Tim Sly
Theme Thursday: Friend.
This is a re-post from earlier this month.
My friend Tim Sly died Friday. Of cancer.
I was the building manager at a newspaper. A corporate visit, a big whoop-de-doo, scheduled a few months out generated a rush to gussy up our old building. I hired Tim to do the construction work. That’s how we met.
He did a fine job on our project. When the assistant building manager position opened up he applied and I happily hired him, I think that was 1995. He’d just finished a huge building project for the V.A. in Vancouver and wanted to work in town for a change. He’d been self-employed forever – paid vacation, holidays, and sick leave were a delightful novelty. Tim joked this newspaper job was his retirement. He always had my back in the guerilla warfare environment of a big corporate newspaper.
Tim was 6’8” tall. I always felt like a delicate flower walking next to him – not common at my 5’8’’. His wife, Angie, is maybe 5’. I’d see them walking downtown, his hand on her shoulder. It was cute.
We became friends as well as colleagues. Tim had a great sense of humor and was always good for a laugh. He learned PhotoShop and for awhile I’d find pictures of me taped to my office door, my face pasted on unlikely bodies. He was just a big kid – he pulled practical jokes like shrink-wrapping cars on their owner’s birthdays.
Tim was a foodie, into gourmet cooking, and willing to spend great chunks of time making the perfect sauce. I certainly benefited, loved those dinner invitations. The man collected cooking gadgets. He loved all manner of gadgets to be precise. We had that in common as well. We both enjoyed excellent coffee and made the daily trek for a good cup.
I moved across the state in 2001 and missed that daily contact with Tim. The internet played a huge role in our maintaining contact. And a previously unknown talent emerged: He wrote wonderful stories, vignettes of his life. He wrote one about witnessing the birth of his first grandchild that was so moving it brought tears to my eyes. He sent a copy of his wedding toast to his son, profound and also moving. He sent jokes and photos. He sent a collage of his deep-fried turkey event (there’s that love of gadgets again.)
He was my role model that a good and happy marriage is possible. He and Angie renewed their vows shortly before he died - see, what a romantic.
He always brought a smile to my face when I saw him or got an email from him. I knew he’d impart some good cheer or some smartass comment guaranteed to bring a laugh.
A fine man indeed.
Rest in peace my dear friend.
This is a re-post from earlier this month.
My friend Tim Sly died Friday. Of cancer.
I was the building manager at a newspaper. A corporate visit, a big whoop-de-doo, scheduled a few months out generated a rush to gussy up our old building. I hired Tim to do the construction work. That’s how we met.
He did a fine job on our project. When the assistant building manager position opened up he applied and I happily hired him, I think that was 1995. He’d just finished a huge building project for the V.A. in Vancouver and wanted to work in town for a change. He’d been self-employed forever – paid vacation, holidays, and sick leave were a delightful novelty. Tim joked this newspaper job was his retirement. He always had my back in the guerilla warfare environment of a big corporate newspaper.
Tim was 6’8” tall. I always felt like a delicate flower walking next to him – not common at my 5’8’’. His wife, Angie, is maybe 5’. I’d see them walking downtown, his hand on her shoulder. It was cute.
We became friends as well as colleagues. Tim had a great sense of humor and was always good for a laugh. He learned PhotoShop and for awhile I’d find pictures of me taped to my office door, my face pasted on unlikely bodies. He was just a big kid – he pulled practical jokes like shrink-wrapping cars on their owner’s birthdays.
Tim was a foodie, into gourmet cooking, and willing to spend great chunks of time making the perfect sauce. I certainly benefited, loved those dinner invitations. The man collected cooking gadgets. He loved all manner of gadgets to be precise. We had that in common as well. We both enjoyed excellent coffee and made the daily trek for a good cup.
I moved across the state in 2001 and missed that daily contact with Tim. The internet played a huge role in our maintaining contact. And a previously unknown talent emerged: He wrote wonderful stories, vignettes of his life. He wrote one about witnessing the birth of his first grandchild that was so moving it brought tears to my eyes. He sent a copy of his wedding toast to his son, profound and also moving. He sent jokes and photos. He sent a collage of his deep-fried turkey event (there’s that love of gadgets again.)
He was my role model that a good and happy marriage is possible. He and Angie renewed their vows shortly before he died - see, what a romantic.
He always brought a smile to my face when I saw him or got an email from him. I knew he’d impart some good cheer or some smartass comment guaranteed to bring a laugh.
A fine man indeed.
Rest in peace my dear friend.
Comments
His son, Jacob
PS I got a laugh out of your Bozo comment in reponse to the pic I posted a few days ago on my blog.