Chapter 39

How do you honor your hero?

The person you’ve looked up to your entire life?

Your Example. Your Anchor. Your Stay.

Tom Prescott was a beacon of integrity, a man who embraced every moment and offered unwavering devotion to his beloved wife and cherished family. With an indomitable work ethic and an unyielding moral compass, he epitomized the virtues of a life well-lived.

He loved his country and served proudly in the United States Naval Corps, where he was deployed in 1983 to provide aid during the chaos of the Lebanese Civil War.

In the great outdoors, Tom reigned supreme, a master craftsman whose hands could create miracles and whose infectious laughter could light up even the darkest of days.

Pamela’s heart will forever ache with a void that could never be filled: the loss of a father so extraordinary.

Thomas Tyler Prescott

February 4, 1962 – July 19, 2020

RIP

Thursday, July 24, 2020

Fairfax, Maryland

Pamela made her way to the podium, the silence of the funeral home amplifying the soft sound of her footsteps on the thick carpet. Around her, sixty pairs of eyes – belonging to friends and family alike – watched intently. After a visible inhale, she sought to steady her nerves and quell the profound grief swirling within her. Can I do this? Clad in a sleek black blazer paired with a pristine white blouse, Pamela exuded an air of poise and obligation, the epitome of a devoted daughter. Yet beneath this façade, her heart throbbed with the pain of her father’s passing.

As her younger sister, Candice, joined Pamela at the front of the memorial center, she felt a dash of moxie. This is for Dad; do it for him. The sisters had chosen to perform a spiritual duet, a variation of the classic hymn Goin’ Home that held special meaning for the Prescott family. Though Pamela didn’t consider herself much of a vocalist, Candice’s presence gave her strength.

The hymn, initially composed by Czech musician Antonín Dvořák in 1893 and later adapted with lyrics by William Arms Fisher in 1922, filled the room as Pamela and Candice’s voices intertwined. Their shared sorrow was laced in every word, each note a poignant tribute to the man who had shaped their lives.

Pamela never thought this day would come.

Tom’s sudden passing gutted the family raw. Just a week ago, he had been his usual vibrant self, full of vigor and drive. But last Friday, everything changed – just like that.

It was late afternoon when Tom collapsed in the garden, his body crumpling to the ground like a marionette whose strings had been cut. Carol, his wife of thirty-six years, was by his side in a heartbeat. Panicked, she screamed for help, and a neighbor called 911.

Within minutes, paramedics arrived, their sirens piercing the tranquil neighborhood. They worked quickly to stabilize Tom, assessing his condition and preparing him for transport to the hospital. Carol rode in the ambulance as well, holding his hand and whispering words of prayer and encouragement.

Several miles away, Pamela received the devastating phone call from her other sister. Time seemed to stand still as Paula’s words sank in. Sensing his wife’s distress, Colt’s strong, comforting presence enveloped Pamela as the gravity of the situation became crystal clear.

Together, Pamela and Colt raced to the hospital. They arrived to find Carol and the rest of the family huddled in the waiting room, their faces etched with worry. From there, it turned into an agonizing waiting game that stretched deep into the evening hours.

Doctors diagnosed Tom with a thrombotic stroke, the severity of which left little hope for recovery. They explained to the family that the damage to Tom’s brain was extensive, and that he was unlikely to regain consciousness.

The Prescott clan held vigil at his bedside, a united front against the cruel hand of fate that threatened to tear their world asunder. The sterile hospital room became a sanctuary of sorts, the steady beep of the monitors and the woosh of the ventilator a constant reminder of the tenuous thread by which Tom’s life hung.

Carol never left his side, her hand clasped with his, and poured every ounce of her being into the belief that their love could somehow transcend the boundaries of life and death, and that through some divine intervention, Tom would find his way back to them.

As the sun set outside the hospital windows on Saturday evening, casting a warm, golden glow across the room, an eerie stillness descended upon the space. The rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor gave way to a continuous, haunting tone, signaling the absence of life. Carol, Paula, Pamela, and Candice bore witness to Tom’s final moment. His chest rose and fell one last time, his body relaxing as his spirit slipped away, leaving behind the earthly confines that had once housed his soul.

And thus, their collective psyches shattered as they dealt with the loss of their patriarch.

As the final strains of Goin’ Home faded away, Pamela looked out at the faces of those in the funeral home to celebrate her father’s life. Tears glistened on the cheeks of many, a testament to the indelible impact he had made on them. In that moment, Pamela knew that this musical tribute was the perfect way to honor her father’s memory and the love he had given so freely.

Tom Prescott grew up in the tight-knit community of Willow Creek, Missouri, the second of four children. His father, a skilled mechanic, passed on his love of all things mechanical to Tom, who spent countless hours in the garage, learning the ins and outs of engines. At Willow Creek High, Tom was a star athlete, excelling in baseball and football. But it was his keen mind for machines that truly set him apart.

At eighteen, Tom enlisted in the Navy, eager to turn his passion into a career. As an Aviation Technician who worked on helicopters, he thrived, his natural talent and due diligence earning him the respect of his fellow sailors. In 1983, during the Lebanese Civil War, Tom was deployed to Beirut. There, he took a bullet to the shoulder during a skirmish with local militants. Despite the injury, Tom persevered, serving out his commitment until 1984.

Upon returning stateside, Tom married Carol, whom he met in 1980 outside Naval Air Station Patuxent River in St. Mary’s County, Maryland, and the couple settled in the suburbs of Baltimore. His love for her was evident in every aspect of their life together. Tom found great joy in being a Girl Dad, too, helping nurture Paula, Pamela, and Candice into the fine, upstanding young women they are today.

Though his love for mechanics never waned, Tom discovered a new passion after the military: caring for animals. He decided to combine this affection with his entrepreneurial spirit, opening an exotic pet store and supply shop. The store quickly became a local institution, known for its diverse selection, from rare dog and cat breeds to colorful birds and scaly reptiles. Tom was in his element, sharing his expertise with customers and doting on the shop’s resident pets.

When he wasn’t tending to his menagerie, Tom could be found exploring the great outdoors with his family. An avid nature enthusiast, he loved hiking through the Maryland wilderness, birdwatching, and capturing stunning photographs of the wildlife he encountered. His deep respect for the environment and all its living things was something he made sure to instill in his daughters. Tom advocated for stricter wildlife protection laws, too, attended town council meetings, and wrote letters to local representatives, believing that every creature deserved a chance at a happy, healthy life.

In his community, Tom coached youth sports teams, volunteered at the local food bank, and was always ready to lend a helping hand to those in need. His woodworking skills were put to good use, crafting birdhouses and feeders that he donated to local parks and nature reserves.

He was an avid sports fan as well, and a season ticket holder for the Baltimore Ravens football team.

Tom’s life was a beautiful tapestry woven with threads of compassion, integrity, and an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. He approached every challenge with a positive attitude and a determination to make a difference, no matter how small. Though he may be gone, Tom Prescott’s love, wisdom, and zest for life will live on in the hearts of those who were blessed to have known him.

As Pamela was about to step down from the podium, her eyes met Colt’s in the front row. She twisted her face and tried not to cry as memories of the countless ways Colt had been there for her, not just in the past several days, but throughout all their fourteen years together.

She remembered how, in the immediate aftermath of Tom’s death, Colt shouldered the burden of planning the funeral. He made phone calls, coordinated with the mortuary, and handled the paperwork, all while providing a steady shoulder for Pamela to lean on. His efforts offered the family the space it needed to process their emotions and begin the difficult journey of healing.