John M O'Connell

Lisa-
Thank you for posting this. I, too, have a strong memory of Tom's wide grin. he was a thoughtful and sensitive soul in my recollection. quiet but deep.
John O.

Cheryl Smith Rapoano

Lisa -

Thank you so much for posting this about Tommy - we all went waaayy back to Our Lady of Lake . . . and I think about him often. There is an attorney here in the Daytona Beach area named Warnock and I swear he resembles Tommy very much, but I've never gotten up the nerve to call and ask if he's related.

Thanks again - Cheryl (Smith) Rapoano

Kevin Barone

Tom & I became good friends after high school.
I'll never forget the times we had.He was the first person that I ever smoked a joint with.We were in his car up on some mountainous neighborhood in Roxbury.
I couldn't believe how I felt afterwards...we got the munchies & we went for pizza...I think I ate a whole pie!
We were both very into music.We would take turns changing records( yes,records!),he would do his Grace Jones immatation & I was into Patti Smith & Heart.
Tom was very mature for his age and unlike me,he embraced his gayness way before I even knew exactly what was going on.He was in N.Y.C. often and into the whole club scene...When I would go,I was scared!!
He'd bring home trippy dance music & be so excited & happy but I just wasn't in the same place as him at that time.He loved the song "The Never Ending Story"-dance remix ,of course.
I cannot remember his sister's name....but Tom & she were very,very close and she would go out with us on our crazy adventures;down the shore,dancing at the Lighthouse in Lake Hopatcong w/ Maureen Murphy & Patrice Dege,Carol Vallone,or just staying home and watching us be pop stars.
Tommy also worked at Zips,an ice cream store in Lake Hopatcong.He & Patrice Dege worked together sometimes.
I was more drug curious then they were (after that 1st joint,I wanted MORE!).At one point,I knew that they were keeping something from me when we would hang out there.
Eventually I got it out of them that they would suck the nitrous oxide out of the balloons and get an immediate,spining sensation and an uncontrolable high.
I actually didn't like it but they used to end up out at the curb throwing up from it!!!
Unfortunately Tom contracted AIDS in the early eighties when their was little hope for survival.
I remember visiting him in the hospital and trying to feed him,it broke my heart.Soon after,I found out that Tommy had passed away.
I remember pulling up to the funeral home in Denville & not having the strenght to go inside.I just sat in my car & cried.
He was a wonderful person,a great friend and very dedicated to his family.I still miss him & can't wait to dance together in our next lifetime. Peace/KGB

Cheryl Knapp Carbini

Kevin,

Thank you for your very personal and candid expression about Tom and yourself. It gives us further insight into the person we all saw as quiet yet somehow deep with a childish grin that made you smile. We will never know what he experienced in those days, but I’m sure it was devastating to him and his family to lose him to such a hideous illness. I am sure that the life you were able to share with him before, meant a lot to him and that you too, have those memories to fall on which has helped I hope.

I recently found out that Kathy lives here in Long Valley and has a son in school with my daughter. I understand that he is remarkably similar in looks to Tom. I hope to meet him and see Kathy soon.

We are having a mass before the football game on Sat., the 4th. It will be a special time to reflect on Tom’s life, as well as Kevin, and George’s. It should be moving. Wish you could be here.

Peace to you,

Cheryl

Marlene Stager

Tom Warnock was a lifesaver for me in Sister Georgine's freshman homeroom. I was neither a motivated nor enthusiastic student at the time, and Mondays were particularly brutal. Tom sat behind me and we cracked jokes until the start of first class. He would hunker down behind my imposing frame, say something hysterical and I would get daggers from sister (of course he was completely hidden, thus completely innocent). It was absolutely the only way to start the school day.

Anna Kowalski Villalon

It is such a gift to hear the stories of Tom. I remember that I sat infront of him in Mr. Poggi's History class. He always made me laugh and I loved to listen to his jokes and stories. His warm smile and compassion really touched me.

Cheryl Knapp Carbini

This was sent by Dan, Tom’s brother. Thank you, Dan...

Hello my name is Dan Warnock and Tommy was my older brother. Actually I was born his senior year of high school. I obviously didn't know him when he was younger, but the brother I knew was loving and selfless. He was an accomplished swimmer who would dedicate his time teaching people to swim at the YMCA in Randolph. In October, 1987 I remember driving with my brother when he told me he was sick and it was one of the worst days of my life. Thankfully, we were able to become closer in the last few months of his life. I know he is in a better place now and actually on the night he past, January 11, 1988, he had a smile on his face. I would also like to make an update on his family today. Kath, who lives in Long Valley, is married to a great guy named Ed and has two great sons Ryan, 19 and Brendan who is 17. Trish, who lives in California, is also married to a great guy named Dave and has two beautiful children Erin 12 and Megan 10. We unfortunately lost our father in March of 1993, but our mom is really doing well and loving retirement. I am 31 years old and have been happily married to my wife Tara for 3 years.
In conclusion, we love our brother Tommy, who was a wonderful and loving person and we think about and miss him every singe day.

Cheryl Knapp Carbini

Trish, Tom’s younger sister wrote me this to post here:
Thank you, Trish...

Hi, my name is Trish, Tommy's younger sister from California. I would like
to add to Dan's message about our brother.

Aside from being a wonderful brother, he was also an amazing best friend.
His energy was contagious and he was passionate about life! He had enormous
hopes and dreams that unfortunately ended way too soon. He was given 4
months to live, but he fought until the end. The most important things in
the world to him were his family, friends, music and laughter. His favorite
song was "Forever Young" by Alphaville. His only request for his funeral
was for the song to be played.

On the day of the funeral we had an ice storm and, amazingly, the
organist/singer who was supposed to play couldn't get out of her driveway,
but somehow all of his friends packed the church. Per his request, the only
song that was played was "Forever Young" -- the song that he wanted, but
also the song that best describes who he was, and what he'll always be in
our hearts..."Forever Young".

We love you Tommy, and we miss you terribly!
Love, Trish

Here are the lyrics:
Forever Young

Music and Lyrics by Alphaville

Let's dance in style, let's dance for a while
Heaven can wait we're only watching the skies
Hoping for the best, but expecting the worst
Are you going to drop the bomb or not?

Let us die young or let us live forever
We don't have the power, but we never say never
Sitting in a sandpit, Life is a short trip
The music's for the sad men

Can you imagine when this race is won
Turn our golden faces into the sun
Praising our leaders we're getting in tune

The music's played by the madmen
Chorus: Forever young, I want to be forever young
Do you really want to live forever, forever and ever

Some are like water, some are like the heat
Some are a melody and some are the beat
Sooner or later they all will be gone
Why don't they stay young

It's so hard to get old without a cause
I don't want to perish like a fading horse
Youth is like diamonds in the sun
And diamonds are forever

So many adventures couldn't happen today
So many songs we forgot to play
So many dreams are swinging out of the blue
We let them come true

Lisa Coppola

To Trish and Dan,
It was very heartwarming to hear your recollections of Tommy. Dan, I'm sorry I neglected to mention you at the outset...old age and bad memory are creeping in. It was nice to meet you at the reunion Mass and I am so glad your family could be there. Your Mom looks adorable and I was so happy to see Kathy and Jill and meet your nephews. Be assured Tommy was on my mind during the reunion.
My best wishes to your family.
Sincerely, Lisa Coppola