Francis Lively
Terence,
In the fall of 1996, I met a presence like no other I had ever encountered. He smiled and told me his name was Terence Earl Max Anthony Fleming-Warren.
The smile on your face told me you were messing with me. Little did I know, this would be one of the first and only times you wouldn’t be totally yanking my chain about something or stirring up some mischief.
One year later (after many occasions that you reminded me about the tears I shed when I broke my arm our freshman year – something you would remind me of for the next 20 years – usually in front of a girlfriend or my wife), I threw a touchdown on our JV football squad. Little did I or many people watching know that the only reason that happened was because you absolutely destroyed a defensive lineman running behind me that would have certainly sacked me and broken up the play. Randy DiTata made sure I knew and I never forgot that.
That play was you in a nutshell. You were loyal, you always had your friend's back and you never sought praise.
Bruce Springsteen wrote a song coincidentally named “Terry’s Song”. I think it sums you up perfectly. I will miss you brother.
Terry’s Song
Well they built the Titanic to be one of a kind, but many ships have ruled the seas
They built the Eiffel Tower to stand alone, but they could build another if they please
Taj Mahal, the pyramids of Egypt, are unique I suppose
But when they built you, brother, they broke the mold
Now the world is filled with many wonders under the passing sun
And sometimes something comes along and you know it's for sure the only one
The Mona Lisa, the David, the Sistine Chapel, Jesus, Mary, and Joe
And when they built you, brother, they broke the mold
When they built you, brother, they turned dust into gold
When they built you, brother, they broke the mold
They say you can't take it with you, but I think that they're wrong
'Cause all I know is I woke up this morning, and something big was gone
Gone into that dark ether where you're still young and hard and cold
Just like when they built you, brother, they broke the mold
Now your death is upon us and we'll return your ashes to the earth
And I know you'll take comfort in knowing you've been roundly blessed and cursed
But love is a power greater than death, just like the songs and stories told
And when they built you, brother, they broke the mold
That attitude's a power stronger than death, alive and burning stone cold
When they built you, brother…