In Loving Memory of Thomas "Spinny" Bunch

by "Snatcher" (written March 30, 2005)

Our ol' pal Spinny passed away on 3/29/05. Spinny was always full of smiles and jokes. If he was in the room, he livened up the place. You always wanted to invite him to your gatherings. I got to know Spinny well from the many tropical group trips that he went on with us He loved to travel and see the world. He loved Mexico. He loved the warm sun and sand. He loved OTL. He loved OMBAC and guarding the gate at Grants Grill. And he loved San Felipe. The week before his passing, we were discussing his pending knee surgery and he joked that he was ‘looking forward to pinching the nurses’. I told him that he’d come back as the Man with the Bionic Knee. Today, a week later, I just can’t believe he’s gone.

Spinny was known for his Tuesday night poker games, his laid-back fun style, and his Joyce Bunch/Bob Barlow Horseshoe Tournament for Cancer, to name a few. He went on my houseboat trips, joined us in Puerto Nuevo, on long tropical group trips South of the Border, and my winetasting tours (even though he didn't like wine but just wanted to go along for the fun). He'd call you up on the phone and his opening line, with his slow drawl emphasizing every word, being...."This is your ol’ pal, Spinny”. Spinny was aged like a fine wine, but he was in great shape and spunky. Spinny and Captain Suzy were the Dynamic Duo!

We should all emulate Spinny. We should all hope to be so loved. To our ol’ pal Spinny, we will certainly miss you very much. I know I will. And I know I am not alone in this at all. I hope we're renting the Roman Colliseum to hold all the friends who will show up that didn’t get a chance to say goodbye.