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Tampa Bay Times outdoors writer Terry Tomalin dies

Discussion in 'Journalism topics only' started by reformedhack, May 19, 2016.

  1. reformedhack

    reformedhack Well-Known Member

    Terry Tomalin, the Tampa Bay Times' larger-than-life outdoors editor who took readers on adventures across Florida, died Thursday after suffering a heart attack. He was 55. Mr. Tomalin had been at the North Shore pool in St. Petersburg with his 14-year-old son Kai; the two were taking a life guarding class there together. He collapsed and never regained consciousness, his family said.

    Times outdoors editor Terry Tomalin dies after heart attack
     
    reformedhack, May 19, 2016
    #1
  2. Moderator1

    Moderator1 Moderator Staff Member

    This sucks so hard. Didn't know him well, hadn't seen him in years. We stayed in touch via Facebook. He'd only recently posted a picture of himself with his son, I believe the son was getting his Eagle Scout?

    One of Terry's siblings is Susan Sarandon

    Fifty fucking five. Jesus.
     
    Moderator1, May 20, 2016
    #2
  3. vicd

    vicd Active Member

    Just last week my Mom went out on the Appalachian Trail. She asked me if Terry would answer some camping/hiking questions for her. Terry, of course, was more than happy to answer her many emails. He was a real good guy. When I was a clerk in the Times Sports Dept. he always said hello and thanked us when we helped him with tide charts or helping him hunt down a fishing captain who didn't turn in his "Captain's Corner".
    I will always remember his most important hiking tip: Splurge on socks. It's better to have two $25 pairs of socks than 5 pairs of cheap socks.
     
    vicd, May 20, 2016
    #3
  4. BDC99

    BDC99 Well-Known Member

    Stunning news. Never dealt with him much in my brief time there but have been reading his stuff for years. Including a couple of things he did this week.
     
    BDC99, May 20, 2016
    #4
  5. mediaguy

    mediaguy Well-Known Member

    mediaguy, May 20, 2016
    #5
  6. CD Boogie

    CD Boogie Well-Known Member

    That's terrible, not least for the son, seeing his father die in front of him like that. Fucking traumatizing.
     
    CD Boogie, May 20, 2016
    #6
    Mr. Sunshine likes this.
  7. BDC99

    BDC99 Well-Known Member

    Can't even imagine. Had enough trouble when my dad died when I was 14. And he had been sick for several years.
     
    BDC99, May 20, 2016
    #7
  8. BDC99

    BDC99 Well-Known Member

    BDC99, May 20, 2016
    #8
    HanSenSE likes this.
  9. playthrough

    playthrough Moderator Staff Member

    Terry was an absolute gem. My last memory of him was a few years ago where a bunch of us were drinking after work and talking about Sarandon's movies. Terry refused to see any movie in which his sister was naked. Someone then mentioned Thelma & Louise, and he said something like "hell no, she died!"

    I worked with him at the Times, as did my wife, and after her internship there she was hired full-time but sent to the northernmost bureau. Most coworkers offered more condolences than congrats, but Terry told her instead to enjoy the rural life and take advantage of the outdoors opportunities. That really stuck with her.
     
    playthrough, May 21, 2016
    #9
    HanSenSE, CD Boogie and BDC99 like this.
  10. Doc Holliday

    Doc Holliday Well-Known Member

    It appears he was in great health. Anybody know? Perhaps just bad genes, family history? Horrible to lose someone so obviously passionate and caring. RIP.
     
    Doc Holliday, May 23, 2016
    #10
  11. BDC99

    BDC99 Well-Known Member

    BDC99, May 24, 2016
    #11
  12. Riptide

    Riptide Well-Known Member

    Hell of a tribute column. Thanks for posting.
     
    Riptide, May 24, 2016
    #12
    BDC99 likes this.
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