"We Remember Len"
Eulogy of Leonard M. Tomaszewski
September 20, 1957-May 13, 2003

St. Catherine Laboure Church
May 16, 2003

We gather this morning to remember, honor, and celebrate the life of Len Tomaszewski: devoted brother, brother-in-law, uncle, nephew, cousin, colleague, and friend.

On behalf of the DePaul community both present here this morning and joined with us in spirit, and on behalf of Len's many other friends, I extend my deepest sympathies to Len's family: to Cher and Dawn, Jim and Katherine, Kelly and William, James and Elizabeth, and Carter John.

We thank you for allowing us the opportunity to reflect on the life of someone who was truly special; someone who had so many gifts and who shared them so freely with others; someone who has left an indelible mark on all of us.

As I span across the congregation this morning I see the faces of many people whose lives were forever changed the day God first gave us the gift of Len Tomaszewski.

For those of us from the DePaul community that gift came wrapped in the package of a talented young writer who combined a keen sense of journalism with a zest for life; someone who was mature beyond his years yet whose sense of humor could keep you laughing for hours; someone who was compassionate, loyal, courageous, sensitive, intelligent and down to earth.

As the years went by, our DePaul family grew and the person most responsible for bringing new friends into our family circle was Len. Whether it was through the DNFL-- the legendary DePaulia National Football League--or a gathering at a local watering hole or a basketball game, if Len brought you into the family you were immediately welcomed and adopted. The unwritten rule was that if you were good enough for the "Big Guy" you were certainly good enough for the rest of us.

Len had a knack for attracting good people to him. Then again, it was easy to be Len's friend. He made you feel safe; he made you feel loved; he made you feel special. When you spent time with Len the world's troubles seemed to melt away. Even in the face of his own adversity, Len always found a way to make us smile.

I first met Len while a junior at DePaul in 1978. He was one of the first people I met when I walked into The DePaulia office. Like everyone else, I was immediately attracted by his presence and by his warmth and sense of humor. What I didn't realize way back then was how much Len would have an impact in my life. He, along with Jean Lachowicz, Bill Bike, Steve Hudomiet, and so many others, gave me my start in journalism. Yet, more than that, he taught me an invaluable lesson about the importance of friendship and to live my life with a heart that was open to the needs of others.

One of the most difficult things about gathering this morning is the fact that Len has left us way too soon. We're not supposed to bid farewell to those we love so dearly when they are in the prime of their life. Yet, we realize there is so much about life, and death, that we do not understand.

When I asked Jim if I could speak to you this morning, it was my intention to serve as a conduit for others to come forward to reflect on what Len has meant to them. I hoped that others would share their remembrances. Through the magic of the Internet, many of you have done just that. I couldn't help but think over the past few nights as I read your e-mails that Len was smiling down on me and saying, "see Valentino; I told you that computer sitting at your desk wasn't that hard to figure out now, was it?"

Do you remember as a child, sitting beneath the tree on Christmas morning with wrapping paper strewn about and presents all around you? Out of all the gifts you received one in particular stood out. It wasn't the biggest or the most expensive gift; it didn't clang or shriek or dance when you asked it to. Rather, it touched your heart in a simple way. For years you may have forgotten about that gift and then one day it's memory just leapt back into your heart. Then, you would remember that gift fondly and recall the countless hours of joy it gave you.

Len was and always will remain a gift to us. He stood for the finest qualities a person could possess and he gave his gifts to us freely and without the expectation that we owed him something in return.

Len gave us the gift of laughter.

Jean Lachowicz shares this with us: "Len was always there for me and for so many others. Always there to make me laugh or keep me company or engage in some delightful conversation. What a privilege to have a friend like Len! And Len was not part of just one little group--he was an integral part of many circles of friends. I guess he had to be large in size so that he didn't spread himself too thin!

