Tommy Connolly loves thinking about the future. It excites him and drives his research as to what tomorrow may bring. Tommy’s inner drive first showed itself in the 1960’s and 1970’s with the advent of cable television and the idea of pay-per-view. The concept intrigued him. This fascination led him to Bell Labs and the power of glass (fiber optics) vs coaxial cable to handle the ever-growing array of television/cable channels and the larger and larger digital files. The internet was the logical next step for Tommy’s focus. From here, he dove into wireless communications and the burgeoning demand of mobility. Researching and advising media and entertainment companies on the impacts of technological innovations became his livelihood. The introduction of Bitcoin in 2008 and Tommy’s interest in the concept of Blockchains came into focus for him in 2014/2015. His passion drove his commitment to understanding and projecting the power of this invention. Tommy’s eight-year journey into Blockchain, Bitcoin, and Crypto Assets has led him to conclude that this is one of the greatest inventions of the last century. He wants you to join him on this ride to the future.

Growing up in Hicksville, Long Island
By Tommy Connolly (Hicksville High School Class of '74)

Wonderful walks in the mind through life of being a Hicksvillian........

Coming out of Elementary School, Burns Ave for me, we all entered the Hicksville Junior High School with 3,000 students. Coming into that environment was very intimidating given the small and nurturing time in our individual lower schools. WOW, how do I navigate this beast was the feeling swirling inside me. For me, it was to retreat into a shell, to become quiet and shy, a bit of an observer of all that is new. Like all of us, I learned. By ninth grade I was back to being me, a person with a personal identity, a feel for how I fit in, yet still searching.

Entering HHS was eye opening. I was now part of something different. This was serious. This was about finding how the future would be defined, how I, how we, would define the future. I had a voice. We all had a voice.

I marched down Broadway protesting the Vietnam War. That was not easy. I asked my father for approval, to skip school to march in an anti-war protest. He set one requirement: I go to church that morning before the march. I went. It was a funeral service. It resonated…………and I marched, and I understood why I was marching.

I fell in love while in HHS. I made love for the first time while in HHS. I felt things inside that I never knew were possible. I hold them dear to this day, and I will always love the woman who loved me back as we both came to understand the wonder of discovery, the sharing of innocence, the beauty of believing that there is no one in the world who is more important than the person who shares love and life with you.

I experienced a diverse life at HHS. I was friends with everyone. I laughed with the jocks who played football and ran track. I marveled at the friends who had the courage to step on stage and perform. I smoked cigarettes with a regular crew between classes outside the doors to the playing fields. I watched my free-spirit friends experiment with drugs like pot and acid. I drank beer. I cut classes and wrote excuse notes by forging my mom’s signature. I went to my first concert, Led Zeppelin, at Nassau Coliseum, I failed the Trig Regents final because the clock in the room was an hour ahead, and I thought the exam was over before it really was, handed in my exam, walked home feeling despondent, my friend Jeff Visco driving his car sees me walking and comes to get me. He asks, “What are you doing here, I thought you were taking the Trig exam”, and I said it was over, I ran out of time. He looked at his watch and then at me, and told me what time it was………………….I jumped in his car, and we sped back to HHS. I begged the Assistant Principal to let me finish the exam, Mr. Jaworski, I believe. He said it was too late………Summer school…..I never went, just showed up for the exam, and passed.

Ahh, Drivers Ed……….What a fun time. Jeff Visco taught me how to drive, with an assist from my mom. Our gym teacher was the Driver Ed instructor. He saw quickly I could drive, and told me to not show up anymore as the car was crowded. I showed up on the day of the DMV test at HHS, and used a Driver Ed car, and it went perfectly until the end when the evaluator told me to make a right turn and go back to the school. I signaled right, I gave the right-hand signal, and turned LEFT!!!!!! I think I drove like my dad from there back to the gym lot, with a carefree control that exuded competence, even skill. Why, I am not sure, but he passed me, and I had my Driver’s license. Oh, I also had my Draft card…………

I missed our Prom, as the girl I Loved went to Division Avenue High School in Levittown. We went to her Prom, and our Prom night was spent driving to the Poconos where we, another couple, and her aunt and uncle, had a weekend celebrating our Senior year, our new adulthood, that will remain special for me for the rest of my life.

Oh, laughing a bit here, for there was a student who I shared homeroom with. She was beautiful to me, and I thought she had the best legs in all of HHS. One day I told her that I watched her everyday with such a deep male appreciation for how magnificent her legs were. No intent on my part, just a desire to compliment. She smiled and told me she never knew…………… I told my girlfriend about this, innocently, and was surprised when I felt the jealous monster emerge from her. So I did the next best thing. I lied. I told her the girl in my class was ugly, but had nice legs, and I was being encouraging. Whew, I escaped……….at least I did until one day we drove to Mid-Island Shopping Plaza, and we entered the mall through the store “Learners”. As we walked through, I heard a voice call out, Tom, Tom…..we stopped. And beautiful legs comes walking over, a sales person in Learners, if only I knew, and my girlfriend walked away……when I caught up to her somewhere deep in the mall, all she would say was “Ugly Huh”….”pimples huh”…..as fire shot from her eyes………a lesson learned.

I worked at Baskin-Robbins on Broadway, took care of my penniless friends, ate pizza for lunch with Bobby Fulgham, played football for St. Ignatius, drove a 1965 Mustang, smoked Parliaments and Marlboros, drank Heineken, played handball and ice skated at Cantiague Park, wolfed down Whoppers at Burger King on Hempstead Turnpike, and Tacos at Jack in the Box. I caddied at Tam O’Shanter Country Club, delivered newspapers for the Long Island Press, and fished as often as I could in Bayville/Centre Island. Growing up in Hicksville was magical.

I loved HHS. It was my base from which to go forward. I remember so many of you and know I experienced something very special there. I carry it with me to this day……and will never let it go. Hicksville, and Hicksville High School, gave me the base from which to grow, and I hold that time dear in my heart forever.