A message to all of our members and friends.

A message from Pittsburgh Chapter Chair, Santina Balestreire to all our members and friends.

It is with the greatest regret that I have to write this message to our community. On Tuesday, January 28 after a complicated heart surgery we lost our Fearless Leader, Thom Harding. I am sure he is dancing into the pearly gates as I write this message with a big smile on his face with a glass of Montepulciano d’Abruzzo at hand. 

We are so lucky to have had Thom share his love of wine and wine making with us. He was a passionate man with an infectious smile and a sparkle in his eye that let you know that no matter what the subject of conversation was, he had a story to tell you and it was going to be a good one.

The last post on the blog was one that he posted, he was the curator of the American Wine Society Pittsburgh Chapter’s blog for a long time and it was his baby. He loved to talk in depth about the subject of the next wine tasting and to educate participants before they showed up to the Evergreen Community Center.  In his last post, he talked about wine words and how to sound sophisticated even if you aren’t.  Thom knew a lot about a lot of things, but he always made you feel like you were an expert too.  This was why so many people knew him and called him a friend.  He knew how to make you feel at ease with something you may not be familiar with. This is a rare gift.

In the spirit of sharing stories, here is one about Thom. I never had the opportunity to take formal dance lessons from him, but was able to receive instruction from him at our Chapter’s holiday party a few years back at Treesdale Country Club. If you were stumbling over the steps he was teaching, (as I was) he would swoop in and make you feel like you were half way decent at dancing, with a smile and twinkle in his eye of course. 

If you know Thom, and think about him, inevitably a smile will be on your face instantaneously. This is all any of us can hope for when people think of us. 

Let’s follow our Fearless Leader’s example and make people smile by including them in our conversations and sharing a great story.

If you wish to join us in sharing your stories of Thom, life in general or your passion for wine, please join us at an upcoming wine tasting. 

If you wish to pay your respects to his family in person, details can be found in the obituary: https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/postgazette/obituary.aspx?pid=195214021