Lost a friend suddenly...

[Onlypastrana199]

My fathers best friend past away today. He was not even 60 yet. He had a massive heart attack. I can't remember a time when John wasn't around. John was a strange man. A mechanical genius and a helluva sax player. Need a part number? Call John he had it memorized. John originally was a dairy farmer, he held a mechanical engineering degree and agricultural degree from Cornell which he paid for by playing his sax on the street. But he sold off the cows before I was born, and had not ever had a "real" job. He fixed and "found" stuff for bascially all of the Hudson Valley. Need a barrell of agent orange? You know that stuff they outlawed cause it kills people?? John could get it. Need 12 tons of liquid fertilizer and a sprayer? John got it. Need an bearing off some obscure machine? John had it in his pocket. The man had a plama cutter in his shop for god sakes. He just knew everything, any topic you could talk about John knew something about it..including computers. The man knew how they worked and what they did and he'd never even turned one on.  My father and him repaired bulldozers together.  I remember my mother screaming cause my father would stay in that shop until 3 in the morning working with John on some bulldozer that was literally from WWII that he would later run over our mailbox with.

Anyway, John used to have a 1972 Kawasaki Mach IV, he wrecked and spent a year in the hospital. His wife, and the pins and screws  holding his legs together made him give up motorcycling. When I got my bikes and my father got back into riding I can remember John saying "Some bikes have stupid power and cost stupid money, don't let it turn you stupid too...ride the damn thing and respect it." Then he hopped on my 350 and took it up the road and back and smiled for two weeks. Thats the biggest thing I remember about John...pretty damn good advice from a hillbilly..

[jackiei26]

I'm so sorry...

[TadMC]

That sucks,

Im sorry

[Jake D]

People like that are cool to know.  That sucks that he won't be around anymore.

Is your dad hanging in there?  Don't let your old man go into a funk.  You should make lots of plans with him in the next couple months. 

[pandy]

So sorry for your family's loss. 

[blue05twin]

Best wishes for you and your family.

[pantablo]

I'm very sorry for your loss. Such a young man, and young at heart from the sound of it.

[Onlypastrana199]

Thanks everyone...

..my dad is taking it rough. They've been friends for more than 25 years. When John sold his cows, he kept all his equipment, we have a tractor, a sprayer, disc harrows, a corn chopper, and a bunch of other things that belong to him. We aren't sure exactly how all of this is going to work out. His one son is a year younger than me, going to school to be a diesel mechanic and now has to deal with keep track of all of the machinery thats scattered across NY because his older brother is a nuclear physicist in New Hampshire. My dad went up to help him close up the shop and lock everything up. Its sad that people would try to take advantage of such a hard time. John's shop is a barn large enough to fit two D14 Bulldozers and two tractors in. He has a ridiculous amount of tools and equipment. Nate said he's going open shop there. That kid could tear apart a tractor motor when he was 5 and tell you what every part was. Its hard to lose a family friend and to see a friend lose a parent but friends and family are what help you get through hard times like this. 

[ajgs500]

Im sorry baby.  Come get in your spot and let me hold you. 

[Queso]

Sounds like he was an impressive man. Sorry for your loss.

[scratch]

Sorry for your loss.  He sounds very much like the treasure of all our hearts.

[makenzie71]

Though this may sound odd...


Hillbillies rock!  It's sad that he's passed away but seriously...think about what little bit you've shared here today: someone who respects the Game, a mechanical genious, working heirs (meaning he was good enough to raise his children to be working folk), he was genorous, etc.  The guy was obviously an outstanding human being...and there's no telling how many wonderful stories you havent shared.  Focus on that.

I'm of a faithful lot...I believe good people are saved.  To be gone from this world simply lightens their own burden.  "Better place" philosophy.  Sure you'll all miss the guy...but celebrate his life.  I'd bet that he'd prefer that to anyone mourning his death.

[yamahonkawazuki]

+200  i know people like this, my condolences to yall pastrami, be with your father hun, he , whether he says it or not, needs ya now. but yeah, celebrate the mans life not mourn his death, miss him, but in a joyful way ( ive been there trust me on this )  and were all here if ya need someone to talk to

[annguyen1981]

I'm sorry to hear this.

When someone leaves this life behind, and so many people affected by the loss...  this just confirms how great that person was, and you know that he'll be in your hearts for MANY years after.

Prayers send to you, your family, his family, and everyone else affected.

[yamahonkawazuki]

+many more 

[Stephen072774]

I never had a brother, but do have great friends... In my book, good friends are better than anything we can have or own.  Sorry for your families loss.