Tomie bought an Abyssinian cat from New York City. Gene Youngken, Tomie’s eccentric professor friend from Colby-Sawyer College, drove Tomie to the Manchester, NH, airport to pick up the cat. As they were driving north from the airport, Gene abruptly stopped the car and insisted that Tomie give the cat a name before Gene would continue driving. Music by Satie was playing on the radio, so Tomie named the cat Satie. Tomie’s beloved cat died at age 16 in the 1980s. (Erik Satie was born on May 17, 1866.) (Bob)
