- RICK ULDRICKS [Twitter: @lkwdcitizen]
- Bob Toomey at the 2013 Lakewood Summer Meltdown
Lots of people knew Bob Toomey.
Ubiquitous throughout Lakewood, riding his bicycle and casting a craggy smile toward everyone, Toomey was one of the city’s omnipresent residents. He had a deep voice, and an accompanying laugh that could shake a barroom wall.
Toomey died Sept. 23 in a fire at his Atkins Avenue home. He was 53.
According to Fire Chief Scott Gilman, the house had a smoke detector but the battery was disconnected. “People need working smoke detectors and a plan to get out,” he told Lakewood Patch. An investigation into the fire is currently under way. Likewise, an autopsy is scheduled for today.
But it will surely be Toomey’s positive spin on the world and his enduring charm that resonate well beyond his death.
My most recent interaction with the man came during a night of pool with my girlfriend at Iggy’s on Madison Avenue. Toomey, who had only one arm, was a phenom at the billiards table. He brought a custom bridge along with him and knocked down the balls with a precision unlike anyone else.
When a passing player would stop and exclaim what a nice shot that was, he’d roll out his characteristic guffaw and go on his way, rounding the table and lining up the cue ball once again.
This article appears in Sep 18-24, 2013.
Rest in peace classmate Bob. Your were one unforgettable character
Bob will be missed!
A real part of many people’s lives…Lakewood will miss him.
Bob, 40 yrs omg, we have had so much fun in the past, u were always there, funny, caring, just an all around kick ass person,u will be missed r.I.p
Sorry to read this …Bob was an awesome guy with an awesome personality, and some fantastic stories to tell. I used to play pool at many of the local bars in lakewood going on a decade ago, and we hung out quite a bit. Sorry to see him go. 🙁
Bob was a great guy he always knew how to put a smile on peoples faces ~ he will be missed but definitely not forgotten
Oh I just found out 4/18/2014 through a neighbor I was crushed he was a great guy with a great smile a great personality and to me very good-looking guy boy the way he could light up a room we dated starting back in September of 2007 and about a 2 weeks to a month he asked me to marry him I accepted and he put his cladaugh ring on my finger we were supposed to be married on 7/14/08 and there were reasons for that date but I’ll keep that between him and I. He will forever hold a place in my heart and I will never forget him!