Your Stories of Your Extraordinary Men

The power of one man's life to change the trajectory of other lives cannot be underestimated. Tom Blagg was a man who lived a humble and remarkable life. His kindness, gentle manner, and unwavering faith in Jesus literally transformed our family in ways that will continue to ripple through generations. Not just through in-laws, a sister, nieces, children, grandchildren, and a beloved wife, but even the immigrant generations of a very large Vietnamese community that loved him, as family, as much as he loved them, as family.

Tom became my stepfather at a time when our family was adrift, reeling from change, needing stability, direction, hope and quite frankly, Jesus. Tom provided that when he married Mom. As far back as I can remember, he has always been there with his warm smile, jovial laughter, eyes that crinkled with joy and pride as he spoke about us, his family. He chose us—to enfold us with a love that was deliberate and boundless. He was not a man of grand gestures or loud proclamations; his power was in the small things, the way he would sit and ask you about all the things going on in your life. To listen, not out of duty, but out of genuine interest.

He gave us a new definition of family that was built on love and sacrifice. When I was the young, budding soccer player in our family we did not have much money, but Tom always made sure that I had my cleats and my sister had piano lessons in a new book to read.

My oldest son Cole said that “Poppy” was the kindest person he had ever met in his entire life and never had a negative word to say about anyone, except for Nancy Pelosi. My son Mason reminded me of that on his 18th birthday when Poppy took him to buy a lottery ticket. He scratched it off and won nothing. He told Mason he should not waste money on lottery tickets, alcohol or women. Then Mason said, “I should have listened”. I think we will all have times when we think of Poppy and say, “I should have listened”.

He lived the gospel by his actions. Not just bringing our family to church, it was prison ministry and ministry to internationals in our community whether they were Vietnamese, Russian or Chinese. That love left such an impact on me and will forever be the legacy that he leaves in this world, aside from to us, his family. That is living your faith in a way that passes it along to others. He taught us that kindness wasn't weakness; it was strength away to reflect Christ love in a world that so desperately needs it.

Today we love deeper and believe stronger because Tom planted the seeds of the love that we all carry. His life reminds us to be kind, to hold fast to our faith, and to love deeply with hearts opened to others and souls anchored in Christ. Thank you, Tom, for loving us, choosing us, changing us, and being a father to so many.

— Brian Crump