Thomas Robert Mellinger

..I KNOW YOU AS TOMMY From big sis Janice Mellinger: "Dear Tommy - Our father once quoted this from William Wordsworth, and he might have said this to you and Andy at some point: ~ The best portion of a good man's life is his little, nameless unremembered acts of kindness and love. ~ I know all of us who loved you will remember yours. I will miss your voice and all your stories. Love you, bro. ~ Jan" To my best friend Andy's older brother Tommy who fostered belly laughs and creative inspiration.., and so many "...little acts of kindness and love.." I can hear your voice- at times so excited your speech trying to catch up to your drive and enthusiasm Your teasing humor anticipating us all cracking up in the next instant.. "What are you two bozos doing?" The adventures you took Andy and I on still play like your Elmo camera 8mm movies in my heart: "Environmental Theater" - Tommy would come up with 'performances' where we "staged" fake scenarios in real places 
- Like dressing little kid me in a suit and handling me a briefcase, dressing lil kid Andy as a "hooligan" and staging a secret "spy – crime deal" in the back aisle of the local toy store- Tommy straining to keep a straight face as he directs us before we went in for 'showtime' "Come on you guys – you cant be goofing off- commit! - this is serious" People looked at us like we were nuts Some People would laugh, some just staired at us annoyed Until the owner came around the aisle "What are you kids doing- Get outta here!" - As a preteen, on summer nights, my dad let me go out with Andy & we got to knock about Ventura Blvd with the 'older guys'- Tommy, and his friends. Without a car, Tommy had us pantomime 'sitting in a car' and we went through the drive thru at one of the very first "In & Out" Burgers. The people in real cars behind us staring, some laughed & honked, a car with girls just looked at us like idiots.. We ordered at the speaker, and when we got to the pick-up window the high school kid working looked down at us and said "you can't get food without a car!" – Tommy ever the 'lawyer': " Well why not? We have a car – it's invisible " and we were serenaded with that old chestnut "get outa here or we'll call the cops" - which was as our form of applause. - It was Tommy who got me my very first Job. On my 14th birthday, my mom took me out for Japanese food Tommy was the bus boy. In that Tommy voice "Oh, Great - Happy Birthday. Look you don't want to be a goofball your whole life, its time you got a job - say the word and Ill get you one here.." "but-I'm just turning 14?" "Don't WORRY about that, your mom can fill out a work permit later - now follow me and let me do the talking" I looked at my mom who smiled and said "it's up to you" Tom took me in to the Kitchen telling the owner " ...look, he's old enough, he just short- You know his mom, she brings him here all the time, he's a good kid and ill train him and keep him under my watch.." A little while later Tommy got Andy a Job there as well. And after work on Saturday nights- taking us on more adventures - Tommy introduced Andy & I to a Performance Art Group playing on Ventura Blvd.. : "The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo" (which unknown to me at the time, coincidentally starred my big Brothers college friend Jan Munroe). and yes, this eventually became the band Oingo Boingo. Andy & I weren't old enough to get in so we would listen at the door. Tommy and his best buds John and Ken bought an old station wagon for like $50 bucks? Tommy named it the "Sherman" (as in tank) I think it was Johns dad? who said "If you kids are gonna drive that thing- promise me you make sure the steering and brakes are good!" I remember to cold start it Tommy would tell Andy and I ' "Ok, you guys- you gotta rock back and forth- what? Why are you laughing? ... I'm not kidding- Come on ..come on, rock harder!- Keep rocking!- ..Ok..see there ya go... it worked..NOW do you believe me? " - Driving Andy & I in the " Sherman " to: the Texas Bar-B-Que; to our first time at the Cinerama Dome seeing "Apocalypse Now"; driving by the scary "insane asylum" off the 101 in Calabasas on a summer night trying to scare us, but just making us laugh. Tommy, John & Ken invented "DIVE IN THEATER"- -where I first saw Night of the Living Dead -or the Super 8mm movies they made .. Projected on a giant white sheet in Johns backyard and the audience would "dive in" the pool and watch from floating rafts-Genius! (Tommy - I still say this was your Million $$ idea ) - One night Tommy took ANDY & I to the Film and Television studio at CSUN to meet with the technical director who showed us the equipment , and answered my many questions... Then Tommy rotated Andy & I operating the cameras, pushing ALL the buttons in the booth, and then having Andy & I being "news anchors" on camera while Tommy was superimposing Gorillas on the screen behind us while we try to "seriously report". And Most Importantly: Tommy casting Andy & I in the super 8 films he, Ken and John made on Tommy's ELMO super 8 camera..WITH SOUND! I first fell in love with film through my brother Jamie 's 8mm films w/ Bob Bruce.. But then with some pleading (my first "audition technique"), Tommy cast Andy & I in his "feature works" - Andy & I as a grave diggers in the Civil War "The Soldier" - and Andy as a very short Doctor, I as the dead patient in a Halloween hospital epic, - - - 3-7 minutes - each an early, awesomely fun "apprenticeship" into film making– a dream that carries through my life to this day.. Ah Tommy I love you pal, I am so grateful for you ... I pray God has You and Andy , your mom Marjorie & dad Robert, your ol friend John in one big hug, laughing till you can't breathe...a gift you have given in life more than I can count. You made this song true https://youtu.be/0C58ttB2-Qg?si=ux8qwsLU6H47hyyk My Prayers , gratitude, heart are with Edna, Robert and Ethan Judy Fiszel and all Thomas' friends and to "our" loving big sisters who watched over us bozos: Janice (Mellinger) MacKenzie, Judy (Mellinger) Manning, and Betsy Amirkhan – Pink Floyd "Kicking around on a piece of ground in your home town Waiting for someone or something to show you the way." One of my earliest "Someones" was Thomas Mellinger Thank you Tommy, with all my heart https://youtu.be/pgXozIma-Oc?si=NEODAz8ra5IRg-9K

- Jon A

Thomas and I shared conversations off and on since the late 1990s. North Carolina was NOT a source of joy. Florida? Oh, yes~!! Spread your arms, soar and fly high before you reach your final destination.

Dear Tommy - Our father once quoted this from William Wordsworth, and he might have said this to you and Andy at some point: ~ The best portion of a good man's life is his little, nameless unremembered acts of kindness and love. ~ I know all of us who loved you will remember yours. I will miss your voice and all your stories. Love you, bro. ~ Jan

My heart goes out to his two wonderful sons and wife. I will miss talking to Mr. Mellinger. He loved his boys with all his heart! Prayers for peace, strength and comfort for times to come! Patty Riggs Eastern Guilford Middle School

My heartfelt condolences to the Mellinger family. I'm so sorry for your loss. Prayers🙏🏽🙏🏽

I will miss Thomas sharing many tales (including his repeating stories much later and my listening as though I was hearing them for the very first time). At his healthiest, Thomas enjoyed more alone and hobby time (enough free time to read two books at one time. He was an avid reader), including an occasional night out, possibly at Georgie's Alibi in Wilton Manors. Stress ruins a good man's life. All that aside, I am sending much love to those two Thomas referred to as "his boys." May Thomas' prayers to the Almighty G-d be answered and result in "his boys" developing into fine gentlemen. Please rest in eternal peace, Sir Thomas~!!

Sending my deepest sympathy to his family and friends and especially to his twin boys, Robert and Ethan. I will always remember happy times in Boston. Rest in peace.

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