TOM (Norman Thomas) WERKLEY passed away on April 2, 2021 in Northern California due to complications resulting from his long struggle with Alzheimer's and Frontal-Temporal Dementia. He was 76. Tom was born in Southern California on February 11, 1945. He later served six years in the Navy and was a Vietnam veteran. In his life he had many interesting short-term jobs but after 1990 he was a professional sign painter and then ran his own Handyman service. His numerous clients valued his skills, honesty, dependability and caring nature, and many of them referred to him as "Tom Terrific."
Tom is survived by his wife Vicki Hessel Werkley, a Spotlight Starman Veteran since 1987. Over the years as Vicki served many roles in the SSI organization, the BLUE LIGHTS Newsletterzine and STARMAN FAMILY-CONs, Tom helped Vicki in creating many decorative and/or useful items for those endeavors. Several times he enjoyed participating in BLUE LIGHTS Mailing Parties in Sacramento and/or other Northern California locations. He loved music, animals, all nature, inventing things, and living in the Lower Lake homestead he shared with Vicki.
A NOTE FROM VICKI: I'm sorry this has taken so long to get the news out widely, but I've been rather overwhelmed with paperwork, legal documents, and coping with all of this. I still have so much to do and relatives coming next week. Needless to say I miss Tom very much, especially his sense of humor. When I can get my nose above water again, I hope to be a bit more active with SSI, but I also have a novel to finish. I want to thank Todd Andrews (OR) and Bruce Jividen (OR) for helping me get this particular message to STARMANET and Facebook, and to thank Liz Turner (NCA) for passing along messages from some folks. Thanks to Sandra Regan (SCA) for all kinds of help for months now, and the March posting of this photo of Tom and me from 1972. I still haven't gotten back to my computer; I don't have a smartphone; unfortunately, my vision is much worse than it was even last year so I'm not emailing, texting or instant messaging. I'm still at the same address and phone number:
Vicki Werkley
16563 Ellen Springs Rd
Lower Lake, CA 95457
(707) 995-1228