Remembering Thomas “T” Elliott, Sr.

Every now and then, if you’re blessed enough, you will experience a chance meeting with someone who embodies positivity – someone who even in the face of extreme adversity can find the silver lining, however unnoticeable it may seem, and bring it to the forefront of thought.

And seemingly in a flash a drab sky turns brilliant.

Such people are special and driven by faith. They have an uncanny way of seeing darkness as but a shadow cast from the light within. They bring the light to life and it burns in their souls; it glistens in their eyes; and it inspires their behavior while providing buoyancy to their step. It keeps them afloat during turbulent times – times that would sink most people.

Then, in their selfless ways, they will toss YOU a life preserver, save YOU from your doldrums and return the light and a smile to YOUR face.

“He was one of the sweetest, kindest human beings that I’ve ever had the privilege to know and I am grateful for the friendship that we had for the past 15 years.” ~ Larry Wozny

THAT was Thomas Elliott, Sr., affectionately referred to as, “T”.

T passed on Monday after complications from a liver transplant shut down his renal system. T was only 54 years old. He left an army of friends and admirers who would have happily tossed him a life preserver… if they could.

I remember the first time I met T at a Ravens Roost 50 meeting. He spoke to me as if he had known me for a long time, making suggestions on what we should do on what was then Ravens24x7.com.

It’s only natural to be momentarily taken back by such assertiveness, particularly from such a strapping man who proudly wore tight t-shirts to show off his impressive guns.

But T had a way of luring you in to his ingenuousness.

“From tailgating at Mervo and the lots downtown at M&T, to the shows and meetings at The Barn, the Ocean City for the Ravens Roost Convention and even down at the Polar bear Plunge, T was everywhere and was the life of the party!” ~ Jim Bullington

Not long after meeting T for the first time I saw him at a Ravens game in full regalia. My first thought was, “Why is this grown man dressed in a Ray Lewis jersey WITH full shoulder pads on?”

But then it dawned on me that this man wasn’t some attention-needy fan but rather one who was expressing his unconditional love for his favorite team. He didn’t care if someone laughed at him or poked fun. This is who he was.

Stripped of any façade, of any phoniness whatsoever, this was a man as comfortable in his own skin, as any I’ve ever met. He was God-fearing, embodied the meaning of sincere and his exuberance for life was like a lighthouse along the coast of turbulent waters. In T’s company you felt safe – free from trouble.

And when he broke into his Ray Lewis squirrel dance, it represented 15 seconds of unadulterated joy that was absolutely infectious.

We will never be the same without T. When he left us he took with him a piece of Ravens Nation’s heart. Yet somehow, I can see him at this very moment, looking straight at me with confidence, sincerity, poise and passion and stating firmly in a benevolent way, “Next man up!”

As it so often happens in life when someone moves on, you regret not spending more time with him. That’s a natural, responsive emotion. After all, we’ve all been robbed – at least for now.

Albeit brief, I’ll remember our few encounters, your zest for life and of course that unforgettable smile.

Shine on from above T!

There’s no doubt in my mind that you will…