Jun 202021
Commenting on Wendy’s recent (last Thursday) post “Hello Again” I volunteered to contact Terry Stein who worked w/ TC at the 7th Step Foundation.
I emailed Terry on Friday and got a response on Saturday. I asked her today if I could share it w/ you folks, and she kindly agreed. So here is a nice update from Terry – although I did break it down to paragraphs to make reading a bit easier. (That Wendy has been juggling more balls than even what we’re aware of.)
Hi Tom –Thanks for contacting me. I knew of Tom’s death; Wendy had texted me and Sandi. It’s sad that he had to go through all that.Sandi had been going to visit him at the care home (we talked about both going, but he could only have one visitor at a time) but she never made it. She told Sandi Tom wouldn’t even have known she was there, he was in so much pain. We, too, have been waiting to hear back from Wendy.I did e-mail him after he had moved, to let him know I was thinking of him. He was very nervous, though, because there could be not even a hint of ANY association with prison – not even as a volunteer.My mom died of pancreatic cancer (2001) – she was in a lot of pain – so I understood at least some of what Tom was experiencing, and I didn’t want to put any extra strain on him,.As sad as we are to have lost him, it was a merciful release for him. I am glad, though, that he lived long enough to see trmp [sic – like a lot of us, probably doesn’t even want to write that word] voted OUT!Take care ~ Terry
6 Responses to “Terry Stein Responds to My Email”
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Thany you so much, both fr contacting Terry and for this update. If I had thought longer, I would have realized that, even though TC had had to give up physically visiting before WWWendy came into his life, stll, when she did, he must have shared everything with her … and there were a couple of Zoom meetings with volunteers and grads. But it’s always better not to assume. Now we all know for sure.
I, too, am grateful you reached Terry and were able to provide her response. TC and I talked about how much his history limited his options and he always was very open about it and striving to provide his self-imposed restitution to the community. Federal programs did not include the elements of forever consequences like OR laws and regulations do–in all kinds of ways not true in most states (part of the challenges Portland has had trying to reform their police). How hard it must have been to add this hiding/denial of who he had been for years and how much added stress. And thus I agree even more with Terry that it was a merciful release.
Thank you Nameless, your presence here is so important.
Awww…..such a great note.
Thank you, Terry for the informational update.
I certainly appreciate it.
Thanks, Nameless for posting.
Thanks for sharing the email/update from Terry.
Her words, “it was a merciful release for him” . . . so true.
Thanks Nameless
Thanks for contacting Terry and sharing her communication with us, Nameless.