Tribute Wall
Saturday
30
July
Celebration of Life
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Saturday, July 30, 2022
Italian American War Veterans facility
247 Grand Avenue
Saratoga Springs, New York, United States
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Ron Johnson posted a condolence
Monday, July 18, 2022
To Tom's family; I am so so sorry for this incredible loss. It is heartbreaking. As to memories there are so many. I met Tom in our mutual friend Jimmy's bar, the Hub. He was friends with a woman I worked with. That began a long friendship that I will forever miss. I shared an apt with him when he was working in Conn. when the dog of the house was Coal. I later introduced him to the Rottweiler breed he would come to love. And in Tom fashion; he would go on to devote himself like only Tom could to rescuing Rotties. We recently had been doing trips to Va. to bring back rescued dogs. An amazing man, an incredible friend, a wonderful person. I will forever miss you Tom. And I will be eternally grateful to count you as a friend.
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Kristin uploaded photo(s)
Tuesday, July 12, 2022
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Tom the Godfather.
(Austin & Dakota)
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Kristin uploaded photo(s)
Tuesday, July 12, 2022
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The kids Kallie and Kash.
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Kristin Jennings uploaded photo(s)
Wednesday, July 6, 2022
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Grief is an excruciating lonely road. No one knows the intricacies of that personal relationship but you.
The loneliness
of this realization is one of the worst types of lonely I know.
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Bob Ramsey posted a condolence
Sunday, July 3, 2022
It’s still a shock that Tom passed away. It was nice seeing him at his retirement party. He was a great guy to work with and he was awesome boss. I will miss him.
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Robert Locke posted a condolence
Saturday, July 2, 2022
I first met Tom in 1984 through our mutual friend Bob Gobel. This kicked off a 38 year friendship that I wish had another 38 to go. Skiing at Killington, Bills and Giants games, Hockey games in Glens Falls, Travers parties, Super bowl get togethers to just having a drink on the deck. Happy to have the memories, sad we won't create more. I will always be grateful, when in the early 90's he offered me a room after a personal relationship ended and I needed a place to stay. We were housemates a couple years and then my future wife and I had the apartment until getting our own place. Rest easy my friend till we meet again-your friend Bob Locke.
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Ryan Grecco uploaded photo(s)
Thursday, June 30, 2022
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Tom was an amazing friend, an incredible mentor and an overall legend. I bought some apartments on the same street as his a little over four years ago. The first time I met him he was driving his tractor on Union Street smoking a cigar. I knew from that moment that I was going to get along with this guy… boy was I wrong.
The first year knowing Tom was primarily him telling me I was doing most everything wrong running my apartments. I tried my hardest to impress him with the upkeep or remodeling I was doing. Usually this would lead to him telling me I needed to be cheaper or was just flat out doing it wrong. I would get handwritten notes left in my shed or in my mailbox and as the time went on it transformed into calls and texts.
About a year after meeting Tom I realized he really cared that I succeeded and actually enjoyed my company. I would take every opportunity possible to go visit him in the Aletta Street workshop to see what he was working on that day. We spent countless hours “tinkering” - whether it be in either of our properties. Looking back, it seems we spent a countless hours doing nothing as well… just walking around, moving things, laughing, talking, smoking cigars and finding any reason possible to fire up the tractor. I hope one day I can fulfill his legacy and drive a tractor down city streets like the legend he is.
I would change my route home from where ever I was to drive down the alleyway to see if Tom was out and about. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to break that habit. I still find myself walking down the alleyway, peaking in the backyard or workshops to see if he’s home. He taught me so much and I will be forever grateful that I could call him one of my best friends.
Rest easy, Tom. I know your up there fixing Gods gates cause they were a little squeaky on the way in. You were an amazing man and all the love in the world to you and your family.
Ryan Grecco
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Darlene Kelly posted a condolence
Wednesday, June 29, 2022
My husband was a work friend of Tom for many years. He thought the world of him for so many reasons. Tom came by once a week while we reroofed the house to haul the refuse away. He didn't know me. I'd say hello and he'd grunt at me. One day he had changed and chatted up a storm with me. I laughed and asked him what had changed. He smiled and asked how long I'd been married to Mike Kelly. I replied 40 years. He then said if you've been married to Mike for that long......I realized you must be one hell of a woman. We'll miss him forever.
