Tom and Dottie McEvilly were my neighbors "up the hill" in Berkeley for thirteen years, and our families celebrated many a happy dinner at their house. Tom often served as the resident "Dad" to the neighborhood crowd of rascally boys; feeding them late at night, playing ping-pong; and checking on the disheveled crowd in the McEvilly downstairs. My son Nate considered Tom a side parent, with all the rights, obligations, irritations, and affections thereof. I considered Tom a friend and mentor. Tom was Catholic; yet to me he embodied the aspects of the Buddhist concept of the bodhisattva. A bodhisattva is an enlightened being who by his presence, brings comfort and teaching to other beings on earth. A bodhisattva is enlightened not because he knows so much (although Tom did know an awful lot!) but rather because the pure light of compassion shines through his clear heart. The six aspects of a bodhisattva are generosity, ethics, patience, effort, concentration, and wisdom. Tom exhibited those aspects every time I had the pleasure to drink with him on the deck, or stuff myself at another amazing dinner. I am grateful I had the honor and pleasure to hang out with Tom.