The lovely church, St. Ignatius, built in 1890, is an oasis in "what used to be a nice neighborhood." It is no longer "nice," take my word.
The Mass was attended by about forty of his family, former TBTS Box office Treasurer Martha Stamp, and me. Martha wore lime, and here she is, post service, with a lovely coy smile.
Martha gave the eulogy. Here it is, reprinted with her permission.
"I was so fortunate to have worked, enjoyed his birthday
parties that he threw for himself and over the years the friendship
that I had with him.
I first met Tommy in 1971 when I went to apply for a job. He told me
that I was over qualified wouldn't hire me soIvolunteered. In the
meantime I had applications out and that nite I got a job at the
seafood business in Pt. Judith Went in and told Tommy I had another
job went to the fish company came home smelling like a fish and I had
to get up enough nerve to go back to Tommy to see if he would rehire
me. It was the best thing that could have happened.
You all can be very Proud of your Uncle Tommy for what he has done for
his community The State of R.I., Theatre By The Sea, and the many
young people that he gave a good start.
Tommy was a vital force in the southern part of Rhode Island and as the
TV reporter said when I first heard of his passing a real icon.
So many summer tourists made the theatre a must do event for the summer.
Early spring I would come on board and get those subscribers
reservations mailed out so the money could just roll in. The
subscribers and groups just grew and grew year after year and they all
became family. Tommy would have his special seat N 5 and everyone knew
it and he would greet everyone nite after nite. Some nites he would
walk out and not want to greet anyone. But that was Tommy and he was
just so special.
He gave numerous people their start of which he was so proud and over
the years he would call me and tell me about this one and that one. As
the years passed I would always thank him for all the instructions he
gave me. It was so much better getting an education from Tommy than
reading it in a book. He was a tremendous teacher and up until May
28th which was the last time I talked to him I would tell him how
thankful I was that he rehired me and that I had the privilege to have
worded for him for 10 years as his box office staff and manager.
I had a great nack for selling seats that I did not even have to sell.
On the childrens shows that were every Friday I noticed children
sitting on laps of the parent so I began selling lap seats and kept the
money in a special place and at the end of the day Tommy would stop to
get the deposits. I always kept the lap seat money in a different bag.
I remember one time it was raining hard and lightening and thunder all
around and he asked me if he was safer in the car than in his house. He
then mad his own decision. I have numerous stories that I could tell.
After working for Tommy at Theatre By The Sea in 1981 I ventured to New
London and opened musicals at the Garde theatre with him and another
employee. As fate would have it I became terribly ill landed in the
hospital never to get out for 2 months. I had leukemia and the doctors
and social workers told me I would not make it. You can imagine what I
told them and thirty years later I am still here. The prayers that I
received from all the friends and actors from the theatre and Tommy
pulled me through and when I recovered so I could drive the first
place I drove to was Theatre"By The Sea and there standing waiting for
me were Tommy Brent and Steve Garnett and I remember all the
expressions on their faces.
Well Tommy, your journey here on earth has ended and you are now in
Heaven and someday we will all meet again and have a big theatre party.
Many times I heard this from you Martha Martha you are tops in your
field but your fired....
Well Tommy YOU WERE TOPS IN YOUR FIELD AND GOD IS SO LUCKY TO HAVE YOU
NOW."
###
Martha then flew back to RI on her own power, and the family and I proceeded to the cemetery, given the once-in-a-lifetime power to run red lights.
Here is the cortege.
Here is the tent.
Here is a nearby strange grade level tree house. I'm certain all cemeteries have their idiosynchrocies: here in Atlanta, there is a crypt which contains an active telephone.
Finally, here is Debrah Joyner, TB's neice, who stage-managed the final perf, and acquitted herself well.
