From Gregg & Liz Roberts

Tom--

I really wanted to send some of our classic pics from Kutztown days, but lucky for all of us, I couldnt find them. ** (Hard to believe that was TWENTY years ago!). Anyway, welcome to middle age. Hope you have a great birthday and many more rockin' years to come!

All our best,
Gregg and Liz

**Gregg - I took care of the photos for you. Hope you don't mind! ;) - Jennifer

From Killswitch Engage

From Eerie Von

To Tom on his 40th Birthday!

I can't thank you enough for your friendship for the last dozen or so years. For all your help, free design work, along with your advice and caring ways. It's true when they say "you can count your real friends on one hand" and I'm lucky to be able to say you're one of them. I hope the next 40 years brings you even more joy and success, along with good health and LOVE.

It just goes to show that you can acheive great things and become a great person, despite your many handicaps.

All the Best, Lots of Love!
Your Pal
EV

From Dan Kent & Jackie

From Tom & Carol Mayer

Carol and I watched Tom grow up from a little guy racing around Devonshire to big guy racing around the US.

One of our fondest memories was watching Tom and Rob compete in miniature golf. Their favorite "course" was the old Zinn's. Many a summer afternoon was spent having great fun with Tom and Rob. We never were able to give Rob a brother. But we, our whole little family, feel in love with a little guy on Devonshire. Rob, Carol and me were blessed with a brother, and second son, by choice. We are so proud of both Rob and Tom.

Hard to believe they are turning 40!!
Happy Birthday Tommy B,

Tom and Carol Mayer

From Rob Mayer

Happy 40th Tom! I have had the privilege of being a friend probably longer than anyone else on the planet. Tom and I met in our strollers when I was 6 months old and he was a year old. He was my first true friend and for that I will always be grateful to have such a wonderful person in my life. The long summer days of “wiffle”, riding to the dirt mounds and Atari/Intellivision marathon sessions will always hold a very, very special spot in my memory. It seems like just yesterday we were conspiring to see whose mom was cooking a better dinner, riding our bikes together to Turkey Hill for slushies, or finding the stash of our dads Playboys. Now 40 years later those happy memories bring a tear to my eye because I realize had such a loyal and true friend to share my childhood with. We made a pack back then that we would always be there for each other and remain friends, even when one of us became a huge rock star. The rock star thing never happened but I know the pack we made then will be there forever.

From Kenny Gabor

Tom,

Here’s to a happy and healthy 40th birthday and to many many more. Cheers!

From Tanja Schoor

Now, I know this is a serious occasion. Turning 40 makes some people suicidal, some people lose hope, some people let themselves go. I was thinking of sending a male stripper but I'm afraid I'm 10 years late. Sorry to say, but face it - this is it. Might as well get it over with now and rid this world of a hell of a guy who actually is not so bad looking for 40. Hmmm... He's also done some pretty rad stuff, traveled all over the world, moved to all corners of the country and made a lot of friends along the way. Doesn't seem like he's done yet, maybe he should live a little while longer. Okay, Tom, you're not doomed!

Happy 40th B-day!
Tanja

From Patrick Kirchner

Tom:

It's been pleasure getting to know you, exchanging social and political ideas with you, and, of course, swapping music recommendations. You've introduced Abby and I to some wonderful things, the least important but most delicious of which are those fake vegan chicken wing thingers with the dowel rods. But those are another discussion altogether.

Over the past couple of years that I've gotten to know you, I've admired your exceptional professional talent, yes, but moreover the tenacity with which you approach everything you involve yourself in: art, teaching, music, activism, vegeterianism, connecting like-minded people, the Phils, the Birds, etc., etc., etc. Strangely, even when you're just hangin out and kickin it, you seem to do it with a full-on commitment that heretofor I've never seen. And I've grown to really appreciate that about you. Well, that, and the fact that you're on heck of a nice, interesting dude. You're like the vegeterian punk rock older brother who left Lancaster then decided to come back that I never had. So thanks for bringing your awesomeness back to the East Coast so that I could get in on it, too.

So here, on your 40th birthday, please accept my warmest birthday sentiments. But please--with all due respect--don't ever act like you're 40. Or 41. Or 42. Keep it young, awesome, and killer.

Happy birthday, buddy.
-Pat Kirchner

From Abby Kirchner

Dear Tom,

I'm so glad you and Jennifer have decided to settle here in Lancaster! I know I give you a hard time about your 'nuances', but it's just because I like you so much. (smile.) I'm glad to have cultivated a love of brussel sprouts in your gastronomy, but don't be surprised if you're gifted a large quantity of Swiss chard this summer.

