Thomas G. Ivins
September 6, 1949 - May 11, 2024

"My sincere condolences to the whole family. I'm blessed to know Mr. Ivins - always so thoughtful, helpful, and fun with a great big smile. "

"Uncle Tom was the man! His laugh was always a welcome sound at the cabin as well as all the work he did and food he brang. He took over for Hospital Ed as loudest snorer at the cabin and shuffled the cards at 0.4mph. (We brought a radar gun one time to check). He did seem to win a lot too so maybe there was a method to his slowness. Whenever a job needed doin he would get it done before the rest of us were ready to start working. No complaining ever, just happy to help and happy to be there. We had some good walk & talks over the years and he knew what to say and what not to say. Uncle Tom was a chill, easy going man whose demeanor was like a chill pill for everyone. And the Tomahawk chop has been changed forever. Rest in Peace Uncle Tom. Love you dude. "

"Uncle Tom was just a great dude. I had the privilege of hanging out with him a few times a year for the last 35 years or so, almost always at the cabin. We didn?t talk much otherwise, but there?s that comfortable kind of bond where it didn?t matter. I have lots of good memories with him so thought I?d share a few. One night while we were playing cards (shocker), I believe it was Uncle Elwood who first brought up the story of Uncle Tom intercepting a handoff and taking it to the house. Yes. - a handoff! Unc was not one to brag but he was proud and a bit in his cups so he started adding some details to the story. This was the moment that we all began ?tomahawk chopping? and chanting at him like the FSU and Atlanta Braves? fans do, except we did it to jeer, not to cheer. Unc has brought the story up every year since just to get ?chopped?. The chop is not used as often anymore but is still a tradition when anyone even remotely needs to be put in their place. Unc was a very generous man. I know it?s cliche, but he would give you the shirt off his back. Always helping build, fix or maintain something at camp. There?s no electricity so we didn?t need those skills but he could fix anything. We would make fun of his pace all the time-he operated in two speeds - sloth and snail. It was like he was in a movie shooting the slow-mo walk. But then you would turn around and somehow the job was done and done faster than any of us could have. He would do a lot of the food shopping for our trips (that?s a hefty bill for 8 men for 5 days) and most of the time, refused money from us. And the delicious Italian Wedding Soup he made every year was our traditional opening day lunch. Always with locatelli to sprinkle on top. ?None of that cheap parmesan shit.? The last time I talked to him, he had butt-dialed me. I yelled loud enough for him to hear me and I?m so glad he picked up. It was after the stroke and it was just a typical conversation friends would have in these types of situations - all the tests and crap he was going through, what was next, and so on. Unc then told me that he had a blood pressure issue or something and it forced him to miss his autopsy appointment. I said ?You missed your autopsy appointment!? That?s awesome! If there?s any appointment to miss, that?s the one!? Of course he meant biopsy and we laughed for about 5 minutes straight, barely said anything else and said goodbye. It will be a good memory, even during dire times. RIP Uncle Tom - We love you man."

"One of the nicest guys I?ve ever had the pleasure of meeting & knowing. Huge loss to me & your brothers from horseshoes. Rest in peace my friend. Pack it T!"

"Mat, Devin and I are so sorry for this loss. Tom was a kind and generous man always helping out. We are thankful that we got to know him and Bern at the RV Park in Cape May. May the Lord's Grace help you all heal during this very difficult time. Psalm 34:18 states, "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit," showing God's closeness to those in pain. May the Lord bless and guide you all through your grief. - Mathew, Frankie and Devin Mayo, Chestertown, Maryland and neighbor at The Depot Travel Park, Cape May, NJ."

"Tom Ivins 1951 -2024 We were young and foolish then, When we waited for Uncle El and Aunt Pat to leave for the night. We knew they would not be home until the wee hours of the morning So we opened all the windows and turned the stereo up loud And sat in the dark so we could not see each other singing. Bom ba ba bom, ba bom ba bom, bom ba ba bomb, ba ba Bom ba ba dang a dang dang Ba ba ding a dong ding Blue Moon moon, blue moon dip di dip di dip, Moo moo moo blue moon, dip di dip di dip Moo moo moo blue moon Moo moo blue moo blue moon ? Ah, they just don?t write songs like that anymore. One Christmas, Tommy got a bow and arrow set and let me try it. I broke the bow on my first pull. He was not happy. I?ve always regretted that, but I never bought him a new one. I should have. Before he accidentally got shot in the leg, Tom and Bobby and Jerry and I used to wrestle. Until those two got strong enough to kick our butts, then we stopped. That took the fun out of it. I bought a new/used 1959 white chevy convertible with a cherry red interior. And we drove it down the shore. On the way back, Tommy stood up and yelled words he would be arrested for saying today. For miles, in the pitch dark, all the way up the Black Horse Pike! From Buena to Williamstown. Yelling. Standing up in the wind and Yelling. We might have been drinking. I think Jerry instigated. The yelling not the drinking. We didn?t need to be prodded for that. Watching Tommy play football made me want to tell people that he was my closest cousin. Seeing him cause chaos for the other team made me stop calling him Tommy and start calling him Tom. He tore into opposing players ? and he loved it. When they moved into Uncle El?s house, Marge and I were close enough to yell to Tom and Sharon across the yard. We had Missy, Matt and Sara in common, but our time together was short. Too short. We?ve grown apart, haven?t we? Went off and had our own lives and families. Our own joys and sorrows. Unlike the way our parents lived, we?ve scattered. But, like trees across a vast forest, our roots, our Keystone Avenue roots, our Bennet?s store, Back the stream, Drivers Lane, Button Ball, Blackwood Little League, Clementon Park, South Jersey roots remain. For all of our lives they remain. Tom?s reunion will be sweet. I?m sure that Mickey, Jay, Laura, Lonnie and Craig have something prepared up there. I can see him now, hugging them all -- with two good arms. Party on. Keep your halos on straight. Sing your hearts out. Rest in peace my cousin, even in the dark times, our bonds, our family bonds, they remain."