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Brian Smith uploaded photo(s)
Wednesday, June 29, 2022
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Langer was one of my best friends. I can proudly say I have known him for my entire 59 yrs. Tommy, Haney and I all were in the nursery together in Lockport Memorial in 1963. That's when it all began:). We have always been best of friends with no secrets and many tails to tell and some not. I could write a book on the adventures of Langer & Smitty. As you all know Tommy was a bit of a collector and had to buy more property for his collecting. Very thing had a value, some use at sometime in the future or a memory. His personality was like of like a toasted marshmallow crispy on the outside and soft and warm on the inside. This is where the photos I have attached come into play. For a gift one year he gave me a beautiful frame with a hand full of photos in it of Tom & I together that meant a lot to him and the rest of the frame around the photos was filled with cigar bands. Not just any cigar bands. He had saved every band from every cigar we had smoke together and put them in this frame. That's who he truly was. It is still in my house today. Over the years of collecting things he was given the name Sanford. He wore it proudly like a badge of honor.
Sanford loved his heavy metal music, sports cars and bikes and I was involved in many a mishap with them all. One night he forgot the road turned a little on Willow St. Extension and he hit the curb with his motor cycle and had a garage sale on someone's front lawn. He quietly push his wrecked bike down the street and call me to come pick it up. The funny thing was he was not upset about the bike he was upset he lost his Judas Priest pin in the crash. Like a good friend at day break I went to the scene of the crash and found his pin for him.
Another adventure we were out pretty late one night in Vermont skiing and were driving down a winding snow covered road in his Typhoon debating (he love to debate) what was better 4 wheel drive or all wheel drive. Of course we was on the all wheel drive side as that is what he had and the next thing you know we are doing 360's down the road bouncing of guard rails and rock cliffs. He blamed me for the crash to this day because I put in a UFO CD and it made him drive fast. That's Tommy.
Tommy is a well known sleeper. I believe I contributed to him graduating high school as every morning I would drive over to Locust St. and pound on his bedroom window to make sure he got to class. That's the kind of friend we were for 59 yrs. As Lynne said it best he never missed a Thanksgiving or Christmas with my family.
His favorite things were lemons and bread and he was pretty demanding of it in Langer fashion when we would be out. "I want HUNKS of lemon in my drink not slices" and anytime out to dinner you would always hear him bellow "more bread"
There wasn't a single minute I spent with him when he wasn't making me laugh. He was more than a friend. He was a ray of sunshine. I will miss his warmth, his debates and grin. We have many more miles to travel together. When we meet again we will pick just as if it was yesterday. Please keep a watchful eye over my family. I love you more than words can explain.
Smitty
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Missy Posted Jun 29, 2022 at 4:24 PM
Another great memory with stories that make you smile because that’s exactly who Uncle Tom was! He was the same with everyone no matter the crowd…sure am going to miss him :( thank you for writing your tribute to him
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Haney Posted Jun 30, 2022 at 4:13 PM
Beautiful tribute Brian - I’m sorry for the loss of our friend - truly one of a kind.
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Missy/Melissa Barth uploaded photo(s)
Tuesday, June 28, 2022
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Uncle Tom-my knob creek loving, let loose partner, take no crap, make no sounds kind of guy. Spending work camp summers at your house cleaning, just so we could spend a little more precious time with you-the fun uncle. There are so many Christmas and Brantingham memories that have you and your quick wit in them. Who will we torture with too many questions and too much crunching and chewing (especially at the card table)? Who will we ask, “permission to speak?” You may have been the founder of the back rub game (which really started by us writing/painting words and pictures on your back). No one else has quite perfected the classic boat move, the Q like you. I’m sad that you have missed the past few Christmases and summer lake vacations, but I’m happy to have the memories that we made. Thank you for bringing Chesney into our lives and teaching me the importance of rescuing dogs. I will forever be grateful and hope to carry that on in your legacy. We have all said this the past week or so, “we weren’t done with you yet!” I hope your many dogs were waiting for you with all their tails wagging, I bet that was quite a greeting. I hope you found peace and acceptance just like you gave all the humans and animals here on earth. Until we meet again, see you later.
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Lynne M Smith posted a condolence
Tuesday, June 28, 2022
I was lucky enough to have called Tom my friend for over 40 years. We simultaneously loved each other unconditionally and drove each other crazy. For many of those 40+ years we would spend every Christmas Eve, Christmas mornings, Thanksgivings and Summer vacations to Cape Cod or Lake Winnipesaukee together. There were also many years we would spend the Traverse race weekend as guests first @ 59 Union and later @ 47 Union. In the early days Tom would get up early and shlep a cooler or two to the rail and wait for us. Later it got more classy with hard won seats in the grand stand that Tom would wait for all year. “Everything costs lady”
He always knew better than me how to raise my own children and would always offer to take them from me for “work camp” @ Uncle Tom’s for a summer. That would teach them how to work hard and respect a dollar.
Tom was always generous with his time. Always willing to help out with any projects big or small. In fact he wouldn’t visit unless you promised him there would be work for him to do! He taught us all how to “broust”, which was Tom’s word for tinkering, and he did it a lot.
