I admit it — I’m a big softie.
I cry at movies. I choke up when they play “One Final Moment” after the Final Four. And I especially hate saying goodbye.
So, as I brace for my retirement on Jan. 20, I need to be honest — my eyes are a little moist as I tap on my computer keys.
Retirement tea set for Jan. 15
The campus is invited to attend the retirement tea for Tom O’Connor on Jan. 15 from 3-5 p.m. in the Truhlsen Events Center on the first floor of the Sorrell Center.
Remarks will begin at 3:30 p.m. Bill O’Neill, director of public relations, will emcee. Bob Bartee, vice chancellor for external affairs for UNMC and UNO, will speak. If anyone else wants to speak, an open microphone will be available.
For the past 32 years, I have truly been blessed with the best public relations job in Omaha.
There is an endless supply of stories coming out of the medical center. And, better yet, some of the most amazing faculty members and staff to tell them. I’ve loved every minute of it.
Funny how this retirement thing sneaks up on you. In July, I will turn 70 — ouch, are you kidding me?
As you get into your mid-60s, the question you invariably get from people is, “When are you going to retire?”
Then, once people learn that you are retiring, the question becomes, “What are you going to do in retirement?” Or, “What’s your poor wife going to do with you around all day?”
Those are good questions, no doubt. And, I’ll admit, I really have no idea how it’s going to play out.
How do you know what anything is going to be like until you actually do it?
I’ve received some great advice from people I respect. Don’t take on any new projects for the first six months. Stay active, join a fitness center. Find hobbies that you enjoy. Don’t retire cold turkey, cut back and slide into retirement gradually.
It’s a little overwhelming. But this much I know: after a 43-year career in public relations, the one thing I can do is be flexible.
I have absolutely zero doubt that I can handle this next chapter of my life.
I have an awesome wife (Karen). She’s put up with me for 47 years. She’s a Type A. I’m a Type B. We balance each other out. Best of all, she still makes me laugh — every day.
So, yes, we will both have to figure out this new gig and adjust accordingly. But I know we can do it.
The positive indicators are all there. We both love to golf, we already belong to a fitness center, we have five grandkids within 15 minutes of our house, we love to take walks. The list goes on.
In my quest to better prepare myself for retirement, I recently sought the advice of Mike Callan, a longtime friend who recently retired.
Mike summed up retirement in 10 words — “You will do half as much in twice the time.”
That works for me.
Tom, Congratulations my friend. You have been a steady, strong asset to UNMC for the last 3 decades. The best for everything to you , your family and friends.
You will be missed, Tom! Enjoy every moment – you deserve it!
Congrats, Tom. I've only been at the university for seven months, but I'm really going to miss you, your knowledge and hearing your laugh from the other side of the office.
Best wishes, Tom! We’ll miss you.
Tom,
I am helping with grandchildren that afternoon and won't be able to make the event. I can't believe you will no longer be a shining star at UNMC. Congratulations on retirement!! Looking forward to seeing you around and about Omaha!!
Carol
Tom you are simply the G.O.A.T.
I will miss you terribly but am thrilled for you and your family. Enjoy this next phase, you deserve it so much! Thank you for all you have done for UNMC for so many years, you are a treasure to so many people. Farewell dear friend.
GREAT article! Congratulations Tom – you will be missed!! (I am not far behind you though!)
Retirement is not the end of the road. It is the beginning of the open highway!
Congrats Tom.
JimmyJ
I wish you the best, Tom. You have been such a pleasure to work with over the years.
Congratulations Tom! Thank you for all of the contributions that you have made to this campus and for sharing your view of it with all of us for so many years!
Congratulations Tom – – I have enjoyed working with you through the years. I wish you the best and hope you have many exciting adventures ahead of you.
Congratulations Tom. It's been a pleasure working with you. I'm right behind you April 1st!
Best wishes on your retirement! Having been an employee for 32 years, you have left your mark on this campus by documenting the moments and memories of UNMC history through your writing. I have enjoyed reading your articles over the years and am happy to know you will continue.
Congratulation Tom! I have always enjoyed your columns. Will look forward to them for the next six months..then it is off to the races for me too.
Congratulations Tom!
Congrats TO! You will be missed.
Congratulations my friend!. You should be proud of what you have accomplished. You have a been a great asset to our campus- doing all the valuable work in the background and doing your job with silent efficiency and grounded decency to make us look better than we are.
Best wishes for your well-deserved retirement and hope you get to spend some valuable " yourself" time with your family.
Chandra Are
I am so happy for you but I am going to miss you. When I see your name pop up on my phone display, I always smile. I'm sure I'll run into you at a sporting event around town. Congratulations!!
All the best in retirement Tom! You have been an amazing friend and writer of awesome stories about the people and accomplishments of UNMC. I am one that has been honored by a nickname! I will always treasure it and you! SuzyQ or on busier days, SQ
Tom,
May God bless you with a long and healthy retirement!
TIC TOC, it has been such a pleasure working with you during my 21 years on campus. I know you and Karen will thoroughly enjoy the next chapter and I'm glad to know I'll see your byline in the Today for awhile longer. My very best wishes to you, my friend. ABC
Tom, I couldn't help but notice – the UNMC Today story just below yours promotes
Dr. Jerry Walker's "Health, Happiness & Harmony: The Holistic Essentiality of Hobbies," presentation on Jan. 21. Coincidence or a gift from the Olson Center on your first day of retirement? 🙂 Congratulations!
