Saturday, March 5, 2011

Memories from Jodi Richards

It's taken me some time to be able to talk about my "memories" of Andy because I still can't believe he's gone.  I know life is not fair, but this should have never happened.  I will miss Andy the rest of my days and am so completely glad to have been a part of his life for a time.

There are so many memories, and now I feel I have to write them all down, because I never want to forget. That's the trouble with time...we always think there's going to be more of it.  It's a good reminder to everyone that "live" is a verb and requires action.

I met Andy and Andrea through my husband when they moved to American Canyon. We were new to the area as well, and my husband was looking to make new friends.  From our bedroom window, we could see the Ellison's move in and knew they had children that looked to be the age of our son.  Indeed they do and little did I know a friendship so powerful would bloom from that first meeting.  My husband kept trying to get our son to ride his bike over to the Ellison's house to introduce himself to their boys.  Our son was having none of that.  So taking matters into his own hands my husband set out to make a new friend for our son. Little did he and I know the friend we would make was in the whole beautiful family.

My husband set out around the corner on his mission.  He arrived at their house, armed with a red cup of his favorite weekend beverage, the Margarita, and introduced himself, and our son, who was lagging shyly behind.   Andy smiled broadly and they made an immediate connection.  Later I learned that Andy's "test" for friendship was met through the appropriate use of the red cup.  Quickly they were enjoying red-cupped beverages on a regular basis.

It didn't take long before we were spending most weekend evenings together, enjoying a beverage or two and laughing heartily.  There was never any shortage of laughter when we were together.

We have shared so many things as families and there are so many great memories.  I have one very special memory of the rare occasion where I had an opportunity to help Andy.  It was a Tuesday evening and we both were members of a community board in American Canyon.  We often rode to the meetings together, and this day was no exception, however, he needed to get there early because he needed to pull the large mowing tractor out of the mud.  Well, this was my opportunity, I grew up on a farm and have gotten many farm implements stuck in the mud, so I said, "let's go" and "I can help."  He looked at me with some trepidation.  At the time I thought it was because he didn't think I really could help.  I later learned it was over my attire.  You see, in my exuberance to help him, as he was always helping me, I jumped in the car wearing my office work clothes right down to the shoes.

We got to the field and sure enough the mower was stuck in the mud.  We went straight to work, talking about how to best attack the problem. I made suggestions, he made suggestions and together we solved the problem.  Neither one of us were paying much attention to anything but getting that damn tractor out of the mud before our meeting was to begin.  We laughed and chatted while we worked.

Ultimately we got the thing out and were ready to attend the board meeting.   We looked down at each other and immediately started to laugh.  In the course of our efforts, we were both covered in mud.  He was a bit more prepared than I, but both of us were covered from elbows to fingertips and ankles to toes in sticky, icky, sour mud.

The heels I wore that night were never worn again to work or anywhere else for that matter.  But they did stay around in the garage for awhile and I smiled and laughed every time I saw them, remembering the fun we had getting that tractor "unstuck."

I miss my friend so damn much it hurts.  I miss his smile and his laugh.  I miss the way he would say "yeah, yeah, yeah," I miss the way he made me feel like I could do anything - even help him get a tractor out of the mud, and that if I couldn't he was ALWAYS there to help me fix it.  Tonight I raise a red cup to Andy...

Thoughts From Lenore and Tim Arnoux

I think of Andy with love and a smile. I was away for the memorial. I will treasure his friendship and always be thankful for the short time we had together. Andy had a very special place in my husband Tim's heart. He felt like a father and a friend to Andy. Our love goes out to Andrea and the children. No words can express how sorry we are for the loss of such a special young man. Good by sweet man...you will be missed by everyone.

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Memories from Robert Varisco

My name is Robert Varisco and I live in Massachusetts. I am married to Natasha who is sister to Andrea, Andy's wife. That makes Andy my brother-in-law.

About six years ago Natasha and I bought an old New England house needing lots of work. A year into this project, we asked Andy if he would fly out to help me with a couple of projects. Andy re-worked his schedule, flew out, worked on each project in record time, and refused to accept any compensation. Totally Andy. Talented AND giving. Enough to make you sick in a good way.

Anyway, one of the projects was to completely rehab and remodel the master bathroom. New everything...electricity, walls, tub, toilet, window, sink...all of it.

During the course of this nightmare (a nightmare that Andy did not even blink at...he walked in, saw the state of things, and said: let's get to work), we had to put in new drywall. I had begun this part before Andy arrived, hanging the drywall on the flat part of the ceiling and also on the slanted part of the ceiling. I taped the seam where these drywall pieces came together and spread mud over the tape...then sanded it. I was confident that at least this part would not need work.

When Andy took over the project, he completed all the taping and mudding of the other seams on all the other drywall. I remember standing there with him and him looking up at the seam that I worked earlier in the project and saying, I'll just leave your seam alone there, ok? He was smiling that Andy smile, a joke that only he knew but that I would be clued in on later. I said, sure, no sweat.

The project was finished, Andy put the final coat of paint on and then flew home...3000 miles back to California.

Laying in the tub a day later, I stared up at the ceiling. Every seam in the bathroom was dead straight, bullet straight, perfect. Except, of course, the seam that I had completed. That seam was a winding path, a weaving drunk driver on an otherwise perfectly straight road.

I remembered Andy's smile and what he said: I'll just leave your seam alone there, ok? HE KNEW I WOULD BE LAYING IN THAT TUB IN A MATTER OF HOURS ADMIRING THE WHOLE JOB AND THEN HAVE MY EYES COME TO REST ON THE DAMNED SQUIGGLY SEAM RIGHT ABOVE MY HEAD.

Folks, when I tell you I laughed out loud at that sucker and his ornery smile, I laughed OUT LOUD!

Just two nights ago I lay in the tub staring up again, looking at that seam, and laughing again.

I miss that ornery smile.

Thoughts fromTerri Tenbrink

I miss Andy more and more every day. But the memory of his laugh and smile will never fade away. Andrea, we'll walk and talk, cry and laugh together. I've got big shoulders with your name written on them. I love you. Austin, Tyler & Izzy, I love you all too. May God comfort you with peace and joy in the memories.
Love, Terri Tenbrink

Thoughts from John Brunamonti

We're so very sorry to hear about Andrew's passing. Our sincerest condolences to the entire family. Sending you love and prayers, The Bruno's

Memories from Scott Wilson

Andrea and all of Andy's family, I am shocked and deeply sorry to hear of Andy's sudden passing. I wish that I could say or do something to make this awful situation better. Instead I can only tell you how deeply this effects me as well. I was like an older brother to Andy when we were next door neighbors in Fairfax, Wilmington, DE. For many years my brother Jamie and I hung out with and played street hockey and did many other things with Andy. Andy's mom, Cora used to get us Flyers tickets from work and we would go to games together. As we grew older and then as my family moved from Fairfax we saw less and less of Andy. The last time we saw him was at his mother's funeral services. I had always hoped that we would be able to see him again and talk about all the great times we had growing up. I am proud to be able to call him my friend even though we have been out of contact for many years and 3000 miles apart. Andy, and all his family will forever be in my thoughts and prayers.
Scott Wilson,
Middletown, Delaware

Thoughts from Brian Quigley

I knew Andy as kids in high school. What a great guy!! I cant believe we lived only 30 miles from each other after all these years. american canyon and santa rosa. I am having very empty feelings inside wish there was somthing I could do. R.I.P my old friend. Best wishes to his family.