If you ever had the pleasure of shopping with Tom you will know that it was not shopping at all but “swooping”. He would yell “SWOOPING!” from across a store to remind you to get in, get what you need and get out!
There are so many more memories, like when he left me and his dog Cody stranded in his car while he went to get help and came back a few hours later after having had dinner with his aunt and uncle, or when he was so impressed by then 18 month old Sammy, who he was trying to stump at vocabulary, when she said hippopotamus, he picked her up, took her directly to Toy R Us and bought her a hippo. Or picking me up at the end of my street so my mom wouldn’t see me riding a motorcycle. He’s still the only person I will ever get on a bike with.
I trusted him and I loved him like a brother. I fought with him like a brother and I defended him like a brother. It is so unbelievably hard to imagine that Tommy, Langer, Tom Cat is gone from all of our lives.
I’m honored to have called you my friend and I will miss you and your sweet snarls forever more.
K
Karen LaTerra lit a candle
Tuesday, June 28, 2022
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What a huge hole Tom leaves in many of our lives, leaving us way to soon, but leaving us with many memories. Hard headed and soft hearted, a dear friend and animal lover, what a gift you were to so many of us. Being your friend for over 30 years just doesn't seem long enough. It's so sad to think of all the retirement plans you had that were interrupted. I will truly miss Tom but I am so thankful to know his true friendship in my life.
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Patty Morrison posted a condolence
Tuesday, June 28, 2022
My heart is heavy knowing Tom is no longer with us. His presence was larger than life in the neighborhood. I think part of the reason we got along so well is because I could take his razzing me which earned his respect.
It was comforting to hear him around the neighborhood with all his projects and there were many. He'd stop and chat it up with me and me with him. I always enjoyed those times. We shared things back and forth. I only hope I was as generous to him as he was to me.
He wrote me the nicest text back in March when he knew my Marnie passed and giving me praise for adopting an older dog which many people won't do.
He told me to get back on the wagon and adopt another pup. That really made an impression because I thought I needed more time to grieve but Tom was right. Getting back on the horse was right and why I have my Deedee.
I will admit this is hard and can't believe you are gone. I'm really going to miss you Tom.
My deepest condolences to family and friends.
T
Tina Absher uploaded photo(s)
Monday, June 27, 2022
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For those who don’t me I am Tom’s other half who started the rescue with him. I have to start by letting everyone know how much I loved this man. He taught me so many life lessons and helped me fulfill my life’s passion of rescuing abused and neglected dogs. I don’t know how I can go on without him honestly. I want to send my deepest condolences to his family who have all been so awesome helping our rescue navigate through losing him while going through their own grief. I know he would be proud. The pain is deep and unbearable. Aside from all of this I also feel I need to say that Tom was also a giant pain in my a**! I also spent this entire relationship hiding from him, having secret code words and avoiding contact with him when I was about to spend too much money on a dog without permission from him!! He loved to make me fast talk and squirm my way out of things and at one point early on he put a 500 maximum I could spend without asking permission from him first lol. Oh there were Tomizms … “Don’t give people keys to the castle”, “People are afraid of you which is why they come to me”, “Admit it, you are always wrong”, “Dogs are even afraid of you”, “SILENCE”, “Moonface”, “that is just rude”, “Rottweilers always get the tip of the hat”. I could go on & on. The truth is he was right probably 80% of the time. I am going to miss him so much. Under all of his tough exterior was a gentle giant with a huge heart. The world is definitely a better place because he was in it. I am forever grateful to have had him in my life and to have been able to rescue thousands of dogs with him by my side. He will be forever in my heart ❤️
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Robert Gobel uploaded photo(s)
Monday, June 27, 2022
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My longtime friend
Many great times and memories
Way too soon
"your killing me Smalls"
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TJ uploaded photo(s)
Monday, June 27, 2022
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You will be missed buddy. I learned so much from you over the last 20 years and counted you as a great friend. I hope there are no open cans of tuna in heaven. Love ya Tom.
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Steven Lange posted a condolence
Monday, June 27, 2022
1) Ivan. Always Happy (in his own special way)
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Steven Lange uploaded photo(s)
Monday, June 27, 2022
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Needs a caption. I'll start.
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Todd cooke uploaded photo(s)
Monday, June 27, 2022
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To my dearest friend, Thank you for a lifetime of epic memories and laughter. And for my two greatest gifts - Alabama and Tilda. You were truly a doer of good deeds.
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Kay shanley posted a condolence
Monday, June 27, 2022
Debbie & family. So sorry for your loss. Thoughts & prayers to all. Kay & Dick
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The family of Thomas Ivan Lange uploaded a photo
Monday, June 27, 2022
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