BeeLines - April 25, 2018
By Marybelle Beigh, Westfield Town & Village Historian
In Memoriam… Tommy Baideme - Westfield’s Unofficial “Poet Laureate”
As I entered the Village of Westfield Clerk’s office, yesterday, Monday, April 23rd, 2018, Village Clerk, Vince Luce, commented, “I suppose you’ve heard…”
“Heard what?” I replied. “You know I don’t have TV and I am no longer on Facebook.”
“You’re a friend of Tom Baideme’s, right?” he continued. “He passed away last night.”
“Oh my God! What happened?” was my shocked reply.
And so, I learned that Tommy was hit by a car on Main Street, about 10 PM Sunday, April 22nd, 2018, as Tom was crossing south to north about in front of Bristol Burgess, and the driver didn’t see him as he was wearing dark, unreflective clothing. They had each just left “Mickey-D’s” after each had been sipping their cups of “Joe” as Tommy called coffee, each having been doing their usual crosswords and/or writing right up to closing time…
After a burst of tears, and kind condolences and a tissue, I commented that the driver is one of my many cousins in the area… at which point I was in prayer for all involved – family, friends, our first responders and all who knew Tommy over the years. And then I decided that I would dedicate my next BeeLines to Tommy.
Just that Sunday afternoon, I had been chatting with another friend who had shared that Tommy had been Lector at St. Peter’s that morning, and was dressed so nicely, and had shared the scripture reading in his usual unique and spiritually resounding way, touching the hearts of the congregation. “He seems to be doing so much better,” was my friend’s kind comment.
Later yesterday (Monday), another friend shared that St. Peter’s Episcopal Church will be holding a time for meeting the family, and then a memorial service, this coming Sunday afternoon, April 29th, 2018.
For several years, starting in December, 2008, I was blessed to be able to type the poems written by Tom Baideme, printing them out for him to share with family and friends, and sometimes sending them for publication to the Westfield Republican newspaper. There are over 150 writings of Tommy’s on my computer, most of them from 2009 to 2013, when I left to live in Silverton Colorado for a year (2014). But after I returned I typed a handful in 2015 and 2016.
Most of Tommy’s poems, as well as the few prose writings, are focused on his deep spiritual connection to God. When his mother passed away in the summer of 2009, Tommy poured out heart in two poems – the first, “An Ode to Passing” which begins:
“Today I have to write of grief
Because my mother passed away
To heaven bound was her belief
God’s promises he keeps, I pray”
A couple months later, he pens what I believe is one of his best memorial poems:
“Ode to Tiny Dancer
By Tom Baideme
Music Wednesday in the park will never be the same
It won’t be near the fun as when my mother came
She used to stand down in the front awaiting them to play
Then the tune would start and she’d sing & dance away
She knew all the words to all the oldie songs they played
And she danced to every song with anyone to all the sounds they made
But now the music still in the park will sorrowfully be missed
By the one holy tiny dancer no longer in our midst
Now above she’s looking down it all who still remain
Now with memories intact she remembers all our names
She’s listening as the music plays all her favorite tunes
From “Begin the Beguine” to “Shine on Harvest Moon”
Now I sit with grandson near and listen as they play
Enjoying music in the park is somehow not the same
With the tiny dancer gone I know I’ll miss her every day
Though there’s no one dancing now I’m still glad I came”
The last memorial poem that I typed for Tommy was, “An Ode to Al” on the passing of Albert King, a beloved lifetime member of St. Peter’s Church, who died in 2015.
And the final poem that I typed, was one of JOY, on the occasion of his daughter, Talena’s marriage: “(Untitled) By Tom Baideme - 4-16-16
Oh what a day it’s been today
To see my daughter wed at last
Another miracle to check off the list
Of things to do before I pass away
A beautiful day for the rite of love
With all the old familiar rings
Being passed among the tombs
by our favorite father of God
Had a chance to read for her
A favorite passage chosen for the day
About what Corinthians said of what love is
And what it does and does not do
Patient, kind, no envy, not proud
Honors others, seeking self
Slow to anger fast forgiving
Delights in truths with a hate of evil
Perseveres with trust and hope protects
Always for love that never fails
And if all the remaining faith hope and love
Still the greatest is always love
So as the festivities start to wane
And now that guests have begged their leave
It’s time to thank the Lord above
For letting me see this blessed day”
And so, I end with my brief:
Ode to Tommy
By Marybelle Beigh
April 24, 2018
With grief, I heard someone to say
Your friend, Tom Baideme, has passed away
But now, with heartful hope, my friend
I look forward to reunion, at my own end