were never seen again. We’d sing along with the refrain: “Don’t linger too long in the outhouse. There’s creatures that live in the hole. When your work there is done, pull your pants up and run, if you want to be saving your soul.” At the conclusion of the song, Tom would remark with all sincerity, “True story.”
A coworker stood up to speak about Tom’s career at GE where he worked as an international instructor. People from all over the world would come to Wisconsin for classes on how to use the MRI machines that were developed by GE. Tom’s coworker said he had worked less than a year with Tom before he himself was transferred to another department. But whenever he would see Tom at GE, Tom was always welcoming and friendly. He went on about how there was something about Tom that just made him so likeable. The coworker remarked that he was happy to have known Tom, but hearing all the other speakers at the service made him wish he had known him even better. He ended by saying, “Tom was one of the ‘good’ guys.”
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| Tom's nephews play his instruments and sing in his honor. |
Following the service, Tom’s family invited mourners to dinner at his favorite restaurant. True to Irish tradition, the family arranged for an open bar before dinner, and it was stocked with Tom’s favorite Irish whiskey Jameson. At the dinner, Tom’s nephews played and sang for us again.
Mom and I had the opportunity to reminisce with some of Tom’s band mates. The Memorial service was a wonderful celebration of his life.
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| Tom and me when we were kids! |
My Memories of Tom
Mourners were encouraged to stand and share their memories of Tom. I wanted to, but my emotions would not have allowed me to speak my thoughts. So I will share them here.
My Mom and I are very close and a lot of our shared memories are of Tom and the band in which he played lead guitar. We often reminisce fondly about those days when we followed the popular 50s and 60s band, “Rocket 88”.
Mom and I would go out dancing 2 or 3 and sometimes 4 nights a week. We were in the best shapes of our lives, because of Tom and his band mates. And we have many MANY happy memories.
It began one Friday night in 1995. I asked Mom to come along to a nearby church festival. My motive was simple that night, I was casually attempting to make myself visible to a certain fellow from work on whom I had a mad crush. Long story short, that didn’t work out too well. But the music was really good. “Let’s check out the band!” I shouted to mom.
That was when we heard Tom play “Sleep Walk” for the first time. All the band members were very talented showmen, and Mom and I were very impressed. So much so, that we went out on Saturday night to another church festival, and the Rocket 88 was playing there too! That night we took a band schedule and the third night we saw the band play, I guess we officially became “Rocket Heads.”
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| Tom's tribute to Chuck Berry. |
Rocket 88 Days
When playing with Rocket 88, Tom went by the stage name “Tom Cat.” He was very entertaining to watch, especially when he would do his tribute to Chuck Berry. He would duck walk just like the “Father of Rock ‘n’ Roll” and he could “play a guitar just like ringing a bell.” Mom and I never stopped dancing all night, except during the few slow songs.
One of my favorite parts of Rocket 88’s show, was when they would invite audience members onstage to dance the “Hand Jive.” Tom would announce the song and ask each dancer, “What is your name and high school?” More than once, I would join them onstage. In answer to Tom's inquiry, I would always say, “Sandy from Rydell” and that is how most of the Rocket Heads know me, even to this day. Once, I leaned in too close and Tom smacked my front tooth with the microphone!
During the breaks, Tom would make his way through the crowd to Mom and me, and we would visit. He was friendly and funny and everyone wanted his attention.
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| "Tom Cat" on lead guitar with The Rocket 88 band. |
One night at a Harley-Davidson festival in Eagle, a 'fellow' asked me to dance. The guy would not leave me alone. Over the din of the crowd, I heard Tom shout my name from on stage: “CHERI!” There was a strange command in his voice, and he was not using the microphone. I ran up to him and he bent down from the stage and asked me in quite a serious manner, “Is that guy bothering you?” I nodded 'yes.' He then instructed me to wait for him after the show, and he would walk me and Mom to our car. He was a concerned and very caring person like that...a good friend.
One year, I held a small Quarter Barrel party for my birthday at a local bar. In lieu of gifts, I asked each guest to bring a helium balloon. To my delight, Tom came to the party, and unlike the others who brought “happy birthday” balloons, Tom brought an angelfish-shaped balloon!
Irish Eyes Are Smiling
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| Proud Irishman: Tommy O'Sullivan |
One year, we arrived a wee bit late. I put a dollar in Tom’s tip jar and asked him to play “Wild Mountain Thyme”. "Ohh," he apologetically replied, “I played that earlier...but I’ll try to sneak it in again later.”
In the next set, Tom introduced the song, “We’ve heard this next tune earlier, but this is a ‘special’ request.” I smiled through the entire song as he sang and played. Each St. Patrick’s Day after that, Tom waited to sing the song until AFTER I arrived. He would introduce it by saying, “This next song is an ‘unspoken’ request.” And his eyes would twinkle in my direction.
When I was learning how to play guitar, Tom wrote the chords on paper for the entire song for me. Although I never really did master it, I will always think of Tom when I try to play it, and especially when I hear it.
My Big Break
Often times, local bands will acknowledge other musicians in the audience and invite them up to sit in and jam with them. Chuck Travis was very generous with his playing time that way.
One afternoon, at a vintage car show, Chuck invited several musicians to play, and Tom was one of them. After he performed, Tom sat with me and I joked to him, “When will it be MY turn to sing?”
During the band's break, Tom went to Chuck and to my amazement reported, “Cheri wants to sing.” To which Chuck replied, “What do you sing? We’ll get you in the next set.” Thanks to Tom, that was my first time singing with a live band.
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| We wanted to hug Tom, but chemo made it tricky. |
Mom and I share many great memories like that of Tom.
Tom had a spiritual side that allowed him to enjoy and appreciate every minute of his life. Even during his battle with cancer, he had an inner peace that kept him playing his music to the end. His sister said when Tom went into hospice, he would not allow the nurse to trim the nails on his right hand. He always grew his nails long on that hand to play his guitar.
I last spoke to Tom around Thanksgiving. When we talked on the phone, I took the opportunity to tell him that his music had brought a lot of joy to many lives, including my own. I also asked him what he thought was on the "other side." "I don't know," he replied, "I believe there is something after this. I guess I'll find out when I get there."
Today, on St. Patrick’s Day, I stopped at the liquor store to buy a small bottle of Jameson. On the floor, by the check out counter, I found a guitar pick. Mom said, "It's a sign." I believe it is. I know Tom is on the "other side" playing guitar for the Lord.
As I write this, I wear green and a Black Velvet Band in my hair. I raise my glass of Jameson and Coke to the memory of Tommy O’Sullivan... to Tom Cat... to Tom Riepenhoff.
