Tom

[Deep C]

Tom
Ironic that I write this as a friend passes in the same building as my daughter was born. I guess it was 1990 or so… I was at it 6 days a week at Murray Brothers making lures and ringing sales on the register. I first knew Tom as 02- Waterdo. The 02 designation as a top tournament boat client account that the computer recognized for volume discounts. Waterdo was a typo from the upstairs office who missed the G. We had oodles of clients but Tom stood out as he took interest in not just all the tackle but the people who worked in the store. For him it was more than just some bait and tackle shop. It was a place he could be friendly with people.
He could see past my smile that I was not fulfilled with the land based job but never rubbed it in. When I broke free from those walls and made the water once again my office he was there to help. That was a great thing about him. Others who had achieved his level of success were slow to help the guy struggling to get back on the water, be it in private work, charter or tourney capacity. Hell, some would turn their back if you tried to strike up a conversation. Not Tom.
Tom was one of those, who like me, moved with the fish instead of waiting for seasons to bring them to him. Often we wound up on distant docks a couple slips apart. Hatteras, Ocean City, Cape May, eve remote islands in the Bahamas. Always good to see a familiar friendly face. Competition or not I never once had a cross word with him on or off the water. Never saw him really have a cross word with anybody.
Lots of memories through those twenty years. A stand out would include him backing me up in Cape May as I had another lure seller getting threatening to get physical. His approach that day was simply “You’re not going tp touch this guy as long as I’m standing here…” No chest beating or direct threat just a very mature and calm approach to diffusing a potentially bad situation. Later that tournament that other lure man had engine trouble and Tom jumped right in to help.
Another stand out day was off Ocean City… I was on the maiden run with a small boat and we had bowed up a grander… My mate was on the rod. Tom stayed close in case we needed a hand. With a charter aboard himself he offered us any assistance we might need should we choose to boat the fish. We wound up releasing but appreciated the offer. Days later was some very rough condition. He called frequently to make sure we were ok in the big water with the small boat. On the way home he came off course, slowed down, and allowed us to ride in his wake where it was smoother and safer. At Hatteras he was good enough to show me safe routes through the cuts there.
That was the kind of guy he was. The list of anecdotes could go on and on but I think you can see that was truly a great thoughtful mild mannered gentleman. I think about how his passing came about. A freak accident illustrating oh so clearly there is no such thing as routine. Fishing is a full contact sport and all too often it claims one of us. Taking a guy like Tom though just hurts that much more. He loved what he did. Making memories and putting smiles on his passengers faces was what it was all about.
Like all of us here I’m going to miss that smile. I’m going to really miss having someone who was so easy to talk with. I will however have something to carry me forward. The memories and the appreciation of the good fortune I had in spending those last twenty years with somebody of that caliber in my life. I raise my glass to you Tom Henry. Thanks for the great ride…

[Captain Jay Kavanagh]

Amen, I had not spoken with Tom in several years, but you are so right, first class all the way, and a top notch boatman and fisherman.

When I first met Tom here in Hatteras, we were giving him a hard time about always running his charters wearin a starched and monogrammed collared shirt. here in Hatteras we are kind of a flip flop and t-shirt crowd.

He Looked me in the eye and said "It's not what ya do, its how ya look doin it."

RIP Dock Partner.

[Hatterized]

Capt Tom...may you encounter smooth seas upon the big ocean in the sky......

a Captain who had the respect and admiration of his fellow Captains....that is a true reflection of a man many aspire to be.

RIP Captain Tom.......continued prayers for the family...Amen.

[dramey.2]

i guess i was 16 when i met tom and his wife tom really took me in it was when we would hunt together he really just treated me like he knew me forever and when one of his best friends married my mother it was like i gained an uncle when i got my first apartment he helped me furnish it gave me a job mating for him in tilghman for a summer. and i knew at that point that i really respected him and wanted to be like him so when i got married he basically payed for most of my honeymoon . then when i had my daughter it was only fitting that i asked him and mrs. pat to be her godparents and they accepted they will forever be in my familys heart to the first mate thank you for getting boat under control and keeping anyone else from getting hurt . to the lifeguard GREAT JOB to the hospital staff thank you now to CAPT THOMAS C. HENRY
thank you for being someone in my life you didnt have to be you will forever be in my heart . godspeed to you great fishing and hunting in heaven my friend and its been an honor to call you capt. tom , friend ,and godfather from the rameys in maryland

[Reefraft]

The link's on a local radio station that posted the pictures. WOW.

It's under the most recently updates pictures and the boat is named Waterdog.

http://pnyr.big1059.com/cc-common/gallery/index.html

[Deep C]

Celebration of Tom Henry will be Saturday Sept. 11 at 6:00pm at Jupiter Beach Resort.

Anyone who wants a room there can call Jon Lester at 561-745-7132. Discount rooms @ $109/night

[Captain Jay Kavanagh]

I wish I could be there but I cannot.

I will always remember Tom Henry and his quick wit.

I can think of several instances, but one in particular comes to mind.

It was my first season running my current boat, and I was a rookie running a big single engine boat.

I was tied up next to the Waterdog at Hatteras Landing.

We were fishing and it started to blow about 40 out of the NW.

I was very nervous putting her in the slip that afternoon, right next to that pretty Garlington.

Well, somehow I timed it perfectly and put her right in despite 30-40 knots of wind across the bow.

Tom said to me "good thing you did not hit the piling with my Satelite dish on it, that thing is a ***** to line up!"

Please share your memories of Tom Henry.

[whitey]

I met Tom a few years ago when we were docked next to him for a week in Marsh Harbour. We spent a few nights grilling steaks and fish on the dock. 1 night we bought 20 pounds of stone crab claws from a local and 6 of us devoured them in no time and to this day the mustard sauce that Tom whipped up was second to none. From what I saw that week he was a great guy that would have given you the shirt off his back. Rest in peace Tom.

[black duck 1]

I worked at OCFC when he fished up here and I really enjoyed working around him. He was very helpful when I first started fishing offshore he went out of his way to help me when MANY other captains wouldn't give me the time of day. He and Scotty were awesome I looked forward to them coming in at night so I could pick their brains. I always told Mr. Tom I wanted his Grand Wagoner when he was done with it b/c you could fit so much shit in there!!! And he had er loaded!!!

Jay

[frankypettolina]

I had the pleasure of fishing alongside Tom, drinking alongside Tom, surveying both of the Waterdogs, and philospohizing with Tom many times over the years. My favorite story has to be the time Solo plastics changed the design of their cups. It seems Tom had figured out the perfect Rum and Coke mix in the red solo cups, based on the lines on the side of the cups. Well, when the design changed it screwed his mix up. Capt. Tom wrote a letter to Solo explaining his dilemma.... They sent him something like a thousand of the old style cups!!!

RIP my friend. You will be missed (well maybe not by Marlins and Saildogs!!!)