Salute to Tony, A Good Guy

Oh my!

Our across the street neighbor, Tony, died the other day. He was a widower and lived alone. We’d noticed that his newspapers were still in his driveway but we had no one to call. We walked around his house, peering in windows. Everything was in order, the beds were made. We could see nothing. We phoned. We yelled thru his doors.

The park office was of no help. We were frustrated. Then, after about 4 days, his granddaughter and her mother arrived. Patrick went over and helped them enter. Tony was wedged in the bathroom, and was gone. Poor dear, in his late 80’s, with heart disease, but he faithfully bowled in his league every week.

God bless him, he was such a help to the park residents for many years.We needed someone on our side. He did a lot of legal research and determined what the home owners’ rights were, then represented us in court. He worked hard and was a walking encyclopedia of statutes and most laws pertaining to mobile home park residents. He represented us in many, many meetings.

What haunts me is: could someone have helped him when he first collapsed ? Yes, the man was in his late 80’s, but that isn’t necessarily today’s criterion. I need to question the park’s policy regarding emergency contact numbers being available in the office.

Bless you, Tony, you did good.

Love, Patrick and Nancy