Thomas Edgar Egan, JR.

The Life of Tom Egan If she ever writes a book about life with Tom, June Egan is going to call it, ""Around The Next Bend, The Road Evens Out"". This was a saying Tom would use driving over rugged mountain roads, ""four wheeling"" in cars before there was such a thing as SUV's. This phrase was but one mantra for a man who took curves thrown his way with daring do. Tom Egan was born, November 10, 1922, the eldest of Ed and Mary Egan's four children. He grew up at a time when boys wore knickers, rode bikes all over and Colorado Blvd. could be seen from South High Street. Tom attended Washington Park and Byers school until his dad, Ed, drove Tom out and enrolled him in Regis High School one day. Tom held the Jesuits in high esteem for ""straightening him out"". Tom spent two years at Regis College and then enlisted in the U.S. Navy in World War 11. Tom served on the destroyers the Murphy in the Atlantic and the Hunt in the Pacific. Like many of that great generation, Tom didn't often talk about the war except to say that one commander had told him the greatest adversary was the sea itself. He mentioned that rescues at sea were difficult. We also heard the story of King Ibn Saud aboard the Murphy with his goats, wives and tent right on the forecastle of the ship. The passage was offered as the Murphy accompanied the USS Quincy with FDR on its deck to the Malta and Great Bitter Lake Conferences. Tom was granted leave to return home on the sudden death of his youngest sister, Patsy. One of the few pieces of jewelry Tom treasured was the navy watch Patsy had sent him while he was in the Navy. When Tom was discharged from the Navy he returned home to Denver to help at the Egan Printing Company which had been founded by his grandfather, Thomas C. Egan, in 1891. This business is still here today on 13th and Elati Street, Denver. Tom always rose early to drive down to the shop and get some work done before people started coming in the door. Later, Tom taught his strong work ethic to his sons, Bill and Joe. He expected a job to be done completely without shortcuts. Tom met June Jackson at Carl and Cathy Ott's house and was smitten enough to give June a ride home and meet her after Holy Rosary Choir practice. He and June married on October 26, 1946. Sixty some years seemed to go by quickly. After five children, eight grandchildren and seven great grandchildren, Tom and June still kept track of Christmas and Birthdays. There was always a card, a check or cash and one of Tom's famous ""Happy Birthdays"" tooted over the phone through a toilet paper roll. ""Eight o'clock! The day's half over!"" was another one of Tom's phrases that could easily title a chapter. One of the kids experienced this first hand when he arrived home in the wee hours of the morning. Tom thought his son had gotten up early to go fishing with him; there was nothing to do but accompany Tom on his early morning outing. There's outdoor adventure stories to fill several chapters in June's book: the Parshall ""up to the hubs"" rescue; the bathtub full of fish; the Glory Hole incident; the garage door mishaps; the bean and hot dog recipes; the rolled over Model A; and, the hunting trip that found a cat, to name a few. Tom painted enough pictures of the nature he loved to fill an art gallery. For many years, the picture on the front of his Christmas greeting card has been one of his paintings in miniature. Though macular degeneration had diminished what he could see, Tom enjoyed the printed word, whether it was a photo, work of art, or a fine piece of printing. He was known to appreciate and share ""found art"" from wildflower bouquets in rusty cans to glass bottles, a doll's head, a piece of driftwood. The ""fresh air will do you some good"" was another one of his wisdoms. Rain or shine, Tom was outdoors; if the kids were around, they had better be outside and act busy lest others think they were ""hot house plants"". The family brought up the rear as Tom led the charge with: snowshoeing, biking, trail skiing, fishing, hunting, boating, trap shooting, car rides, excursions for Cabrini water, picnics and dinners together. Even though the youngest child, Ann, had Down syndrome, it was no reason for her not to participate. Tom's devotion never wavered for his family. The Egan home is still a clearing house for information on everyone's comings and goings. The ""Pied Piper"" could be another chapter in June's book. Tom had a presence about him, often attracting spectators as he fished at Washington Park. ""The Businessman"" is another title for a chapter. Tom wanted bills paid on time and checks written out to people; he would always wonder when checks he wrote to family weren't quickly deposited or cashed. He was very concerned that bank statements matched his subtraction which he could do in his head, but wrote it down to be sure. He was quickly on the phone to handle things in a gentlemanly way from the yard work to the excel bill. He taught his family to ""do the right thing"". He took the direct, personal approach. He could counsel with calmness on any issue from work to ""the best way to get there"". ""A passenger car could do it"" is the thing he always believed about off-road driving. Somehow this spontaneous, do it yourself attitude could make more chapters in June's book: like his ""impromptu"" statement to the Police Protective Association phone solicitor or his accidentally addressing a neighbor as ""Mrs. Goldengrass"" because that's what his kids had called her. The last chapter could be called , ""The Road Does Straighten Out"". On the front porch, which was sort of Tom's studio, is an unfinished water color of the train station at Hot Sulphur. A straight train track disappears on the horizon. Perhaps it's a metaphor for Tom's road going straight to heaven. Tom believed his life was full of miracles. He had a strong faith in God and in the power of prayer. His love of life and trust in the natural goodness of people are the guideposts he left us to follow. We can only hope we do it with as much gusto, grace and humor as he did.