And the Sad News Continues.....

Mgram

Mgram

1st Officer - Navigation
.... at least it's not another C@.......so WE are the only ones who are sad. After becoming suspicious of things just not being right next door......and knowing that our neighbor had been ill, we had to call the Sheriff's Department. They sent 2 deputies, who with Don's tools broke into the sliding door and found him in the bedroom.

What a shock this has been. He was 84 yrs. old.....a survivor of Iwo Jima....and a Harley rider. There is a gorgeous hog in the garage that Kristopher always drooled over. He was a cantankerous old guy, but he was Don's fellow airplane enthusiast buddy. They were to go to an airshow on Friday, but he didn't feel well enough to go. Don has been checking on him daily.

There are two furbabies......kitties that hopefully they will call animal control to pick up. His only family is a son in California.......and we have no idea how to contact him.

I'm rambling.......I'm sort of in shock right now.
 
Cruise cutie

Cruise cutie

Staff Captain
Pat I am so sorry..not a good situation at the best of times, and even more grieving now..please accept my condolences..how very sad..hope the critters get set, and that his kin can be contacted soon..sigh..another blow to the heart..sure is not fair..hugs..Joanne
 
M

mrsrocster

2nd Officer
So sorry to hear of this Pat.....glad that you and Don checked on him daily. About those kitties, is there someone that will take care of them in the meantime until the son can?
 
JacquieP

JacquieP

Staff Captain
Oh, good heavens, what a shock for you! I'm thankful you cared enough to call the Sheriff's office. Prayers are on the way.
 
Corky

Corky

Staff Captain
I'm sorry, it is hard to lose a treasured neighbor. May you always remember the good times you had together.
 
Mgram

Mgram

1st Officer - Navigation
Thanks everyone. He apparently died in his sleep.......the best that we can all hope for when it's our time. His family was found and notified by early evening. The deputies did go through everything, but there was nothing to tell them who is family is......no last names. Luckily the lady friend we had been telling them about, whose first name was all we knew, showed up at 6 p.m., worried and was about to stick her key in the door when they stopped her. She was able to go through his phone book and pick out the 2 daughters and a son. I just was so concerned that he would lie in the morgue for a few days before they found anyone to notify. Oh.....and the kitties are being held by animal control until family arrives.

And John Shallo........kudos to 2 of your fellow Manatee Deputies....Esbell and Sgt. Redmond.....they handled all of this beautifully. Though they really sucked at breaking and entering.....LOL! They were trying not to destroy the door and with their care, they achieved just that.
 
Whimsy

Whimsy

Staff Captain
How sad that your neighbor passed but how nice that you were close and able to alert people for him. It always bothers me when I hear someone passed and no one found them for a long time. I'm glad someone was able to find his relatives right away too. Hopefully the kitties find a good home. This must be a very confusing time for them.
 
GloBug

GloBug

Senior Flea Coller Tester
I am so sorry to hear this. I know how difficult it is. Sometimes you just have to ask for a welfare check, and you always hope it is for nothing. That one time it is serious is very sad. It sounds like your friend had a full life. I'm sorry it ended while he was alone.
 
Mgram

Mgram

1st Officer - Navigation
Yes, we all have to go sometime and this is certainly what I wish for, when it's time. I'm not in any hurry at the moment.

The family finally contacted us last night.......they will arrive tomorrow to begin the very difficult task of sifting through the house.

This has all been made worse by nosy neighbors. We have heard rumors that the body was left in the house alone overnight........NOT!!! (removed within 2 hrs.) One woman has called us TWICE, never expressing sorrow or even a passing concern over the loss of our neighbor........she is whining a crying about the CATS! I understand her concern about them.....I checked with the deputies at least 3 times Sunday night to make sure they were being cared for until the family arrives....so you know they were upper most in my mind at that point. I have been assured that they are being held for the family. I would not have wanted my blood pressure to be checked last night. If they tell us they don't want the cats, I will put them in touch with woman up the street, but I'm sure she is watching the residence for signs of 'life'.....just like the local real estate agent that is circling like a buzzard.

Yes, Whimsy, we have had to do that before for my friend in Ft. Lauderdale.......her phone was misplaced in the cradle, but she was FINE! In this instance, with newspapers in the driveway late in the afternoon and his health issue, we KNEW this was not good.
 
Whimsy

Whimsy

Staff Captain
Mgram, it's funny how life takes a twist or turn.

This morning Jules called me from work. A man he worked with, who had been on disability, was found dead in his home last night. The coronor thought he had been dead since Friday of a heart attack. He was someone Jules and I both knew and it has made me sad all day, to think he laid there all this time and no one thought to look for him till last night. Your friend was very lucky indeed. What is really sad is I left a message for him on Monday on his answering machine (business related) and as I was getting ready this morning he was on my mind to call again today. He had many health problems and was a troubled soul at times. May he R.I.P.
 
Mgram

Mgram

1st Officer - Navigation
Whimsy, I am so sorry about your friend. It's all the more shocking when it occurs this way.......alone.

Audrey, I'm sure that the pressure young people live under these days contibutes to the toll. I hug my two every chance I get.....one is 43, the other will be 40 later this year.

Thanks everyone for the thoughts ..... his family is here now going through everything and finding all but the really important things.......like a will, records for the business he just sold. They are having to start from scratch and don't know where to turn.

If there is a lesson to be learned here.......don't be private about your affairs ...... share at least a ''in case of emergency XYZ can be found......." with someone! I have a few small online accounts that I need to write down somewhere myself!!!!
 
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