It is with extreme sadness that the Board of Directors of BEAR CAFE New York Inc. (BC) must give our BC members and friends the news of the sudden death of member, Thomas Joseph (TJ) Hock, on Sunday, June 25th, 2006. TJ was a member of Bear Cafe since 2005, and was recently appointed to be incoming Deputy Director to Membership.

As a gay man who 'came out' in his mid-forties, TJ had a good and loving heart, and a gentle humor and generosity towards his family and close friends both within and outside of BC. He was both a supporter of, and participant in the success of, the mission of BC. He understood the importance of creating a space for all people (especially very shy men like himself) to meet, talk and become friends. Shunning any degree of spotlight, he was always one to 'pitch in' and help out regularly at all our events in quiet, necessary ways. BC events would not have been successful without his hard work and personal contributions in providing many of the beverages, hero sandwiches, and cakes (donated anonymously at those times per his 'stipulation').

It was doing the 'work' of Bear Cafe - helping to set up our "ArtSpace" Show (as part of Heritage of Pride's larger LGBT PrideFest) that TJ experienced a massive heart attack. Anthony Dean (Heritage of Pride's Business Manager); volunteer Kecia McCowen, and another unidentified woman from our community tried to save his life with CPR, followed by the efforts of an EMS team, but all were unsuccessful. On a Pride day which carried the theme "For Love and for Life", these individuals turned a slogan into what many there would say was one of the most meaningful displays of concern, action and teamwork that some in our community have ever witnessed.

A computer consultant to the banking industry, TJ was 53 years of age at his passing. He is survived by a brother, John Hock and sister-in-law, Teresa Hock; a sister, Eileen Haberin; a nephew and nieces. He will be truly missed by all his good friends at BC (Boardmembers, Deputy Directors and members alike), and especially his loving partner, BC member Brian O'Dell.