Lance Pugmire: There’s nothing good about this day that the outstanding person and writer Thomas Gerbasi has left us. Instead of dwelling on his passing, I’d like to turn to the comfort of knowing he was able to feel the love of his life’s investment into the coverage of combat sports. Earlier this year, Tom received the Nat Fleischer Award for career excellence in journalism from the Boxing Writers Association of America. He attended the ceremony with his family and was accompanied on stage by his granddaughter – a loving scene that I’m sure filled his heart with a deep sense of accomplishment and appreciation. Tom truly deserved that moment after decades of providing caring and selfless detail to his work, and I am among the many whom he endeared himself to. Back in 2006, when the Los Angeles Times started covering the UFC, publicist Jen Wenk thankfully sat me next to Tom on press row, and as all of the various finishes were applied – alligator choke, rear naked chokehold – Tom would tell me, and provide so much more invaluable insight, including story ideas he knew would be best served in the L.A. Times. I’ll forever hold that close to my heart, and strive to be as considerate and helpful to my colleagues as the great Tom Gerbasi was. You’ll be missed, my friend.
