The Lulac Edition #4,042, March 31st, 2019

WIL TOOLE AND LULAC

Saturday was our friend Wil Toole's Mass. His great friend, Father Louis Grippi gave the Homily and I was asked to do the eulogy. 

Wil was a critic and reader of LuLac as well as a friend.
Here is the text of what was said about hi life at the Mass officiated by his friend Father Louis Grippi. Following the Mass, there were full military honors. 
Good morning, thanks to all of you who came out to say a final goodbye to our friend Wil Toole. The first time I ever encountered Wil was when he threatened to sue me. I DON’T THINK THAT’S HAPPENED TO ANYBODY IN THIS CHURCH BUT ME, RIGHT?
But we got that resolved and became very close friends. The reason for that is because Wil believed in second chances. He believed in second acts. He believed that 99 percent of people could be redeemable.
Wil looked at life as a series of chances to make a mark while you were on this planet. If you take a look at Wil’s life of service, it is quite impressive.
His military service with the Coast Guard included infiltrating a Brooklyn based gang that was stealing and selling military IDs. He served as a Third Class Petty Officer earning five military medals including the Navy Expeditionary Medal for taking part in a non-declared war action while in Cuba.
His work life consisted of Consumer loans, kind of like a George Baley type of loan officer always putting those struggling first
He later became involved in Security work and went about overseeing the protection of local industries against crime, winning recognition from national entities. He was on the staff of a Congressman. The most lasting legacy though was how he formed, fought and won union protection for County employees. For those of you in local 1398 who are enjoying the benefits of collective bargaining, thank Wil Toole.
He worked in Pittston City administration with his friend the late Tom Walsh where he received worldwide recognition from the International Association of County and City Managers and was listed in a Who’s Who of city employees across the country for his work. Wil, along with many others was on the ground floor of what we now know as the Tomato Festival. But all those things are the public side most of you know.
I did not see the public side close up. I never met him until 2008 so I got a chance to see the private side. Getting to know him, one thing I noticed was that he lived by two rules. "Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. The other was "whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers that you do unto me".
Wil used to tell me that he wished he could be a better Catholic but he thought he was doing okay in the Christian Department. I’d always tell him, better to be a Peter or Paul instead of a doubting Thomas. He exhibited more Christian behavior than some Catholics who as my Godfather used to say “Sit in the front row with the prayer books! He believed in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. And lead his life with the Corporal works of Mercy as a daily guide. His motto, always help where you can and never hurt.
Wil always gave people in need a hand up not a hand out. There were many times he helped only to be disappointed that his efforts were squandered or advice was not taken. Wil never accepted the concept of no. he often said, never say no for the other person, let them state their own decision.
But he always tried to help again because remember he believed in second chances.
He would be the first to tell you that he wasn’t a great scholar but he knew how to do one thing many people don’t. LISTEN.
When you told your story, your wishes, your dreams, however big or small, he listened. But then after that, those wheels started to turn. I imagine right behind his forehead was this big mental rolodex flipping in his head wondering who he could get, cajole or ask to get something done. What store had this, what guy did this, what person could help him grant the request?
He cherished his friends and made sure they all kept in touch. Whether it was having lunch once a week or having “meetings”, he was the one who made sure there was always communication. He’d debate those friends. He’d ask questions and always tried to use logic not emotion in his arguments. He never called any of his verbal sparring partners stupid, though I think he longed to, but simply asked the question, and folks this is my personal favorite, “I just don’t understand how you can think that way!” Then proceed to ask some uncomfortable questions about some pretty non-Christian statements he heard.
He never wavered in his support for those regarded as lesser than in our society and like a character in a James Joyce novel Wil had a multi-faceted ability to avenge what he believed to be wrong or work with dedication to right the wrong with a task that fixed it, rather than let it become worse.
I’d like to touch on this comparison. One of the things that bonded the two of us was that we respected the role of the planner. You can TALK all you want about what you want to accomplish but if you don’t write it down and do it, it means nothing. His meticulous planning with the city transferred into his personal life too.
When he sailed on the lake, you always had no fear because every step was planned. When his illness was diagnosed, whatever regret, fear or trepidation he had was only known to him. But there was a tell, the planning took over.
He left no stone unturned in preparing for those he left behind. Wil would always tell me “I lived a good life and have no regrets but I just need to get a few more things done”. Instead of rolling up in a ball, he then set about to do them.
The great loves of his life, Ellen, Carolyn, the mother of his children, sons Brian, Patrick and Michael and grandchildren, were always top of the mind in his planned exit from this church. A church he marveled at and loved.
Wil fought his illness with typical Irish-Catholic stubbornness. To all of his family I just mentioned by name, God bless you because once he set his mind to something, there was no stopping him. He was the only person I knew that after a round of chemo or radiation, he’d be mowing his lawn or replanting his flower bed.
It’s hard to sum up such a rich and full life without thinking of those three articles of faith taught by the nuns to him so many years ago. Remember he listened and so he lived them.
Faith: He believed that his God guided him through every step of his journey. He might not have always liked the direction but God’s Wil was Wil’s will.
Hope: Whatever the obstacle, whatever the challenge, he had hope for a better day. While Scarlett O’Hara said “Tomorrow is another day,”Wil would tell you tomorrow would be the best day because he had 24 more hours to exhibit the third grace which was charity.
Charity toward family, friends and those he saw who needed it the most.
Faith, Hope and Charity whether he realized it or not, were the building blocks of Wil Toole’s existence.
Today marks the end of a remarkable life we take him to his well-deserved rest but in typical Wil Toole fashion, he wanted just a little more time.
We celebrate his life and soul today in a time honored fashion. But how do we extend this life? All of us should do him this favor. We should emulate the life he led by going that extra mile, asking that extra question, making that last effort even when we think we can’t.
He loved the sea so as we say farewell we should ponder the last verse in the Coast Guard prayer as we take him to his rest.
Let all of us keep the beacons of honor and duty burning that your servant may reach the home port with a duty well performed, in service to God and our land.