THOMAS W. WOLLETT

Oct. 21,2011.
To the Wollett Family.
It was only today that I heard of Tom's passing. I am deeply shocked and saddened. We worked together for my 13 years at Western School. He was very helpful to me in my work as anew educator/program director. He will be greatly missed

it seems that life has been very hard for a person that was a great friend and I will always cherish.

I was very saddened to hear of Tom's passing this week. I worked with him for 7 plus years and was also one of his students at Western School. He was a mentor and a wonderful friend. He believed in me even when I had given up on myself. He was a wonderful man and will be missed by many.

Bernadette,

I was stunned to hear about Tom. I've never met you, but we've spoken many times over the phone. Tom was such a good guy I had to write about the Tom I knew. It is meant for those who may not have known Tom as we did at his job.

Everyone Tom worked with sends their sincere condolences.

Albert

A responsible man died last night. You don't know him. Responsible. You know what I mean, a Pittsburgh kind of guy, always there when needed.

His name was Tom Wollet. He saved many lives. Those in need of a liver, or a heart, or a kidney. No, he wasn't a doctor.

Maybe you remember the trip you took to visit your grandchildren. Your plane left on time and arrived safely. No defective window let the air you breathed leak into the near vacuum eight miles high. No weak structural panel blew off on your way. No, Tom didn't work for the aircraft industry.

Maybe you searched the internet a few months ago looking for your perfect match. Maybe you got lucky. All the information you needed for your choice flashed on your screen perfectly. Tom, made sure of that. No, he had nothing to do with computers.

And the lights came on when you flicked that switch as well. Tom helped with that too. But he didn't work in the coal mines.

Tom really is part of all these things. Yes, he's a real person. Or at least was until last night.

He was killed in an accident somewhere in Ohio. I don't know all the details. I will, but I don't care just yet. I'm thinking of the man I knew.

I'd call him at 3am. Tom, I'd say, The Center for Organ Recovery has a heart that needs to be driven immediately to Philadelphia for transplant. Ok, he'd say, just give me a minute to wake up, I'm on my way. He never failed me.

An aircraft part to go from USAirways' warehouse, here at our airport, for a plane in need of repair in DC. No problem Tom was on his way.

A replacement computer part for Google in New York City. Tom again.

Clotting factor for an Amish kid with hemophilia in Punxatawney who's compound fracture won't stop bleeding. Tom wouldn't hesitate.

He was driver #1093 for American Expediting, a rush delivery company here in Pittsburgh. You know, one of those companies that pick up and deliver things right now. Time critical delivery. That's what the industry calls itself.

But the drivers are independent contractors. Real people, always on call, who drive through the worst storms. Remember the three feet of snow we got winter before last? Tom was on the road in that once in a hundred year storm. And many dozens of other drivers were out there too. They felt responsible for what they picked up for immediate delivery from UPMC, Central Blood Bank, Cisco Computers, Republic Airlines, Joy Mining, and countless other companies.

Not every day gets three feet of snow. Not every day has a patient who needs their critical medicine in a storm. Yesterday was an average day. But not for driver #1093

I don't know how many lives he saved. Or lives he made better. Life isn't always that dramatic. But sometimes it is.

I dispatched the weekend dead man's shift for eight years. I relied on #1093. So did all those who needed a critical part ASAP. They just didn't knew about Tom.

Tom always answered my calls. Not any more. He had another call to answer.

May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.

Tom was a great guy. I worked with him for the entire time he was at American Expediting and I can't count the number of times he bailed me out of a jam. He will be greatly missed here as a friend and driver. My deepest sympathy to his family and friends. God bless you all.

To Jim and the Wollett family. You are in my heart and prayers.

To The Wollett Family:

Please accept my most heartfelt sympathies for your loss. My thoughts are with you during this difficult time.

Kimberly,
AlliedBarton Security Services

I was just shocked when I read about Thomas. I'm so very, very sorry for your loss. I am praying for you all in this terrible and sad time. Please know that there are many who are here to support you and feel your loss.

To the Wollett Family, you all are in my prayers. I was saddened to hear about Tom's sudden passing. While working with him at American Expediting, we shared many laughs and he was very dedicted to helping out whenever possible. Again, you all are in my Prayers...