Tom Linde, Rapid City died on the morning of Nov. 15, 2010 at 80 years of age. He succumbed to pneumonia after a long battle with declining health. His life remains a monument to sustained human courage and major accomplishments. You may read about this amazing life in Tom’s autobiography, I AM NOT WHAT I AM,Published by 1st Books Library in 2001 (Amazon.com). The following quotations are excerpts from that book in Tom’s own words. “I have severe cerebral palsy and cannot feed or dress myself, have speech so garbled that others hear mush when I talk, and get about in an electric wheelchair.” “I am all, and I am none, of these jarring physical traits through which I project myself to others. The essential bottom line is that we must coolly define the misfortunes which befall us, rather than letting them hotly define us.” “I am greatly disabled. I am not my disability. The distinction is fine, like a rare thread, damnedably snarled and rough with frustrating knots. Conveying this knotted thread of truth to others, and understanding it myself, has been challenging. From it I wove the fabric of my life.” Reciting the events of Tom’s life gives only the faintest recognition to the many successes achieved by Tom and those who helped him (and those are legion). Tom was born April 10, 1930 to E. Bruce and Evelyn B. (Tews) Linde with brain damage to parts of his brain which control motor functions. He was home schooled and graduated from South Milwaukee High School in 1948 as a member of The National Honor Society. He graduated cum laude from Ripon College in 1956 and from the University of Illinois in 1961 with a Masters Degree and a PhD in clinical psychology. His major period of employment came at Knoxville, Iowa as a clinical psychologist in the VA hospital primarily concerned with assisting veterans who had suffered from severe brain damage in the line of duty. He was married to his most ardent friend and companion, Ann Braun Line in 1961 and their union was blest with two sons, Peter and Matthew. Ann and Matthew both preceded him in death. Since Ann’s death in 2001, Peter and his wife Julie, have been Tom’s primary caregivers, except when Tom resided at Boutwell’s Landing in St. Paul and later at Harbor Heights in Sheboygan, where Tom relocated to be near his brother, Richard and wife Connie. In 2008, Tom moved to Rapid City to live with Peter and Julie and their four children, Matthew, Michael, Maryanna and Malia. During these last two years, Tom was primarily concerned with supporting Peter and his family as Peter successfully completed his education to become a licensed Registered Nurse. In addition to being an avid music lover and composer of sacred music, Tom was a lifelong ham radio operator KZ0T, artist, author, inventor and benefactor. He loved to travel and enjoyed many friends around the world. His taste in music ran from Bach to Brubeck with a special appreciation for Grand Opera. He remained a Christian his entire life and waited with great anticipation for the resurrection and the life to come. While he was with us, he had lots of fun with family and friends with his great sense of humor, puns and practical jokes. His laugh was infectious. He will be greatly missed. His body has been donated to medical science with his directive that it be used for research into the causes, cures and prevention of cerebral palsy. Tom has requested there be memorial services in both Rapid City and Sheboygan.Peter Linde at bestbrideandluckyguy@rap.midco.net or Richard Linde at architect@powercom.net. Condolences may be sent via mail to: Richard Linde; 312 Michigan Ave; Sheboygan, WI 53081 or Peter Linde, 6801 Seeaire Drive; Black Hawk, SD 57718