Life is a fragile thing.
This past Friday, after our erev shabbat service, I was joking around with one of our congregants, Thomas Malloy.
We were enjoying oneg, eating a little food. Thomas always brought some good homemade salsa to share with us.
He and I were joking around, and Thomas was doing some goofy dance. I was laughing and saying,
♫ “Go Thomas, go Thomas, go Thomas…” ♫
The next morning, Thomas was killed by a hit-and-run driver.
Thomas was on his way to another Messianic congregation for morning services, riding his bike to Kehilat Sar Shalom in St. Paul, when a driver in a red pick-up sped through a pedestrian area, hit my friend Thomas, and drove off.
The evening news showed footage of the scene: long tire skid marks before a pedestrian crossing. Thomas’ papers and materials scattered around. And Thomas’ distinctive yarmulke, just laying there on the ground.
A bystander caught the driver’s license plate number, and several hours later, the man turned himself in.
I’m told Thomas survived the initial impact; he even held on through the ambulance ride. When they got him to the hospital, he couldn’t hold on any longer. My friend Thomas Malloy died in the hospital, Saturday, November 12th, 2011.
I’m just in shock, and saddened that this quirky, eccentric, but ultimately joyful man is dead. Can’t believe he’s gone, just like that.
Life is fragile.
I’ll miss you, Thomas.