You've brought a lot of humor and great conversation into our lives, and for that I'm appreciative. So happy birthday, old man! May the world continue to be blessed with your compassion, intelligence, and conscientiousness for many years to come.

All my best,
Abby.

From Vinnie Li

Tomb,

Have a great Birthday, Old Friend!!!

- V

From Alison Tarnofsky

Dear Tomb,

Can you fit 40 candles on a Tastykake? I hope you get everything you wish for this year (lifetime supply of Bugles?)

I am so glad to have known you these past 14 years (and you look exactly the same, even through all the hair color changes and facial hair growth).

Have an amazing day!

Lots of love and buh-bye,
Alison

From Joni Adams

Dear Tom,

I just dug through a box which contained old mailings and mixed tapes thatyou made for me when you worked at Record Rev in Hummelstown, PA and I was your sales rep at Caroline. There was a picture of us from a taxi cab that I wanted to scan in, but it is really dark. Instead, I found pics of us at Motor City on the LES and you at a Caroline football game that I believe was Label against Distribution. I think Distribution kicked Label's ass that day. Anyway, on this your 40th birthday, I just wanted to say that I deeply regret that I can not come to your party.

Then I want to say how much I have admired you all these 18 years. You are a true Renaissance man - you care so much for politics, the environment, animals, and you're an amazing artist and designer, and you have a great ear for music. I eagerly await your end-of-year top 10 lists and the inspiring quotes/lyrics you place at the end of every email. You have good friends all over the countrybecause you are a genuine and noble person, and well, you're just fucking cool!!!!

Have an awesome 40th birthday and many more, my friend. And you'vedefinitely still got it baby!!!!

Love,

Joni

From Ann McGonigal

I can not believe we have been friends for 22 years! Yep, 22 years. A lot has changed since then, but through it all, we have kept in touch and each time I see you, it’s like I just saw you the day before. We met our freshman year at Kutztown, I believe it was the 3 hour drawling lab in the basement of Old Stain, I mean, Old Main. It’s amazing we actually met, as my attendance lacked consistency, especially the Friday classes, 3-6pm when happy hour awaited SOMEWHERE. But I’m sure you made EVERY single class as you were as determined then, as you are now.

So when we met, gas was about 90 cents a gallon, the stock market had just crashed, sound familiar? Crack was making its debut, as well as Guns N’ Roses, and Fox Network~ The Simpsons! We were young (definitely), we were innocent (sort of) and we were in the middle of no where USA!

So here we are several states and children later, and although our contact is sporadic, I still consider you a very close friend, with memories of my youth that I will cherish forever! So I raise a glass for you today, Tom; to health, happiness and many more years of friendship! Hear! Hear!

From Lyle Preslar

Tom,

It is June 6, and technology has let me down -- I had a video message for you but there's some international issue between Sony and Mac (I'm certain that it involves the Transformers somehow and is far more significant than any N. Korean nuclear stuff, but involves memory sticks and camcorders and leopard, and...). So, I am reduced to old skool greetings instead.

In any event, here we go (this is not a transcription of the video script --that was much better and concerned why Priest was so much cooler than Maiden cause Halford's gay and aircraft pilot Dickhead ain't, but whatever): When I turned 40 I gave specific instructions to any fool that cared a lick about me to:

Not make a 'big deal' about "it". Now, I did this for fear that the gigantessness of "it" might overwhelm the casual follower (of my life) causing that person to rethink their existence and do something nuts like get involved in community action in Chicago and eventually ascend to the presidency of the United States.

Turns out, that "it" really didn't matter so much (to anyone), 'cause those people who I am fearfully joined to are, and continue to be all older (haveyou SEEN Ian lately?) than me (except for the 'Baker', who LOOKS older anyway).

So, I didn't allow "it" to be a big deal.

But, that doesn't mean "it" should not a big deal for you.

I don't really have anything to say to you except that 40 is the new 60...Oh, wait, that's more like 60 is the new 40 -- whatever.

Have a great time on your day. After that, renounce the playing of golf --'cause it's NOT A REAL SPORT no matter WHAT Jim Nance says, and Tiger is onhis boat with a Swedish wife laughing at all of us (?!).

Best from all of us -- HAIL to the Redskins,

Lyle