[BobbyB]

IT'S A MATTER OF LIFE...
His indomitable spirit rides on with loved ones

GERRY HOSTETLER
He missed it by only a few days.

He had ridden his Blue Ultra Classic Harley Davidson in the Gaston County toy run many times, but this time only his helmet and bandana made the holiday ride.

Tom Henry Brady Jr. of Charlotte died Nov. 27, 2007, of Lou Gehrig's disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), which eventually destroys movement and speech. He was 47 and owner of Brady Electric and Control for 22 years.

Friend Bill Adams carried Tom's helmet as a tribute in the Dec. 1 toy run. "We raised $17,000 last year and $25,000 this year," Bill said.

The disease eventually cost Tom his life, it did not win out over his indomitable spirit.

"Through all his pain and suffering, he remained a constant source of love and laughter," the family said. "Even in the face of death, he never once faltered in his faith and love for his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ."

Tom worked hard and liked to play hard, too. He loved his Harley and his boat, a white Performance 28-foot Powerquest. "Tom was just full of life," said his friend and brother-in-law, Terry Fair. "Tom was a free spirit and lived life on the edge sometimes. He was safe within reason but liked to have fun."

He kept a positive outlook

The way Tom handled his illness won the respect and admiration of all who knew him. "The way he lived, and the way he died, was an inspiration," Terry said. "As bad as his life got toward the end, he kept a positive outlook. I would have been bitter at the world, but you could always depend on walking in to talk to him and you'd get a smile, a positive outlook and attitude. He wanted to live, to defeat ALS, but it wasn't meant to be."Tom always feared his dad, Tom Sr., would get a debilitating disease. He dearly loved his mom, Edna, and his dad was his best buddy," wife Debbie said.

"This man had the best attitude; he smiled every single day. He found something to smile about until the day he died."

The couple got together with by chance. Debbie had known Tom for years but hadn't seen him in a long time. She ran into one of his friends and casually asked about him. Tom was fine, the friend said, but if she'd give him her number, he'd pass it on. She said no, she wasn't "looking." The friend persisted and she finally gave in.

"He called the next morning"

"Lo and behold, he called the next morning," Debbie said. He wanted to take her to the lake. She was moving into a new apartment and didn't have time, she told him. He would help if she'd go with him, he said. "He picked me up on his Harley, we went to the lake, and I can count on one hand the days we spent apart for 16 years," Debbie said.

"This man had the best attitude," his wife said. He was diagnosed in August 2006. "At first he asked, `Why me?' Then quickly changed to `Why not me?' " Debbie said.

"He was a big eater, loved meat but couldn't eat. He saw a prime rib ad one day and said, `I'd give up scratching my head and blowing my nose if only I could eat that.'... He was so funny; this is the kind of humor he kept up the whole time he was sick."

When Debbie sensed a different, peaceful expression on Tom's face, she lay down beside him. She held him as her husband, her love, her best friend, quietly left her.

"He was precious to me," she said.

It's a Matter

of Life... Gerry

Hostetler


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Reach Gerry at 704- 358-5075 or
http://www.charlotte.com/local/story/416220.html