Thomas Bergen:
CLASS OF 1968
Hunterdon Central High SchoolClass of 1968
Flemington, NJ
Thomas's Story
After high school, I decided to see the world. I got my draft notice that I was going in...Being the BRAIN that I am, I decided to enlist so that I wouldn't go to Vietnam. Six months later, I was enjoying the beach in Danang, Vietnam. For a year, I learned how to duck and woke up every day saying, "This Place Sucks!!!" :) But, after the year, it made me a better person! After traveling to many places, I got out and joined the Naval Reserve Unit in Allentown, PA (SeaBees). After four years in the SeaBees, I decided to try the Army. I joined the 422nd Army Reserve in Oakdale, PA. While in the Air Force, I traveled around the world picking up prisoners. In the Navy, I was in a construction unit. In the Army, I was a weapons specialist (ME of all people-hahaha). After earning three honorable discharges from the military, I started promoting shows in 23 states-104 shows a year, 50 weeks a year. My greatest accomplishments have been marrying my wife of 40 years and the birth of my two kids. Bryce is 37 and the successful business owner of Sports Collectors Universe, in Uniontown Mall, Uniontown, PA. He graduated from Point Park College with two degrees. Breanne is 30 and a fourth grade teacher going into her 9th year. She graduated from Clarion University with two degrees also. She was also Student Teacher of the Year. As you can tell, neither of them got their brains from me...:) However, I have never missed an event in their lives-being a father is one of the most important things I have ever done in my life! My daughter got married in Disney World in 2003 and now has two beautiful sons, Brady and Caden. Being a grandfather is so magical! I retired and now enjoy most of my weeks traveling. During the summers, I love spending time with my grandsons and taking them many places. It amazes me how 60 years have really flew by! I live every day to the fullest because you never know if tomorrow will come! I sincerely hope that all of you have been blessed as much as I have. I feel that my life was better because of my association with and classmates from Hunterdon Central High School. 1968 was great. No regrets and Lots of Fun! I still travel alot, so if you email me don t be upset if I don t get back to You right away. However when I get back I will email You...Expand for more
asap. I sincerly hope that all of You have had a great life with no regrets. As I always say, everyday is a new chapter in the book of Life. Sincerly tommy
And now...for Part Two of my Life... In 1984, I began promoting collectible shows with sports, comics, coins, and Nascar memorabilia. I ran shows in hotels up and down the PA turnpike. In less than two years, I began doing mall shows in over 23 states a year. Locally, I did Phillipsburg Mall, which brought so many collectors that people had to park on Rt. 22! I became known as the "Beast of the East" due to the number of high quality shows that I ran! No one at that time was doing the amount of shows that I was. When USA Today was launched, they used my shows to promote their paper. One thing that I learned, doing these shows, was put out a quality product and people will follow. Over the next couple of years, I had built a mailing list of over 30,000 collectors. The shows were great and during the summer, the entire family went and the kids were able to bring many of their friends. One thing I learned while promoting, was how many people were down on their luck in the 80's and 90's! My goal every day was to reach out to someone every day and make a difference in their lives and have a purpose. In life, it is so easy to be nice. Over the years, in between everything I was doing, I had worked at Prudential Insurance, Lipton Tea, and mostly being self-employed. If you ask me what my greatest riches are, I will always say the family, and most of all, the grandchildren! What is amazing, I am turning 61 soon, and 99% of my class is afraid to show their pictures! With me, it has always been what you see is what you get! I would sure like to talk to a lot of you and hopefully your life has all been as joyous as mine! Also, at one point, when TY Beanies came out, I was selling them to over 100 major stores. Once again I learned how a little teddy bear could make someone so happy that was down. This year, my wife and I will be heading to Florida for a few weeks, Chicago for a wedding, and Branson, Missouri for vacation! I have been blessed to travel all of the world through the service and promoting. But, the truth is, there is no place like home or with the ones you love!
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