| Life’s Good For Survivor Winner
By Georgina Brennan
 Life has certainly
changed for New York City fireman, Survivor: Palau winner Tom Westman,
41 (Irish America cover story Aug/Sept).
After winning a million dollars on the hit CBS show last summer, Westman
officially hung his jacket up and retired from the FDNY after 20
years of service.
Recently named by TV Guide as one of TV’s Sexiest Men, Westman,
41, signed on with Caribbean Joe clothing and products, and will be featured
in the label’s 2006 ad campaign in magazines and billboards across
the United States.
In September, Westman hosted a preview of the latest installment of the
Survivor series, introducing the next crop of castaways. Later in the
month he was spotted acting as co-anchor on CBS 2’s live broadcast
of The Tunnel to the Towers Run on September 25. The run is an annual
event following in the footsteps of Firefighter Stephen Siller,
who on September 11, 2001, ran through the Brooklyn/Battery Tunnel to
the Twin Towers to help in the rescue efforts.
In other television appearances Westman was recently on Martha where he
taught her how to make Jambalaya. “I had a great time,” he
laughs.
The family is thriving on the change of pace. “We are all doing
well,” he admits. They continue to be involved with the AG Bell
Association, which works to improve the lives of the hearing impaired.
Westman’s daughter Meghan, nine, contacted pneumococal meningitis
at 18 months and was left profoundly deaf, but thanks to a hearing implant
she can lead a normal life. Westman uses his celebrity for the good of
the association and became more involved as a spokesperson. “I continue
to support hearing related issues through my role as spokesman for AG
Bell Association, and we are all heading down to Disney World in February.
I will be the keynote speaker at a Cochlear Corporation (which manufactures
hearing implants) convention,” he says.
Westman, who has also been working with disabled veterans, was a participant
at a Marine Corps celebrity golf tournament in Camp Lejuene North Carolina
in October. “That event raised money to support returning veterans
who have suffered life changing disabilities,” he explained. He
also continues to be involved with his fellow firefighters
and was the keynote speaker at the International Association of Firefighters
health and safety conference in Honolulu in October. “Nice work
if you can get it,” he laughs. |
