One of the most difficult aspects of touching bases with classmates every ten years is learning that one of us has passed on. And, so it was when I logged on to find my old friend Craig "Tomo" Tomomatsu. Craig was one of my oldest friends in our class. I have known Craig since elementary school days at Dilworth School where his mother, Yae, worked with my father, and Craig's father, Roy, worked on our car at Ken Garff's Oldsmobile. Both of his parents were loving, wonderful people and like a second home to me growing up.
We both attended Roosevelt Jr. High where we shared a backfield with old friends/rivals, Dave Murdoch and Mike Fisher who went on to star at South (with most the rest of our junior high team). Tomo’s speed and quickness, which was readily on display from his right half back position, always impressed us. One of my earliest and fondest memories of football at East was Tomo taking a quick pitch ( in a double flanker left formation) 60 yards for the only score in a 7 – 0 win over archrival South our sophomore year. There would be many more such plays in our next three years’ march to state.
Our friendship suffered early in our senior year when Craig abandoned me to join Bernie Asahina’s “Japanese Rising Son’s Youth Rally”. I can honestly say that now, after fifty years, I forgive you, man! When all is said and done, I think even I voted for Bernie after his great “This Is Not a Japan Will Rise Again” speech.
Tomo, you were a great friend and team mate. You will be missed, brother.
I too was saddened to here of Craig's passing. I knew his father as well as my father also worked at Ken Garff (he was my uncle.) I remember Craig's Dad as being a very kind and soft spoken gentleman.
Craig, you and I had an intense telephone relationship. We talked for hours about every little thing. There was a bit of flirting, but we never got past dancing at the pre-game stomps in the front hall. Remember those? I will miss you at the reunion. I hope you had the happy life that you so clearly deserved.
Craig and I were great friends at Hawthorne Elementary. We were the two fastest kids in the school. He was a very loyal friend and it was fun to visit his home and learn the culture his parents had given him. We both moved east and remained friends in high school, me at Highland and him at East. We loved the competition on the FB field. He was a very tough speedy runner. He killed us as seniors as East took state. He certainly deserved it with his hard work. RIP Tomo.
Kent Hales
One of the most difficult aspects of touching bases with classmates every ten years is learning that one of us has passed on. And, so it was when I logged on to find my old friend Craig "Tomo" Tomomatsu. Craig was one of my oldest friends in our class. I have known Craig since elementary school days at Dilworth School where his mother, Yae, worked with my father, and Craig's father, Roy, worked on our car at Ken Garff's Oldsmobile. Both of his parents were loving, wonderful people and like a second home to me growing up.
We both attended Roosevelt Jr. High where we shared a backfield with old friends/rivals, Dave Murdoch and Mike Fisher who went on to star at South (with most the rest of our junior high team). Tomo’s speed and quickness, which was readily on display from his right half back position, always impressed us. One of my earliest and fondest memories of football at East was Tomo taking a quick pitch ( in a double flanker left formation) 60 yards for the only score in a 7 – 0 win over archrival South our sophomore year. There would be many more such plays in our next three years’ march to state.
Our friendship suffered early in our senior year when Craig abandoned me to join Bernie Asahina’s “Japanese Rising Son’s Youth Rally”. I can honestly say that now, after fifty years, I forgive you, man! When all is said and done, I think even I voted for Bernie after his great “This Is Not a Japan Will Rise Again” speech.
Tomo, you were a great friend and team mate. You will be missed, brother.
Doug Richards
I too was saddened to here of Craig's passing. I knew his father as well as my father also worked at Ken Garff (he was my uncle.) I remember Craig's Dad as being a very kind and soft spoken gentleman.
Sally Norton (Smith)
Craig, you and I had an intense telephone relationship. We talked for hours about every little thing. There was a bit of flirting, but we never got past dancing at the pre-game stomps in the front hall. Remember those? I will miss you at the reunion. I hope you had the happy life that you so clearly deserved.
Alan Andrus
Craig and I were great friends at Hawthorne Elementary. We were the two fastest kids in the school. He was a very loyal friend and it was fun to visit his home and learn the culture his parents had given him. We both moved east and remained friends in high school, me at Highland and him at East. We loved the competition on the FB field. He was a very tough speedy runner. He killed us as seniors as East took state. He certainly deserved it with his hard work. RIP Tomo.