"I'm flooded with memories, like 'Len runs amuck' and the time he went swimming in Lake Michigan at the newspaper retreat at Holy Family Camp and we all feared he had drowned. The road trips and the day-to-day life as students, friends, and editors. He was Rasputin in the House of Lords, the Big Guy, Buster Cherry, and the Commissioner. He was the host of the legendary Disco Barbeque. And, he would have us laughing about 'the first day of winter news team' or Schlotsky's Deli or the trip down the rapids. His stories were legendary."

Adds Al Kipp: "I first met Len in 1977, when he was associate editor of The DePaulia and it was my first year as moderator. He had an outrageous sense of humor. His column in the paper and mock ads he created were hilarious. I only saw him down once, but he put it in a column for everybody to read. But usually, he wrote with and about humor. Len was an extremely friendly person and on social occasions he introduced himself to those he didn't know and greeted those he did. He was always interested in people--what they were doing, how they were feeling. He was always interested in what he could do for others, always with his sense of humor. That humor, by the way, was never put on or forced, but it was always genuine. One other outstanding thing I remember is that he never interrupted anybody. I can't recall anyone else that ever did that. And whether it was serious or humorous, he always got his point across."

Anne Nordhaus-Bike adds this insight: "Len had a quirky sense of humor, but fundamentally his humor was always full of humanity. It was a loving humor instead of being nasty or hard-edged. He looked at the world sideways--like sending a Christmas card for your birthday. That was his take on life. You could always count on him to lift your spirits. That made him beloved."

Len gave us the gift of lasting friendship.

Ziggy Kozlowski wrote: "I realized a long time ago that you can't have 20 great friends in life as that's just too many to do right by. You just end with too many casual relationships. But everyone should have 3,4,5,or 6 great friends. When Len did so many kind things for me in college--I remember he even offered to pick me up late at night at an event he wasn't even attending. I remember thinking to myself, quite consciously, and vividly at the time, 'Man, you should find a way to attach yourself to this guy for life. People like this just don't come around that often.' And that's what I did. Len was one of my six favorite people that I had ever run across. And even when I moved to L.A., I decided that this sucker was not getting away. And we remained great friends with a lot of effort, on his side and mine. And that was the great thing about him, that he put forth the effort, even at the end. We spoke often, albeit very briefly, in the days before and after the surgery.

He was really a great friend. I have to admit it though, I never got the whole Buffy thing...but that's okay, too."

Adds Steve Hudomiet: "Len was my first friend at DePaul. I met him at freshmen orientation in 1975. Knowing him eased the jitters of starting college. I had a close friend right from the start, and we were close through the college years, and after. I have so many memories of Len. He was always there in class, on The DePaulia, at basketball games, on out of town trips, even sharing the pain when I lost family members. Len's basement was the home for so many gatherings. There is no question it was the home of the DNFL. He meant so much to us in so many ways. With Len's passing, a big part of my life has passed now, too. But, I cherish the friendship he gave me during all the years and the memories he has left me. We are all better people because we had the pleasure of knowing Len. I thank God he was a part of my life."

David Lessner recalled that "Len's was a friendship that lasted through the good times and bad and he refused to give up on us, no matter how much time had passed between talks."

Among those of us who came into the family circle outside of the DePaul connection are friends like Mike Soriano, Dan Green, and my brother, Michael.

Dan shares this with us: "I first met Len when I walked into the back room at Waldenbooks in Northbrook, IL and my life has never been the same since. I was a little bit in awe of Len, I was a lot younger and he was a pretty big guy, even then. But he made me laugh and relaxed and since then, no one has ever been able to make me laugh like Len could. I've met many of my closest friends because of Len. I'm in the DNFL because of Len. Because of his spirit, his generosity with his time, with his bountiful reserves of laughter that he always managed to share no matter how much pain he was in. No matter the occasion--be it the DNFL draft, a night at the bar, a holiday party--Len was the center of that occasion. He owned the room--talk about stage presence, Len had it to spare!"

Continued