Maybe it's too soon for this, but, what the hell. One of the times I met him....

I was doing an airport construction job in Deer Kake, Newfoundalnd. As top dog on the job, I was always on the job site before dawn. One morning, I strolled into an empty (I thought) building and I was singing at the top of my voice.... great acosutics in an empty Airport Terminal... when, all of a sudden, I was drowned out like a cricket by a lion. There he stood, belting it out. My jaw dropped.

He stopped and asked, "What's the matter lad? You forget the words?" Then, another voice, Liam, whom I had apparently woken up, said, "I wish you would both forget the words." Tommy gave me a wink and began again. A solo performance. I treasure it to this day and always will. A chat over coffee in my office was a wee treat as well.

A bit later, when the construction crew arrived, the lead hand said something I'll never forget.... "Dat lad's got a t'roat on 'im like a gannet!" He meant that in an endearing way.