my favorite customers died in his sleep... age 48

[murphy4trees]

To whatever degree we are a family... I really appreciate having you, my tree bretheren, to share the good times and the hard times....
I got some sad news today....
My absolute favorite customer of the hundreds I did work for in Va., stump grinding in the wake of Isabel, died on April 14... He was a mason, building a lot of brick houses... loved to fish and was a great guy..
Joe and his wife put me up overnight, fed me breakfast and we all watched the Eagles miracle come from behind victory in the playoffs last year, after dark and a full day of grinding.. They lived right on the river, just about at the Chesapeake Bay... We had made plans to go fishing this summer..

Joe and I worked together for three days grinding monster root balls, in and out of the ground... he was running his skid steer.. working with me... pushing the "out of the ground" stumps to where I could best grind them and helped running the saw and moving debris out of the way..

Everyday working with him was a total joy.. We worked together so well and seemlessly, anyome would have thought we'e worked together for years... These were by far the biggest stumps I ground in Va... On the last day he lit a fire the size of a large living room... It must have burned for three days.. I never asked him... wish i had now

The pic is one he took of me, which i sent to greem teeth and they said they were going to use it in one of their magazine ads coming out in May...

His wife called me back this morning after I left a message for them. She was just heartbroken.. said God took another angel home... HE DID!

Thanks for hearing me... there is no way to explain the kind of relationship I had with this man to my wife... but knowing that there are people like you all out there that understand is a comfort.
Your tree brother,
Daniel

 

[Stumper]

Sorry Daniel.There really aren't adequate words.:angel:

 

[treeman82]

Daniel, what did he die of at 48?

 

[Jumper]

Always a shock when folks go early, and more so when they do unexpectedly. Went through this last fall with my bro-in-law that died at 44, but he was sick a long time. Even worse is when wife and kids are left behind as was his case. Treasure what times you had together and remember them in a positive vein, which I find works when I think of those that have gone before me.

 

[a_lopa]

sad to here that daniel,good guys are getting rare these days

 

[ROLLACOSTA]

sorry to here ..about the loss of your friend Daniel...yes a bond between 2 men working together can be strong..something i think women/wifes dont realy understand..ive had guys work with me and when they have left to further there career its been like a kick in the guts it must be a whole lot worse when a friend dies

my sincere sympathies ,fellow tree brother

ROLLACOSTA

 

[seanlarkin]

Sorry to hear about the loss, Dan.

 

[Dadatwins]

My condolances Daniel, It is understood on this end what it means to lose someone you have worked with closely even for a short time. There is a strange bond between many people in this biz similiar to police and firefighters that I can't explain but it is there. Lets hope your friend is in a better place now working alongside many others like him.

 

[xander9727]

Sorry to hear about your loss. We'll add his family and yours to our prayer list.
Tod

 

[TheSurgeon]

If you are rude on this post. You probably will be on another post. If you are. You will be removed. Darin

 

[xander9727]

Originally posted by TheSurgeon
Boo Hoo.

Troll, troll........

 

[murphy4trees]

Thanks all for your care and concern...
I have a couple of thought I'd like to share...
They never did determine cause of death...
I think it must have been his heart..
I saw him score bricks with a grinder while he was waiting for me to unload the equipment one time.. leaving a cloud of rusty red dust... I made it a point to stear clear of the dust... between that and smoking cigs, he may have done some artery damage in his heart...
Either that or he just fulfilled his one life's quota of goodness and loving energy a little early....
I think this applies to us as well cause we arbos tend to suck down a lot of dust...
My lungs won't take it anymore... I have to wear a respirator when chipping, grinding stumps or even running a big saw... Standing upwind is just too unreliable..
And still from time to time I'll wake up in the middle of the night coughing up voluminous chunks of dark brown crud for 45-60 minutes straight...
My buddy heard that the other night in Va. and asked me if I've "had an x-ray?"...not yet but thinking hard of getting the heart checked out... EKG and maybe a stress test..

 

[treeman82]

My father's family has a LONG history of heart problems. I am guessing that I will get that around the age your friend passed on. SO many people with heart problems now a days. Hearing about double, tripple, quadrouple bypasses on a fairly regular basis.

 

[xander9727]

Originally posted by treeman82
SO many people with heart problems now a days. Hearing about double, tripple, quadrouple bypasses on a fairly regular basis.

The reason you heard less of it 25 years ago is the people died! Medicine has advanced at an exponential rate in the last 50 years. What would have meant certain death 50 years ago is now routine surgery. Also, we can better diagnose the cause of death so now almost every cause is labeled which increases the frequency we hear each condition. People don't just die of old age or have a bad heart. Now we get the medical jargon with almost every case. Additionally, with the media and the internet the availability of information is mind boggling. The longer you live the higher probability you will encounter cancer or heart problems. With the population of America living much longer the frequency also increases.

 

[ROLLACOSTA]

when im cutting down large stumps with a big saw . somtimes i get a real mouth,throat and chest full of fumes..ah its horrible and cannot do me any good ..also i used to use a ordinary face mask when sharpening my stump grinder teeth [with green wheel] ..but now i use the best respirator and filters money can buy..once your lungs are finnished thats your lot in imo

 

[OutOnaLimb]

"Life is short, shorter for some than others. Sean here was just an unlucky young sprout. Thats all. There is nothing we cold have done. NOTHING. The best thing to do with death is just ride on off from it." Gus Macrea.

Unfortuatly we are all gonna go at some time. Only God has power over that. I have seen many comerades cut down in their prime. Pat Tillman was part of my old Battalion. But his courage and selfless service, to God and country, leave us with everyday reminders that we are only here for a little while. Remember those who have passed this Memorial Day. It is not just a day to remember the Veteran.

Kenn

 

[Al Smith]

I salute you

Daniel; It takes a special type of person ,on a forum ,such as this ,to express the type of caring,and compassion for a fallen comrade as you have for your old bud.Over 50 thousand of mine are on a black wall in Washington D.C.,with only a name,and a date .You ,by your caring , and pure heart,have expressed an emotion .and a caring ,that most of use "macho men",Do not have the moxie to do.Let set the record straight about the auther of this post,on this forum.This guy was born,in the first half of the last century.He is an ex submarine sailor,an ex biker .This guy has seen and done things ,most people only read about.Seen the sunrise,on the Pacific,seen the sun set on the Med.Rode to Sturgis on a nastey old panhead.Climbed 6oo ft radio towers,walked open steel at over 400 feet,in Sarnia Ont.Worked at over 200 feet at a refinery in Ohio at 15 below,with 20 mph wind.I ,for one Salute you,kind sir,in your tribute to your fine friend.To those "pseudo,wanabes",10 thousand dooms to them,that make fun of him.It has been said,that a person,can feel lucky, if they can count their true friends on one hand.The loss of one,is very great.Hang in there bro.A.F Smith