The passing of actor, author, choreographer, dancer, two-time Tony Award winner and, maybe the title he enjoyed most, Auburnian, Thommie Walsh on Saturday was a shock to many. With a vibrant voice, quick wit and a friendly smile, the idea of illness would never have crossed the minds of most who saw him return to Auburn on a regular basis.

Yet, for months he and his family bravely fought the good fight that came to an end where it all began: in Auburn.

It is easy to reiterate the litany of his successes, starting with the creation of his signature role as Bobby Mills in “A Chorus Line” (where he uttered the line he will be most remembered for that were all the more powerful, coming from someone from upstate, “To commit suicide in Buffalo is redundant.”) Yet, all his successes over the years would be worth nothing if he couldn't have shared them with his family and friends in Auburn.

While Thommie only occasionally played in Auburn, his venue being the Great White Way in New York and other locations across the nation, this is where he got his start and where he always called home. Auburn and its community was the place he loved and he made sure that his fellow artists knew about.

A legion of local fans, led by his mother, Ellie, and sister, Barbara, were the strong connection that kept him linked to Auburn. While many leave our community and occasionally give their hometown lip service, that wasn't Thommie's style.

His visits home were not to be seen with this person or that, but to enjoy his family, friends and hometown. He was a cheerleader for Auburn and, most particularly, its arts.

While he would have been the first to downplay his role, he did play a major role, both actively and inspirationally, in the growth of the local arts scene, especially theater. When asked in the early years by Ed Sayles, the Merry Go Round Theater's producing director, Thommie was there to do a musical show, not once, but several times, to not only raise funds, but give even more credibility to the MGR's early successes.

Thommie was also the inspiration for many who got the acting bug and wanted to make it big in the field. Some, such as Timothy Pinckney and Todd Lattimore, who have and had notable successes and like the person who made acting and dance seem effortless, still consider Auburn home, no matter how much time they spend away.

The old cliche is that “you can never go home again.” Thommie Walsh, who danced his way across the country for more than three decades, really never left his home - it was always within him, until the end.

Cosentino is a former mayor of Auburn and can be contacted at cozguytho@aol.com