Tommy McQuillan was one of the great characters at Montclair High School. At lunch time he would go through the cafeteria line, pay for his sandwich and milk, then come over to the table where a few of us were sitting and start pulling tuna sandwiches out his pants and shirt and distribute them to us. The "five finger discount" lunch. My mother never would allow me to play high school football, fearing my nose would get broken, so every afternoon in the Fall I would play football in Anderson Park without equipment along with Tommy, Lou Calasibetta, Bob "Wade" Amadeo (who could throw the ball further than most QBs) and anyone else who was available. Tommy and Bob were old neighbor friends so they were usually on the opposing team from Lou and Me. Tommy would usually tackle us low and then Bob, who weighed considerably more than us, would land on top like he was doing a Haystacks Calhoun wrestling dive. One afternoon, Tommy put an arm around my shoulder and said, "I understand you asked out Denise DeMartin" and started hitting me with left hooks. As an aspiring Golden Glove boxer he had quite a sting to his punches so I tangled him up in a bear hug and we went rolling to the ground. Kenny Wakeman eventually pulled him off. That did not end our friendship (although everytime I heard Randy and The Rainbows' "Denise" I recalled the first punch).
Tommy in the Spring of our senior year saw me working as a messenger in the principal's office (during study hall period) and came in, sat down next to me and told the principal's assistant, "I'm a volunteer just like David." Within a few days, Tommy took Mr. Nast's rubber stamp and a pad of hall passes. He then proceeded to roam the halls looking for friends he could free from classes. Unfortunately, one day I was in the middle of a test when he spotted me and despite shaking my head "no" vigorously, he soon entered the classroom and handed Persis Cope an "official" note that stated I had to go to the office immediately. I then had to wander the halls till class was over.
If I recall correctly Tommy was around 50 when he died suddenly. RIP, my friend.
Wow, David...Tommy McQuillan! There's a name I haven't heard in a long time. When we were in grade school, he used to play with my brothers. I remember we had a play house in our yard and somehow he managed to get me on a chair with a rope around my neck and left me!!! I remember he said he wanted to be a priest when he grew up and he was getting all his mischief out of his system while he was still young. I am certain he figured nothing would come of his little prank and of course he was right, but the memory sure stuck with me!!! I loved reading all of your tales. Glad to see that my brother Kenny 'saved' you. He is doing well and living up in the Albany area. See you this week-end!
David Cannon
Tommy McQuillan was one of the great characters at Montclair High School. At lunch time he would go through the cafeteria line, pay for his sandwich and milk, then come over to the table where a few of us were sitting and start pulling tuna sandwiches out his pants and shirt and distribute them to us. The "five finger discount" lunch. My mother never would allow me to play high school football, fearing my nose would get broken, so every afternoon in the Fall I would play football in Anderson Park without equipment along with Tommy, Lou Calasibetta, Bob "Wade" Amadeo (who could throw the ball further than most QBs) and anyone else who was available. Tommy and Bob were old neighbor friends so they were usually on the opposing team from Lou and Me. Tommy would usually tackle us low and then Bob, who weighed considerably more than us, would land on top like he was doing a Haystacks Calhoun wrestling dive. One afternoon, Tommy put an arm around my shoulder and said, "I understand you asked out Denise DeMartin" and started hitting me with left hooks. As an aspiring Golden Glove boxer he had quite a sting to his punches so I tangled him up in a bear hug and we went rolling to the ground. Kenny Wakeman eventually pulled him off. That did not end our friendship (although everytime I heard Randy and The Rainbows' "Denise" I recalled the first punch).
Tommy in the Spring of our senior year saw me working as a messenger in the principal's office (during study hall period) and came in, sat down next to me and told the principal's assistant, "I'm a volunteer just like David." Within a few days, Tommy took Mr. Nast's rubber stamp and a pad of hall passes. He then proceeded to roam the halls looking for friends he could free from classes. Unfortunately, one day I was in the middle of a test when he spotted me and despite shaking my head "no" vigorously, he soon entered the classroom and handed Persis Cope an "official" note that stated I had to go to the office immediately. I then had to wander the halls till class was over.
If I recall correctly Tommy was around 50 when he died suddenly. RIP, my friend.
Cynthia Wakeman (Bates)
Wow, David...Tommy McQuillan! There's a name I haven't heard in a long time. When we were in grade school, he used to play with my brothers. I remember we had a play house in our yard and somehow he managed to get me on a chair with a rope around my neck and left me!!! I remember he said he wanted to be a priest when he grew up and he was getting all his mischief out of his system while he was still young. I am certain he figured nothing would come of his little prank and of course he was right, but the memory sure stuck with me!!! I loved reading all of your tales. Glad to see that my brother Kenny 'saved' you. He is doing well and living up in the Albany area. See you this week-end!
Cindy