The two words I think of when I think of Tom McEvilly are 'hospitality' and 'kindness.' When I came to Berkeley in 1978 (barely out of my teenage years) Tom didn't know that he had a second-cousin once removed in-law (that's me.) Neither did his wife, Dottie, to whom I'm actually related. But that didn't stop the two of them from opening their hearts and home to me.

They also opened up their wine cellar. Actually, they didn't exactly open it --- they cracked it opened just a smidge to take out a few liters of Ernie's Finest Chablis. At the time you could get Ernie's Finest Chablis for $1.00 a bottle up in Napa (where they had kindly taken me.) For a girl from New England who thought Baily's Irish Creme was a type of Celtic sherry, Ernie's Finest Chablis was high living, indeed.

During my stay, Tom and Dot invited me to join in on a wine tasting, partially comprised of highly esteemed faculty members from Tom's department --- some of whom actually made their own wine. It was a blind tasting and just for giggles, Tom put in a bottle of $1.00 Ernie's Finest Chablis and mixed it in with the finest gold medal winners from around the world.

When the results were tallied, Ernie's Finest Chablis was rated the lowest by everyone in the group --- except for one person who gave it the highest marks. Tom unmasked me for the greenhorn I was. Everyone had a good laugh with Tom explaining to his colleagues, "She's been swilling Ernie's all month. She thinks it's swell."

As I matured, Tom and Dot introduced me to the better vintages, and they also introduced me to many students and faculty at their Thanksgiving Dinners with all the other "orphans" with no home to go to during the Holidays.

They also introduced me to their six children --- Mary, Sue, Steve, Ann, Joe and Adrian. With Tom and Dot leading the way, they all made me feel more than welcome.

I spent five years in the Bay Area, and the times I spent in the company of the McEvilly's are among my most cherished. I know for a fact that I am not an exceptional case; I was merely one among many who --- thousands of miles from home --- for whom Tom and Dot opened their home and heart to.

Now God has opened His home and heart to Tom McEvilly. I have a feeling God won't be serving Tom any of Ernie's $1.00 a Bottle Finest Chablis. I'm sure that when they raised a glass to toast the arrival of Tom McEvilly in heaven the chalice was filled with the finest Gold Medal Winner ever.

Tom deserves the best --- after all he always gave his best to us. For that, I shall always be grateful.