Remember Sayville's Tom Westman?
How could you forget?! He won "Survivor" back in May of 2005 and was (arguably) the most popular winner in the show's history. Everyone liked him - even those he clocked on the show, which he won with a combination of smarts, class and unusual stamina.
He was a genuine "favorite," but - bizarrely - you won't be seeing him in tonight's favorites/fans" season launch. You can determine for yourself whether this line-up is a "favorite" one. In any event...this all gave me an opportunity to catch up with Tom, and there's a lot of catching up to do. Here's how AP reported the winner nearly three years ago: "On Sunday night, Tom Westman was a reality TV star and the winner of a $1 million-dollar prize.On Thursday morning, he was just another New York City fire lieutenant.
"Westman returned to work at Ladder Company 108 in Brooklyn today, after winning the top prize in CBS's 'Survivor: Palau.' And, despite his instant fame after spending 30 days on an uninhabited island, he says he's just one of the guys...'They don't suffer prima donnas too well in a New York City firehouse.'"
Tom - as you're likely aware - is no longer with 108; instead, he's a group benefits executive with the Hartford in New York. Yeah, he was contacted about the "favorite" edition, but declined; as he told me (quoted in today's paper), "I've got a year invested in a career," then added with
a laugh: "The bottom line is, no one's going to give you the money the second time around."
"I've got my friends from that little moment I had there [on Palau.] Jen [Lyon] was out and stayed at the house. Ian [Rosenberger] was out. We see each other...Gregg [Carey] and Stephanie [LaGrossa]. Talked to two days ago. The people who were close to me, I kept just as close [afterwards.]"
Why did he go back to work and what happened to the million?
"Basically you walk away with half of that [after taxes] and then I invested the rest in [college savings plans for three kids, ages 8,10, and 12.] After [buying a new] car and a couple of home improvements, it's time to work again."
Nevertheless, he says the money and experience were "huge" and "life-changing...In fact, it let let me try and start a new career. I get the 5:44 out of Sayville [to Penn] so it's kind of changed my life, from a guy who watched Letterman [to someone] tucked in by 10..."
Does he miss the firehouse? Sure! But..."if I went back and rolled back the clock, most of those guys are gone anyway, so that old 'you can't go home again' line still exists. I still see them, and people can't believe I'm happy doing anything but that, but I feel kind of like the way you feel when you left college. You knew those were the best days of your life, but you also don't wish you were still there, still hanging around the dorm at this stage. So I'm trying to figure out where this new life leads me."
By the way - and he's glad you asked - yes, his wife, Bernadette, is doing great.