 |
Dedicated To The Memory Of: When I come to the end of the road Andy was a dedicated employee of ours from October to December 2008. He was also a dear friend and will be greatly missed. Here are a few words from those who knew him. Words seem so minimal when it comes time to remember someone you’ve lost. No matter how hard you try, there will never be that perfect word or phrase that will put everything into perspective. This is just a small part of Andy’s story; the person I loved and will deeply miss. I knew Andy in many different ways; he was a friend in my apartment complex, the fun and sometimes serious bartender, the fun loving guy on our dart team and recently the hard working co-worker that always did everything he could to make my job easier. As a friend Andy was always there if you needed him, every time you saw him he’d have a smile on his face. Whether he was having a good day or a not so great day he always had kind words or a joke to tell. He was one of the first ones to step up when someone needed help and never asked for anything in return. I remember taking him to the grocery store to get more ice for a Halloween party at the complex. He would have carried every bag of ice if I would have let him, just so that I wouldn’t have to. Later that night, he dressed up as Superman and we giggled together because his toes stuck out of the shoes. We had a lot of fun that night, everyone there remembers Andy just that way, as our Superman. I didn’t know much of Andy the bartender, but I do know that he did an amazing job of bonding with every person that walked in the door. He also made sure that everything was in top shape and everyone was having a good time. You never realized when he was doing ten things at once because he always had his patrons in one eye and his duties in the other. There were some nights when Andy not only bartended he also played darts for our team. I don’t know how he did it, but he did. Being on the dart team with Andy is how I got to know the true Andy. All of his quirks, the jokes, the smart comments, and spirit fingers at times. I will probably miss that the most. He would always pick on me when I needed to hit something hard. He would tell me “no pressure” and I would give him a big smile with a dirty look attached. When I missed he’d be right there telling me it was okay, but if I hit it he would be the first one with a high five or an “I’m not worthy” gesture on his knees. He hurt his knees a lot doing silly things like that at darts and we would laugh about it later in the week. Andy helped hold our team together, we never had to worry about who was going to hit the 18’s in cricket because Andy always had it covered. Andy’s solid performances helped the team win second place in the “D” division tournament. We all got a medal. Andy’s sits proudly in the glass case with his ashes; exactly where he would want it. The few weekends I was lucky enough to work with Andy, he spoiled me. I can honestly say he was one of the most hard working, selfless employees I have ever known. Andy picked up on things very quickly, worked relentlessly and never complained. I could give him a job, walk away and trust that when I came back it would be done perfectly, sometimes better than I myself could have done it with my 8 years experience. Sometimes on work sites, I would get a little overwhelmed and Andy would make some wise crack and make me laugh. He would give me a big smile and calm me down in a matter of seconds. He always had a way of making people around him happy even in the worst situations. I will truly miss the chats we had on long deliveries. We would talk about our cats, the last dart night or news from the complex. We very rarely turned the radio on, we would just sit there and talk about the most random things and be content. The times we did turn the radio on we would sing under our breath whatever song it was, then look at each other, smile and sing louder. Andy was always singing, I will remember him that way, sitting next to me in the van or across the table at darts just singing away. Actually, I’ve never lost anyone before now and it is amazingly harder than I ever expected. Andy was a one of a kind person, someone so genuine to touch the heart of every person who ever met him. My heart will always have a place for Andy. I will miss him everyday, but everyday I am overly grateful that I had a chance to have him in my life. I will welcome and cherish every memory whether it comes with a smile or with tears. Andy is free and that’s all that matters now. I will really miss you Andy,
If you ask anyone who knew Andy what he was like, you would most likely get the response: “He was a Nice Guy”, the emphasis on “Nice”. Most got to know him best after he left his job at American Express after 18 years and started bartending at OZ. Before that you could have met him playing darts in the GLAD League or on one of his occasional stops at OZ. Having known him for several years I can tell you that I have met few as Honest, Kind and Devoted as a Friend. There was always a smile on his face and a twinkle in his eyes whether he was spending time with his family, chowing at Red Lobster or serving up a cocktail or two. He was always willing to step up and help a friend when needed. And his friends willingly did the same for him. Last season with the “Flying Monkeys” dart team he could be relied on for hitting the 18’s (most of the time!), calming the team during tense games, or being so silly your face hurt from smiling. It will be hard to fill his shoes on the team. Andy’s passing so suddenly was a shock to everyone, and was way too early in his life. He will be surely missed and has left a hollow space in the hearts of those of us who knew him. It makes it better knowing that he is now looking down on all of us, smiling and ready to protect us when needed. I will remember him always, especially when my door bell rings, or a Red Lobster commercial comes on, or I hear someone order a Vodka and 7, No Fruit. Here’s to you Andy, My Friend. |