RIP Tom "Snurdley" Stephany: 1935-2004

Our friend Tom "Snurdley" Stephany passed away this Thursday
afternoon, December 2, 2004, at about 1:10PM, in his room at Specialty
Select Hospital in Indianapolis.

Complications from his multiple medical conditions were simply too
much for his body to continue fighting, despite the best medical
attention to be had in central Indiana. His appointed time had come;
his various conditions began to compound Tuesday, and his wife Vickie
had been there continuously since about 8:00PM that evening. Today,
all six of his children were at his bedside when he passed, along with
many grandchildren and several friends. All able to say "good-bye"
with some indication that he knew we were there.

The Studebaker contingent was represented by myself and Ted and Mary
Ann Harbit. I had promised Jim Turner I would call him at work with a
report when I got to the hospital and promptly did so. Sadly, Jim was
on the road to the hospital at the time of Tom's passing, in that Tom
went quickly once he was permitted to breathe on his own. Tom's wife
Vickie is an experienced, practicing Registered Nurse and Nursing
Teacher, so she was put in the terribly uncomfortable position of
fully understanding the medical realities of her husband's situation,
and having to deal with the necessary consequences of those realities.

Tom passed peacefully, with what appeared to be minimum discomfort,
all things considered. He had been hospitalized almost five continuous
months since a couple weeks after returning from the SDC National Meet
in Charlotte. His last "outing" among friends or family would prove to
be that SDC Fall Crossroads Zone Meet banquet in September, where Tom
was the guest of honor and thoroughly enjoyed himself...and we enjoyed
him!

Condolences may be sent to Vickie and the "at home" children at:

Vickie Stephany
8793 Big Bend Road
Martinsville IN 46151

Ted or I will post funeral arrangements when they are known.

Be sure to enjoy your Studebaker friends, everyone; you never know
when you'll say "good-bye" to one of them for the last time. RIP, Tom.
BP