In Memory of My Loving Father, 'Dogbreath2U'

[UChusky916]

Kate,
Thank you for sharing your memories of your father with us... What an amazing tribute.

As countless others have expressed, @Dogbreath2U was an insightful, rational, and passionate poster here. The fact that the entire board is unanimously in agreement with that fact is something of a rarity. That leads me to believe that, although I never met your father, I imagine he was a rarity as a person as well.

On internet message boards, it's easy for posters to take advantage of the anonymity factor and use it as false armor to demean others or be a negative person. Tom was the polar opposite of that, always genuine and kind... a beacon of positivity and passion on this board. Selfishly, he will be terribly missed here.

I can only imagine what you and your family are going through at a time like this. I can only hope that you are somewhat touched by the resounding positive impression your dad left on so many here.

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

 

[temery]

I say, for one thing, let's create a Boneyard Hall of Fame and name it after him. Appoint a committee. Have an inaugural class. Have a voting committee. Each year, put people up for nomination.

That's doable.

 

[Dribbles]

Kate and Family,

The Boneyard helped me immensely when we lost Dribbles back in April 2015. Your Dad was respected for all he did, he was compassionate and a loyal Huskie supporter. May you and your family heal during this time and prayers for everyone. Mrs. Dribbles

 

[ZenConn]

Kate, your father was a classy poster and a true Husky fan. He will always be missed here.

 

[Bryan Lord]

So sorry for your loss and thank you for sharing his story with us. He will be missed.

 

[Peacefrog]

What a nice post. A big loss for The Boneyard but it sounds like a bigger loss for the many he touched during his life.

 

[BugsyCT]

Very sorry for your loss. My sincere condolences. Thank you for sharing his story.

 

[KembaStepback]

So sorry for your loss. He will be missed.

 

[UConnMike04]

Kate,

I didn't know your father (or anyone on here personally), but I do know that when I read his posts/knowledge of UConn basketball I knew I was reading a post of a very smart, knowledgeable and caring person.

To know that your dad and I are in the same field of work makes me especially sad as he def seems like a great one.

Always feel free to come on board for anything that you need.

 

[uconnric]

Very sorry for your loss. Condolences to you and your family.

 

[scrappy2.0]

Wow, very very sorry.

 

[District-Husky]

This is just awful. I'm so sorry for your loss. I will miss reading DogBreath2U

 

[Horatio]

My Condolences to you and your family Kate,

Your Dad was one of the guys that balanced
Out the Boneyard. He'll be missed.

 

[Horatio]

If it means anything, the last like I received from your dad was on May 6th and it was when I posted this

 

[David 76]

Kate,
Beautifully stated.
Your reading that your Dad was consistently kind, well reasoned and thoughtful may seem like very moderate praise. But, if you knew the Boneyard and it's intensely passionate fans that ride the rollercoaster of our team, you would realize how truly rare those traits are in this forum.
I just learned that he and I are the same age and work in the same field and have daughters that are about the same age. I send my love to you and your family and wish you healing and peace.
David

 

[dog bone]

Thomas M. McAuliffe's Obituary on Hartford Courant

 

[ConnHuskBask]

Thomas M. McAuliffe's Obituary on Hartford Courant

"Tom was a proud and especially vocal fan of the UConn Men's basketball team and an ardent and frequent contributor to the Boneyard online message board where, according to one member, if they had "numbers like the team, his would be retired."

 

[CL82]

"Tom was a proud and especially vocal fan of the UConn Men's basketball team and an ardent and frequent contributor to the Boneyard online message board where, according to one member, if they had "numbers like the team, his would be retired."

@HuskyHawk

 

[ThetaZoo]

Your father befriended me at Jim Calhoun's Charity Walk/Ride in 2012. Maybe because I was a newcomer to a ‘live’ Boneyard event or maybe because I looked lost but he fell in step with me and we walked and talked for a couple of hours. Being lost had something to do with trying to reconcile members’ screen names with the real person as it did with my general discomfort of being in a group of strangers. Your father’s screen name particularly confused me. He wasn’t unshaven and he didn’t have bad breath. He struck me as a kind soul. I also remember the smile he had throughout the walk.

I’m very sorry for your loss and our loss.

 

[HuskyHawk]

@HuskyHawk

Thanks.

 

[hamster]

I'm sad. We private chatted alot during games. Just a super nice guy and long time sane (Not exactly common here) Yarder. Sometimes life isn't fair.

 

[DALTX]

This was very sad news to read. I've always enjoyed reading Tom's posts and chatting with him during games. My thoughts and condolences to you Kate and your family, Tom's friends, and to all of us here who share in your loss. Thank you for sharing this tribute and picture with us.

 

[champs99and04]

The fact that the Boneyard got mention in the obituary is wild to me. I had never stopped to consider before that some people might remember us this way. I suppose for people like me it's a blessing and a curse that this is how our paths crossed - blessing that it is that we have the chance to become acquainted to like-minded souls, I look at a guy like @Dogbreath2U and think it's a shame that I never really knew him. Sometimes in my vaguest of fantasies I'll wonder what it would be like to meet the people on this board, but the stars never do seem to align.

I wish I could go back in time and reach out to him. I wish I could go back in time and give the tickets that I won to the 2014 regional finals - tickets that I won through this very site - to him. It's funny the way life works, where all these bucket list items - connections you're going to make but haven't had the time to, gestures that are more convenient to make tomorrow than today, favors you haven't had the chance to re-pay - tend to lurk beneath your conscience until it's too late.

Perhaps if there's value in this it's that it makes ambivalence a little less likely, even if for only a while. At least today, I have no trouble putting my money where my mouth is. I tend to go to at least a few games a year, usually the biggest ones. Consider this an open invitation to PM me if you're weird like I am and need to get to your seat 45 minutes before tip. We'll have plenty of time to talk.

 

[mauconnfan]

The fact that the Boneyard got mention in the obituary is wild to me. I had never stopped to consider before that some people might remember us this way. I suppose for people like me it's a blessing and a curse that this is how our paths crossed - blessing that it is that we have the chance to become acquainted to like-minded souls, I look at a guy like @Dogbreath2U and think it's a shame that I never really knew him. Sometimes in my vaguest of fantasies I'll wonder what it would be like to meet the people on this board, but the stars never do seem to align.

I wish I could go back in time and reach out to him. I wish I could go back in time and give the tickets that I won to the 2014 regional finals - tickets that I won through this very site - to him. It's funny the way life works, where all these bucket list items - connections you're going to make but haven't had the time to, gestures that are more convenient to make tomorrow than today, favors you haven't had the chance to re-pay - tend to lurk beneath your conscience until it's too late.

Perhaps if there's value in this it's that it makes ambivalence a little less likely, even if for only a while. At least today, I have no trouble putting my money where my mouth is. I tend to go to at least a few games a year, usually the biggest ones. Consider this an open invitation to PM me if you're weird like I am and need to get to your seat 45 minutes before tip. We'll have plenty of time to talk.

Very nice post champs

 

[junglehusky]

So sorry for your loss. You dad was an important part of this community and will be missed.