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Friday, October 28, 2022

How we should remember him

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After all the athletic triumphs and letdowns, after all the injuries and pain, after the organizational brilliance of the Nobis Center, and finally, after the torment of brain syndrome, this is the way I will always remember Mr. Tommy Nobis . . . lifting someone else up.  The photo is from his Senior year at Jefferson High when a 17 year old Tommy played the Easter Bunny for a San Antonio orphanage.  Rest in Peace, Tommy.  You lifted up thousands and thousands of people, many of whom had been written off as hopeless.  That's what I call a Man.

 

18 comments:

  1. What a wonderful tribute.Thank you for posting! BozB

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  2. A lovely story of kindness and bravery. He was a true champion in the best sense of the word. Thank you for sharing.

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    1. "He was a true champion . . . " Thank you for that. It really sums up Mr. Nobis.

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  3. There is an explanation in the Talmud as to what constitutes "compassion" (רחמים - rachamim - the ch pronounced as a guttural as in a Scottish loch). The Sages tell us that true compassion is when you are standing on a pedestal and reach down to someone in need and raise him up to your height.

    There is nothing worse to European ears than when we hear medical insurance has run out. However, the disadvantages of our welfare states and socialized medicine are unwieldy and unresponsive bureaucracy, one-size-fits-all solutions, in times of lean cuts in funding and resulting monopolies that sideline or even exclude individual enterprise and philanthropy.

    I am not surprised Tommy Nobis is one of your heroes. His foundation provided your patient with custom solutions which were successful beyond any expectation, as was doubtless the case in so many other instances. And he did it all with breathtaking modesty. A life well lived.

    Thank you for this inspiring story.



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    1. What a magnificent quote from the Talmud! I'm saving that. The modesty you mention was something that, in my opinion, contributed to his success. When you spoke to Tommy Nobis, there was a simple sincerity and earnestness that put you at ease and let you know it wasn't about him. It was about helping others, whatever it took.

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  4. This was a really interesting and beautifully written post, Jerry. It's important to remember and to make people aware of inspirational people such as Mr. Nobis.

    Peter

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    1. Thank you, Peter! In a time when outstanding athletes often tend to be spoiled, self-centered prima donna multi-millionaires, it's nice to remember that there have been some who used their fame for immense good. When Mr. Nobis' family disclosed how much he (and they) suffered due to CTE, I broke down and cried. He meant that much to me.

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  5. Inspiring and touching. Thanks, Jerry.

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  6. Mr. Nobis certainly belongs in the Pro-Football Hall of Fame.
    But it seems it takes along time to get into the Halls of Fame in any sport.
    For instance, Tony Lazzeri of the Yankees was my fraternal grandfathers brother in law. (married to granpas sister Maye.)
    Tony had died in 1946 from epilepsy (precondition hidden from the insurance company so he could play baseball) he did not get into the Baseball Hall of Fame until 1991 ! Hopefully Mr. Nobis case can be fast-tracked out of respect for all the good he had done in helping others.
    -Rj in the IE

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    1. Thanks for your comment, Rj. Mr. Nobis has been on the finalist list for induction several times, so maybe it will happen next year.

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  7. Like you, Jerry, I shed a few tears when I read about the last few years of Tommy's life. Thank you for such an informative, beautiful, and touching account of a great man. Sadly, we hear precious little about extraordinary people like Tommy, while the media focuses on "spoiled, self-centered prima donna multi-millionaires," -- a comment that made me burst out laughing because it is SO accurate. I'm not much of a football fan either, so it's good to hear about someone with so much personal integrity, right thru to the end of his life. And clearly, he left a mark in your own mind and heart. I can see why.

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    1. Thanks for such a thoughtful comment, 2W! My interaction with Mr. Nobis was brief, but as you said, it left a lasting mark. Everyone who knew him said he did what he did out of love, and not for the recognition. He was a gift and an example to us all.

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  8. Very nice. Thanks for sharing his story.

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