T.O., it's been an honor working with you the last 8 years and, before that, from the other side of the reporter's notebook. You will be hugely missed in PR.
S.H.
Congratulations Tom! Glad to know you through a few PR efforts on our global initiative and thanks for your connections to let us going to the top of the building at OPC to host impossible events. Enjoy your next chapter and stay active!
Congratulations my friend. I retired last year and love it and I know you will too. It was great to know you and work with you. Miss our Japanese lunches and positive talks. You’ve been a great mentor for me.
You have one of the greatest asset with you – Karen. I know you’ll both make the best time of your retirement.
Have fun and enjoy your retirement in good health. Wishing you all the best.
Marsha and Nizar
Congratulations Tom. You are opening a new chapter and I am sure it will as enjoyable as the previous one. We all will miss you.
Hi Tom! This is Lulabell from the old Biomedical Communications. I have known you for the past 30 years and what a joy that has been. You were always a delight when you past my desk every morning. I am so glad I got to know you. Have a great retirement with your family and friends.
Tom, I've never seen so many comments on a post! You have so many friends who will be cheering you forward. When Arizona comes on the horizon for you and Karen, look us up!
You are a legend, T.O. Congratulations and best wishes on your retirement.
Will miss you – congrats and thank you for helping make my transition to Nebraska so smooth. Grateful for you and all you have done and will do!
Tom, my friend. Congratulations. You have been truly a friend to me during your tenure. We have had many endeavors from the pond at Elmwood Golf course, to your first Ball in Valentine to your very first international trip, just to mention a few. . The legacy you will leave here on January 20 will always be remembered as well as knowing that you were instrumental in helping to promote UNMNC to the recognition it has today..
Good luck my friend and happy trails. Show the world how to put on socks!!!
Congratulations! You will be greatly missed.
Hard to believe the day has come! You should be proud of all you've done for UNMC and for people like me who learned from the best while we were there. So happy for you on your retirement and grateful for the years we worked side by side. Congrats, TO! You're the best 🙂
All the best to you Tom! Who will I bother with all of my UNMC history questions now? Good thing I still have your phone number 🙂 Seriously, congratulations. The number of comments on this story should be a great indicator of the impact you've made here and the goodness you've spread throughout your career!
Congrats Tom! We will definitely miss your steady hand. Hit'em straight!
Congratulations and well said! On so many occasions, so many stories! You will be missed! Godspeed!!
Tom, congratulations on retirement. Thanks for everything you have done for our department and the entire university. You will be missed! Glad to know Time Out with T.O. will continue. Wishing you and Karen the best on your next adventures. Rockn' Robin
Tom is one of my favorite people. We are going to miss him more than anyone can say. Hopefully, we'll still see him often, to share more stories, laughs and pointless trivia questions. Aloha oe, Tom.
Tom's love for UNMC cannot be overstated. This place is better because of Tom. Thanks for all you have done and are going to do. Enjoy your retirement.
Tom – when I started at the Olson Center 25 years ago, you were a major influence in my getting acquainted to UNMC and all the people that would help guide our direction. I so appreciate your help over the years and am happy for you as you move on to this next (and well deserved) exciting adventure.
Tom, congratulations on your retirement. If it's not apparent to you yet (read all the comments on this article), you have made a positive impact as a respected PR professional throughout your career, in the field and at UNMC. I'll miss your stories unless you're planning on writing a book! I look forward to hearing about your next adventure. The future is waiting!
Tom, I have been on campus for 30 years and I always knew there was one person that I could contact at anytime, which wasn't often, and be greeted with a genuine, friendly reception. I feel if you approach retirement like you approached the past 32 years at UNMC you will have one heck of a ride. ENJOY IT!!
Congrats, Tom. I'll add to the list… complete some 5k, 10k, or heck, even a half :)…. Just a thought.
Enjoy the next chapter of your amazing life T.O.. Turn your phone off and take some golf lessons.
We sure are going to miss that laugh of yours. Come back and see us every once in a while.
T.O. Thank you for all the stories you've told about UNMC as well as the memories we share from 30 years of knowing each other. I am happy to hear that your "Time Out" column will continue. Best wishes for a fabulous retirement! AK-47
T.O. Your legend will live on in perpetuity! We will miss you so much. Keep in touch and thanks so much for all you have done to support the Alumni Association over the years.
Tom, you will be missed. Wishing you and your family the best today and always. Thanks for everything you did to make UNMC what it is today.
Tom, if PR was a sport, we would retire your number and hang it from the rafters! You have had an amazing career and are one of UNMC's strongest ambassadors. It has truly been a privilege to work and learn from the best! Best wishes to you and Karen.
Tom is an institution of his own here at UNMC. I have to give him so much credit for all of the wonderful stories he has crafted and how connected he keeps us all through his humanistic understanding of the important work that happens here every day. On a personal note, Tom, your work has helped me in my career and even more importantly, it has helped promote the needs of my patients and their families on campus, across Nebraska and around the world. Thank you for your dedication and your brilliance! I'm so glad you will be hanging around on your own terms!
Ann Anderson Berry
Tom, it was a pleasure working with you and learning from you. Thank you for all you did to help me find my footing at UNMC.