Weehawken Boys 2019
Stephen Gilroy
Stephen Gilroy
Sometimes in life you meet people with whom you immediately click. For me, Allen Tamke was one of those people. We met way back in the early 60’s in junior high school and immediately formed a friendship that would last over 50 years. Through junior high, Weehawken High, and all those places thereafter our friendship stayed intact. Sometimes there were gaps in years, but when we reconnected it was as if we had just seen each other the day before.
When I learned of his colon cancer diagnosis in 2015 I was floored. The coincidence of us both being diagnosed in 2014 and our subsequent surgeries and recoveries were so similar. Once we reconnected, I realized his situation was much worse than mine. I was slowly recovering and he was in a daily struggle for his life.
We would compare symptoms and discuss our progress regularly and spend a great deal of time on the phone talking and laughing. In 2016 he was able to travel from Florida to Boston where we got together and he had an opportunity to meet with doctors at Dana Farber Cancer Institute. Regrettably, the results for some type of cure for him were not forthcoming. In spite of this, he never wavered in his belief that he would beat colon cancer.
Moving forward to September of 2017, I was jolted back to reality when at a routine checkup it was discovered that I now had Stage IV colon cancer with metastasis to my liver. Chemotherapy and surgery ensued and there was Allen in my corner supporting me in spite of his own overwhelming daily struggle to survive. With his support and that of my family and friends I have been able to once again be free of this dreaded disease.
Last August, I was able to attend my 50th reunion of Weehawken High School, class of 68. Seeing so many of my former classmates and friends made me realize even more what a special relationship my classmates and I had back then and how easy it was being with everyone after all those years had passed. Sadly, Allen was too ill to make the trip to be with his classmates.
Last September, I again participated in this 5k, which had even more meaning for me, having once again battled colon cancer. A few days later, Allen could no longer endure his struggle and passed from this life. For those who knew and loved him he was truly larger than life. I knew his youthful exuberance, his love of family, and I was in awe of his will to live and grateful for our everlasting friendship. So this year we run/walk in his memory and honor his life.
When I learned of his colon cancer diagnosis in 2015 I was floored. The coincidence of us both being diagnosed in 2014 and our subsequent surgeries and recoveries were so similar. Once we reconnected, I realized his situation was much worse than mine. I was slowly recovering and he was in a daily struggle for his life.
We would compare symptoms and discuss our progress regularly and spend a great deal of time on the phone talking and laughing. In 2016 he was able to travel from Florida to Boston where we got together and he had an opportunity to meet with doctors at Dana Farber Cancer Institute. Regrettably, the results for some type of cure for him were not forthcoming. In spite of this, he never wavered in his belief that he would beat colon cancer.
Moving forward to September of 2017, I was jolted back to reality when at a routine checkup it was discovered that I now had Stage IV colon cancer with metastasis to my liver. Chemotherapy and surgery ensued and there was Allen in my corner supporting me in spite of his own overwhelming daily struggle to survive. With his support and that of my family and friends I have been able to once again be free of this dreaded disease.
Last August, I was able to attend my 50th reunion of Weehawken High School, class of 68. Seeing so many of my former classmates and friends made me realize even more what a special relationship my classmates and I had back then and how easy it was being with everyone after all those years had passed. Sadly, Allen was too ill to make the trip to be with his classmates.
Last September, I again participated in this 5k, which had even more meaning for me, having once again battled colon cancer. A few days later, Allen could no longer endure his struggle and passed from this life. For those who knew and loved him he was truly larger than life. I knew his youthful exuberance, his love of family, and I was in awe of his will to live and grateful for our everlasting friendship. So this year we run/walk in his memory and honor his life.
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