Susan Sarandon has thanked fans for their prayers following the sudden death of her brother Terry Tomalin.

Susan Sarandon

Susan Sarandon

Mr. Tomalin, 55, passed away on Thursday (19.05.16) after suffering a heart attack while undertaking a life-guarding test with his son Kai, 14, and Susan, 69, has taken to her Facebook page to thank fans.

Posting a link to his obituary, she wrote: "Thank you to everyone who reached out with love at the passing of my brother Terry Tomalin. I will pass on your prayers to his wife and family. This will give you a small idea of who he was."

Susan's daughter Eva Amurri added her own tribute on Instagram, writing: "Today Heaven gained the most caring, adventurous, and fun-loving Angel around. My Uncle, Terry Tomalin, passed away this afternoon- very suddenly from a heart attack. He was an avid Outdoorsman, prolific writer, great friend, pillar of the community, and most importantly a dedicated husband and father who had such a fierce love for his family. He leaves behind an incredible wife and two amazing children who can do with all the prayers, love and light you might send their way. Our whole family mourns this heartbreaking loss today, and we are so grateful for the time we had with him and the positivity and dedication he taught us while here (sic)."

Terry worked as the Tampa Bay Times' outdoors editor and his wife St. Petersburg Deputy Mayor Kanika Tomalin told the publication: "We are devastated. He loved us. He loved his family so much, and we loved him."

His close friend Dave Mistretta added: "Terry became one of those dads that every kid really wants. He was devoted. That's what I saw shine in him. It was all about morals and being a good person. He wanted his kids to turn out right."

And the paper's editor Neil Brown added in a statement: "Terry personified what it meant to be part of a community. You think of Terry and you think of his stories about the beauty of being alive and taking advantage of living around Tampa Bay. You think of his volunteer work in the community or you think of him routinely taking 40 kids camping. I can't imagine that I've ever been around a more giving, energetic, can-do man."

Terry and Susan were among nine children born to Lenora and Phillip Tomalin and grew up in New Jersey.

He married Kanika in 1999 and the couple also have a daughter Nia.


Tagged in