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Jack Tompkins turns
65!!!
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* Immediate Family *
 Dad
is rock-solid and
loyal, and I know that I can depend on him for anything and everything.
He has always been there for me -- always. This knowledge that I can
rely on him 100% is the foundation of the life I have built for myself.
In all my years of study and travel, he's always made the key
short-term loan, or bought the shirt or pair of shoes I couldn't quite
afford myself, to help keep me going -- even if he didn't quite
understand or agree with whatever the hell I was choosing to do!But more importantly, it has been Dad as a model of someone who slowly, steadily perseveres, who has faced personal and professional difficulties and come through them a stronger, better, more caring and complete person, that has given me strength at the times I've needed it. -- David         The
more years I have under my belt, the more thankful I am for Dad, not
least of all because he has always been a model of unconditional love
for his children. When I was younger, I couldn't appreciate the value
of this trait, but the more experience I have in this world, the more I
realize that it has been tremendously formative in in helping me to
become who I am, and in instilling in me the confidence with which I am
able to approach life and pursue my goals and dreams. True, Dad and I
had some difficult years when I was a feisty teenager, and when I was
18 I didn't think I could ever forgive him for making me get out of bed
on weekdays after the 10th alarm ring, barely in time for him to drive
me to high school with a wet head (Dad, in your next life, just make me
take the school bus that I hated so much, then I might have
learned :) ..... maybe!!!). BUT... I will never
forget the unconditional support he gave when I made the difficult
decision to abandon a full scholarship at a small liberal arts college
in Florida, after only ONE semester, to come back home to Ohio for
college, even if it was mainly guided the lovesick heart of a teenager.
Because of this decision, which would have been so much more difficult
without his love and support and understanding, I am no w the nurse that I am, and
I met and later happily married the wonderful man Jeff whom I call my
husband! Speaking of which, Dad's pride,
love, and sensitivity were priceless on our wedding day, and during the
surrounding preparations. I got to see a side of
my father that I suspected was always there, but had not yet been
revealed to such an extent! I will forever cherish the generosity and
love he showed in so many ways... from treating us to the "honeymoon
suite" on our wedding night, to his heart-warming expression of love
and support on our wedding video, to picking up extra costs which we did not
expect, to sharing our father-daughter dance... and countless other
memories and gifts of that time. And recently, when Jeff and I bought
our first home last summer, Dad  showed his sensitivity,
love and pride,
yet again, by driving out to visit, bearing gifts he had carefully
selected to reflect the character of our new home and to share our
happiness and pride in beginning this new phase in our
lives. THANKS,
DAD, for exemplifying what every child in this world
deserves to have, an unconditionally loving father who continuously
shares his love and support, even when his children take different
paths than he might have hoped! Thanks for cheering me on through this
process called life, and I look forward to many more years of
celebrating it along with you!Love, your daughter, Carrie  Happy Birthday, Jack, and
congratulations on reaching another milestone. We're so pleased
that you're spending your birthday weekend in Philly with Carrie and
I. We hope we can shower you with the same love and affection
that you've always given to us.The big 65! - a major birthday! Soon you'll leave the workforce behind and have nothing but time on your hands. Just what will you do? (tennis, anyone?) We do hope that you will also plan lots of trips east to Philly to spend time with Carrie and me (and any future grandchildren...one of these days, I swear, we do intend to give you the title of "Grandfather"...) Well, Jack, in case you haven't noticed from this website, there are many people who think quite highly of you and who have taken much time and effort to send you a very special message on your 65th: we think you're a great person whose life's journey is worth celebrating. David has put a tremendous amount of work into setting up this website and contacting everyone for contributions, and the results - photos, stories, wishes - speak volumes. It's quite true. You have a lot of great people thinking of you now and thanking you and wishing you all of the best. Now, I don't have as many stories as the rest of them, but I do have a few things I's like to say. I respect you tremendously. The love and support that you continue to demonstrate to Carrie and David speaks to your character as a person and your role as father. I'm also very thankful that I've been fortunate enough to not only marry your wonderful daughter, but to also have you as a father-in-law.  Happy 65th, Jack. I wish you all the best - now and forever. I'm quite sure that in your 65 years you have seen little bit of everything: you've taken your chances...lived the life...rolled with the punches...and always come out on top. Happy Birthday, and we look forward to many more. ...Jeff...  I appreciate Jack for his dedication
to his values of hard work, diligence and
reliability but more importantly, for his love for and pride in our
children. I know that David and Carrie are the mainstay and center
of his life and his satisfaction in their accomplishments is great. I have many good memories of earlier years: trips taken(even though we would drive nearly non-stop !!), p  laying games with the children, watching
them grow and develop, his wonderful garden...His concern for our children's welfare has always been paramount and I believe we have been successful in our joint efforts in the realization of that goal. I hope his well-deserved retirement exceeds his expectations. (He would always be welcome as a volunteer at the cat shelter!!!) -- Suzanne (Sue) [ home ]
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