Howell Friends Remember One Of Their Own With Bench At Oak Glen

HOWELL, NJ — "People Don't Forget" is the inscription on a new memorial bench honoring Tom Rorke. It's also the credo of his many friends who are filled with memories of Tom's 29 years.

After Tom died last year of glioblastoma, a malignant brain tumor, many of his friends banded together to purchase a fitting tribute to the young man who seemed to be "everyone's best friend," said one of those friends, Harrison Strevens of Howell.

Strevens became buddies with Tom when they were freshmen at Howell High School.

Tom's parents Chris and Nancy Rorke moved to Farmingdale when Tom was 5, Strevens said, with his older sisters Emily. now of Howell. and Alyssa, now of Philadelphia. Family and friends will be participating in an upcoming fundraiser for brain tumor research.

Tom was many things, Strevens said: A 2014 Montclair University graduate in Sociology; a movie buff and local band fan. He rooted for the Yankees and the Jets. Quiet at school but also the life of the party, an English teacher once referred to him as "a quiet genius."

And, as with many kids, meeting at the basketball court was part of growing up.

"Around summer 2010 - the end of our senior year in high school but before college - we would play pickup games at Oak Glen, and throughout the years we would just have to text “OG” to know where to go," Strevens remembers.

So it was fitting that the memorial bench for Tom is located at the courts, on his favorite part of the court - the right side, said Strevens. "The right courts were better," the two friends agreed.

The idea for the bench formulated with walks Strevens and his friends would take with Rorke along the Manasquan Reservoir in Howell, which is dotted with such benches.

Strevens contacted Howell’s Public Works Department Director Paul Novello about the idea. And the Building and Grounds Department sited and installed the bench at Oak Glen Park in record time, Strevens said.

Those who pitched in for the bench, which cost $1,600 installed, is a long list - all with a strong connection to Tom.

The donors include Strevens; Tom Gebhardt and Kellie Leander; Mike and Hayley Wilmot; Joe and Kelly Genovese; Joe Corato and Jess Egan; Mike Rosko; Matt College; Karla Sanchez; Heather and John A. Strevens (Harrison Strevens' parents); Timmy and Olivia Schollenberger; John K. and Cynthia Strevens (Harrison's brother and sister-in-law); Devin Silvers; Kimmy Lum; Lauren Charles; Mike Diaz; Alex Paratore and Ali Baillie; Lewis Reyes and Megan Hulsart; Joe Filipkowski; Matt Goldzman; Nick and Emilee Sommons; and Caroline Fanning.

One of the friends, "Joe G" - Joe Genovese - remembered Tom as someone who was "incredible at making the most out of everything that he could. He was always looking for any way to enjoy life and bring joy to anyone around him."

Tom touched a lot of lives, Genovese said. "I know I am not alone when I say Tom was my best friend, a gift I will cherish forever.”

Another friend, Lauren Charles, marveled at Tom's knowledge, especially of music.

"I bumped into Tom at a The Front Bottoms concert at Maxwell's in Hoboken. He was standing at the front row and yelling every word to every song. After that we spent the next 10-plus years getting all of our friends to see all our favorite bands together, especially Joyce Manor, The Front Bottoms, and New Found Glory," she said.

The theme of all the friends' experiences seems to be the good times they had - either at a music concert in a Philly basement, at a ball game in New York, or enjoying a day at the Asbury Park Boardwalk.

"He was everything you could want in a friend," Charles said of Tom. "Loyal, funny, smart, nice, tall, always smiling, good at sports, and listened to all the best bands. He knew just about every movie quote, sports trivia, or TV show reference (especially "Seinfeld"). He always showed up to every invite, no matter how far or how small of an event.

"Even after he was sick he was still always the friend showing up first to your birthday party. He was truly one of a kind and I miss him everyday," she said.

Now, Tom Rorke's illness can spur a new group effort, Stevens said - raising money for brain tumor research.

On May 13 the New Jersey Brain Tumor Walk & Race will take place in Asbury Park at Bradley Park by Convention Hall.

"Mr. Rorke wanted Tom’s friends to spread the word," Strevens said.

People don’t have to attend to participate; they can donate to Tom’s team at this link.

The Walk for Rorke site explains the importance of brain tumor research:

"We're going to walk in memory and honor of our son, brother, cousin and nephew, Tom Rorke, who lost his five-year battle against brain tumors last July. We're going to walk in memory of him and the over 700,000 other Americans living with brain tumors today. And we're going to walk in solidarity with all the families who wish they had more time," his site says.