A Brother Who Made Everyone Feel Valued
Tom Brinker was the Secretary of Grand Rapids Lodge No. 34 when I served as Worshipful Master in 2012 and 2013.
Tom had recently lost his daughter in Georgia when he moved to Grand Rapids to be closer to his young grandchildren. He was in an unfamiliar place, and his heart was broken when his son, Dr. Brett Brinker, suggested that he visit the local Masonic Lodge.
Tom was incredible from the moment he arrived. He simply didn’t know how to do anything other than “do it the right way.” He approached the role of Secretary with the same enthusiasm and dedication that he brought to every aspect of his life. From his career as a Vice President of a Fortune 500 company to his meticulous craftsmanship in transforming wood into presentation gavels and working tools, Tom was a true perfectionist.
He taught anyone who would listen how to tell a joke, how to take a task seriously, and how to take pride in their work. Tom was so devoted to his Brothers and his responsibilities that when he needed a bone marrow transplant, he took the Lodge computer with him into his hospital isolation room during treatment. I offered him a friendly rebuke about his workload, and his only response was, “What else am I going to do in here?”
Tom ultimately passed away from the very cancer that his son specialized in treating.
Among his Brothers, Tom’s lasting legacy is the stories. What I find most remarkable—and fitting—is that everyone tells a version of the same story: Tom made each person feel that they were the one he loved best. The stories shared at gatherings are never told in competition with one another, but rather in amazement at Tom’s extraordinary capacity to make everyone feel valued and cherished.
It was Tom. Tom was the gift.
Submitted by: Bro. Omar Flores