It’s been a big week for awful news.
Tom Conlon – for many years, the only elected Republican official in any capacity in Ramsey County – died on Sunday:
Police were called to the 2100 block of Berkeley Avenue, where Conlon lived, about 5:55 a.m. Sunday.
A neighbor and a snow plow driver saw Conlon shoveling out his car in front of his home about 5 a.m., said St. Paul police spokesman Andy Skoogman.
“It appears that he got into his car and likely had some type of medical issue,” Skoogman said. Conlon’s car was found crashed into a snow bank on the block.
He’d been teaching at Metro State, and mounted a brief run for State Auditor earlier this year.
These memorial pieces I write are usually somewhat detached, third-person things. Not so with Tom. This time it’s personal.
Tom was a sharp-as-nails politician – can any other kind get elected as a Republican in Saint Paul? He was a genuine, nice guy in person. His low-key manner disarmed you, – he was a sharp, savvy guy who, above all, exuded love for his community.
A graduate of Harding High School, he served a hitch in the United States Marine Corps’ 11th Marine Regiment. Which led to the one big incongruity in Conlon, from what I saw.
No, it wasn’t incongruous that he served his country with pride, of course – that fit perfectly. But I don’t imagine that anyone could ever imagine Conlon, even the 18 year old version of him, making a “war face”. The guy always had a smile for everyone. Even during the most byzantine school board debates with his most whackdoodle colleagues, Tom kept not only his cool, but his smile. Or one of them. He had a bunch; the broad “glad to meet you” smile, even if you’d met him a hundred times; the wry “there you go again” smile that’d pop up when one of his colleagues was expounding, and more.
Tom was a very talented photographer – I had him penciled in to do my daughter’s senior pictures.
I last talked with Tom three weeks ago, at a CD4 fundraiser. He’d been eyeing running for School Board. The SPPS desperately needed him back on the board.
Rest in peace, Tom Conlon. This city is a worse place for your passing.
I proudly voted for him each time he appeared on the ballot and was hoping he would make a run for the recent vacancy. Sad, just sad!
All my hopes to the Conlon family
Flash
This is awful.
Tom Conlon was the only person to sit on the SPPS board for the past 20 years that gave a flying fuck about the kids he was entrusted to provide a education for. He gave me a lot of good advice and support when I ran in hopes of joining him.
And he was a genuinely nice guy.
I’m really sorry to hear this. Please pass along information about his service if you can.
sad day. I remember talking to him on the convention floor after he got beat in the first round of balloting. He was a class guy and gave the most heartfelt concession speech of the entire weekend. I didn’t know him that well but I could just tell he was a geniune guy, no bs. Please pass along the information about viewing and service, it is finals week but I will make time for this.
Here’s Tom’s post on Facebook last Saturday: “Several inches of snow on the ground and it hasn’t stopped yet. Family photo shoot rescheduled to tomorrow. Paperwork and photo edits to do at home. Grades to submit for class. Below zero temperatures to follow tomorrow. Hail Minnesota!”
I met Tom last year when he sought endorsement for Auditor – he called me as a delegate and we invited him to our district coffee meet in New Hope. A nice man and gifted leader. RIP and our condolences to his family and friends. Hail Tom!
In the blink of an eye a loved one can be gone, my heart felt sympathy goes out to his family and friends.
“Friendship is the hardest thing in the world to explain. It’s not something you learn in school. But if you haven’t learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven’t learned anything.” – Muhammad Ali