I remember his smile was so beautiful. It was almost infectious, because whenever I saw his smile I began to smile as well... Tooker Gomberg was not only my uncle, but also my friend. And a friend who will not only stay alive in my soul and heart but also in my actions which will always be acted upon by my wonderful uncle Tooker's teachings.
Alexandra Rose Bischoff, 12 years old, Edmonton

Thanks Tooker for pushing my boundaries.
Stephen Cashion, Edmonton

My first memory of Tooker was in 1986 at Sundance Coop... I was so glad, at that moment, to be part of this community, a community that had someone like Tooker in it.
Yvonne Luski, Edmonton

How privileged I am to have known you. Words like caring, creative, evocative, intelligent and humorous only begin to describe the incredible depth and diversity of your persona. You touched so many people in a positive way in your lifetime. I am so profoundly saddened by your passing, comforted somewhat knowing you left the world a better place and also because the memories of you will inspire so many in the future.
James Kosowan, Edmonton

He was a wonderful and irreplaceable man.
John Wedderburn, Lamma Island, Hong Kong

Tooker, you and Ang brought me into the environmental community in particular and into activism in general. I thank you for enriching my life and that of so many others through your efforts. You planted many seeds that you may never have realized the fruits of, but they are there... You did a great job providing colour commentary for the World Petroleum Congress protest sports match between Planet Earth and the Petroleum Industry. You rightly pointed out when the corporate team cheated!
Brian Welling, Edmonton

We love you Tooker.
Sheryle, Edmonton

Tooker Gomberg will always be a deep inspiration to me. I am eternally grateful for his passionate actions and words in the name of peace and mother earth. I have met some great friends and community due to my involvement in EcoCity. Tooker's life will motivate me towards greater growth in the avenues of activism, community and cycling for peace and environmental preservation always. Thank you Tooker for being you.
Kristina, Edmonton

I'm going to go and change the world for the better, and I'm going to do it in memory of Tooker.
Zoe Luski, 14 years old, Edmonton

I will always have fond memories of Tooker. My memories usually always come back to food or drink as many of them involve cooking or making beer to support many of the different activities Tooker had going on. I won't let grief overcome me with the loss of this wonderful man. I will remember happy times in hopes that my happy thoughts will find their way to him wherever he may be.
James Routledge, Edmonton

I miss Tooker.
Anna, 6 years old, Edmonton

Chuck loved volunteering at Tooker's office, and working with him on so many campaigns. Chuck often told the story of the ties that people sent Tooker and some went into the worm composter. One day Tooker was receiving some honour and needed a tie, so he rooted around in the worms, but even the synthetic ties had been shredded. Everyone laughed. We loved him and were inspired by him.
Linnie and Chuck Chamberlain

I'm honored to have known such a person.
Darryl, Edmonton

I will never forget your brilliance, your generosity, your commitment and the deep respect you held for all of life, earth and humanity. You live on in our hearts and our memories, and you are a shining star that will continue to inspire and to illuminate the way. Your courage and your consistency, your honesty and integrity and sense of humour, those will always be with us. I'll always remember the sparkle in your eyes and the passion in your voice when you talked about the dragonflies on Nichol's Hill, and the importance of having natural places preserved within urban areas - places where we can walk through wild grasses and wild flowers and buzzing, shimmering insects, and be at one with nature. And you made me think of the river in a new way, as a place where we could actually swim one day, if we really wanted to work to clean it up. IMAGINE! Thank you Tooker.
Lynn Gannett, Edmonton

Enthusiasm unbound
Wisdom profound
Integrity of course
Strength of will
Like a horse!
Good fun
Never fear
Persistence
Ever near
Faith and care
And love to spare
Never ending
Forever
Tooker's legacy.

Betty and Jerry Paschen, Edmonton

Tooker was immense, despite his small size. I haven't any idea of when I first was aware of him, almost as if he had always been there... I realized when thinking about him this month that I have memories that just incidentally bring Tooker to mind. That is influence.
Michael Black, Montreal

Although we did not meet often we felt part of his life.
Jennny Bocock, St. Albert, AB

This is truly a giant loss to us, and to the community. Tooker is a beautiful person who inspired both of us immensely, before and after you both entered out lives.
Anna Hunter

You and Tooker have touched my life in such a positive way.
Kathy Hind

Tooker was a good man who I looked up to and looked forward to working with on new media projects we both had an interest in.
Rob, New York City

You and Tooker have always held a special warm place in my heart. I have always been pleased to get your emails and hear how (and what) you've been doing.
Christine and Ted Watts, Edmonton

Last month when I was asked to speak at St. Mary's Highschool in Kitchener on Social Justice, I took the time to tell them about Tooker and that we should be honouring our heros and certainly be aware of who they are and remembering them. Many more than you will likely ever realize will miss him.
Judy Greenwood-Speer, Kitchener-Waterloo

I met you both on the ferry from Hong Kong Island to Lamma Island where I was living in 1997/8. I was greatly inspired and awed by both of you and loved running into you from time to time on Lamma and chatting with you or sitting down for a bite to eat with you. You seemed quite surreal to me at the time... I think of you both often, but perhaps because I am not much of a story-teller, nor much of a talker when it comes to my experiences, I have never been able to fully explain your vitality to anyone. So it is my own memory now. And I treasure it. Getting your newsletters were also, I felt, a way for me to keep grounded, to remind me that there are people out there who see things in a similar way to me and who are really working at making changes. I always saved them and felt a warm strength and some kind of rekindled faith when I read them, or even saw who it was from.
Robyn Baxter, Canada

He inspired several actions (parking meter parties) in Hamilton around taking back the streets for people and introducing the concept of "de-paving".
Murray Lumley, Hamilton, ON

 

Other condolences have been received from:

* Dorothy Candib, Pennsylvania
* Tracey Brown, Edmonton
* Ma Fletcher, Edmonton