Cleveland remembers lost alumni Thomas Cameron Tuesday, May 01, 2012 By Callie Krevanko - Photo courtesty of the Cameron family Advertising      A passionate, selfless leader: this is how many staff, friends, and former classmates remember 2005 Cleveland graduate Thomas Cameron.       LTJG Thomas John Cameron, 24,  was lost to the world on Feb. 28, 2012 when his US Coast Guard Helicopter crashed in Alabama during a training mission. He was co-pilot aboard the copter, a MH-65D Dauphin.       Cameron grew up in Eastmoreland, attended Duniway Elementary, Sellwood Middle, and Cleveland High School. At Cleveland he was involved in a number of sports and activities, including soccer, swimming, and baseball. He captained all three of these teams and earned four Varsity letters. Additionally, he was in the International Baccalaureate Program and served as vice president of his class for two years.       Those who knew Cameron at Cleveland recall him as being incredibly social, compassionate and personable. “He wasn’t cliquey; he was friends with all different kinds of people,” said Kari Freeman, a Cleveland math teacher who taught Cameron and had children in school with him. “He was genuinely nice to everyone.”       Gene Solomon, Cameron’s social studies teacher and soccer coach at Cleveland, remembers the leadership abilities and drive he had, both on and off the soccer field. “He knew what he wanted to do, and how he wanted to get there,” said Solomon. “He was one of those students who had a vision for how he wanted to organize his life.”       According to Solomon, Cameron was the natural choice for a soccer captain his senior year, and executed the role extremely well. “I could not have asked for a better leader,” Solomon said. “He led by example. He knew exactly the right things to say, at the right time, and in the right way.”       During Cameron’s sophomore year at Cleveland, he expressed interest in attending the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut. Those who knew him weren’t surprised by this goal at all. “He wanted to help people in a really big way,” said Freeman. “He wanted to save lives.”       Jan Watt, special projects coordinator at Cleveland, recalls the passion behind Cameron’s goal to attend the Academy. “His goal was to be admitted to the Coast Guard Academy,” she said. “It wasn’t half-hearted at all; this is what he wanted, and he wanted more than anything to be a pilot.”       Early in his senior year, Cameron achieved his goal when he was accepted into the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. At USCGA, he played Varsity soccer all four years, serving as a co-captain during his First Class year and ending the season as one of the top scorers. In addition, he played catcher on the baseball team during his final year at the USCGA. Cameron majored in Operations Research and was accepted into the Coast Guard flight training program directly after his graduation and commission as an officer.       “He was doing and learning what he wanted to do,” said Watt, who recalled the enthusiasm Cameron had about the Coast Guard when he would come back and visit. After Cameron completed flight training, he was going to be stationed in Puerto Rico and assume an operation pilot position.       “He was so looking forward to that area because there are lots of opportunities for rescue,” said Watt. “He wanted more than anything to be one of those people who rescued somebody else.”       Cameron’s death hit the Cleveland community hard, not only because he was so young, but also because so many looked up to him.       “I am heartbroken that we have lost somebody who was such a great guy, and absolutely had so much potential,” said Watt. “To me, this is a loss to society in general because he was making his mark and he would have continued to be a phenomenal contributor, not just to the Coast Guard, but also to his friends, his family, and his community.”       She expressed profound sympathy for his parents, John and Bette, and his older brother Alex.       “John and Bette contributed greatly to Cleveland in so many ways and Alex is just a great guy,” Watt said. “I am just so sorry for the Cameron family.”       Cameron was buried with full military honors at the River View Cemetery, where he used to go for runs with his brother, Alex. A soccer game was held in his honor at the Cleveland Stadium, where Cleveland alumni and former Coast Guard teammates of Cameron’s played as a tribute to the young man who inspired so many.       “Because his death was at such a young age, it’s important to try to live each day fully,” said Solomon. “Because, unfortunately, you never know what’s going to happen.”

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