Rest well, Uncle; an invitation

You folks are sort of an extended family.  My Uncle Paul passed away last week and I can't think of a better reason to celebrate.  The man was freaking awesome and he lived to be 82 despite a cancer that doctors expected to take him 10 years ago.

I saw him for the last time a couple days before he died, through the window of his rehab facility, and the huge smile on his face made me know he recognized me despite being so near death.  He sold me my first car; a 66 Bonneville which I still have.  It's in the middle of some bodywork, and it will become a tribute car.

He spent most of his life as a teacher and a wrestling and football coach, then retired and went to Seminary to be a minister which he did for another 15 years.

I'm not posting to see replies saying "sorry for your loss," I'm looking for replies that celebrate an awesome man's life.  We were expecting him to go, and I'm so happy he's free, and so thankful for his influence in my life.  So I'm inviting you to raise a beer.  Paul might not have impacted you directly, but he was incredibly influential in his small circles.  He was friends with Joe Paterno, so he might have given JoPa some advice that caused you to lose a bet on a Michigan or Ohio State game.  He advised Tom Cruise when he was filming All the Right Moves so you might toss him a thanks for your favorite Tom Cruise movie that might not have happened quite the same way if he hadn't met Paul.  Even if you don't like movies or college football, Paul just made the world a better place.  He was an amazing human.

To say goodbye, I'm currently having Uncle Paul's most hated beer; Genesee.  Paul used to love beer, but after he was ordained he mostly abstained.  When he did ask for a beer, it was once in about every 5 years so you knew it was a special occasion.  He asked me for a beer once and I offered him a Genny cream ale.  He turned it down saying "I wouldn't wash my car with that swill."

He loved deeply, cared about his students and every single person around him was equal and deserving of love.  You might not know it directly, but he probably made your life better.  Here's to ya, Reverend.

Here's to Uncle Paul, who cared more about his car's paint than Curtis cared about his taste buds.

literally laughing out loud.

Here's to uncle Paul. Doctors said cancer, but berk that! Ten extra years! That's a life well lived, and a fine example of service and friendship. Rest well, sir, you've earned it. 

So, what beer would have Uncle Paul have dunk on that certain special occasion?

Here's to Paul, for having a positive impact on Curtis' life and for making a better Cutis which has lead to Curtis having a positive impact on all us here on GRM.

That's how Paul touched my life!

Here's to having a good Uncle.  This whiskey is for Paul.

As soon as I started reading, I saw that he was a teacher, that was enough for me to know that he was special.

Obviously, there was a whole lot more to his amazing story. 

Thanks so much for sharing, and giving us the opportunity to appreciate his contributions to all of the lives that he touched.

This morning coffee is for Paul.  I'm glad you got a big smile from him even if it had to be from a distance, that's a great memory to have.   Let's see some pics of that Bonneville sometime please....

Edited to add: Just followed the link, seems like he had a lot of positive influence on people in the area and that's truly awesome.   I loved this quote from one of his students: " He had hands like wrenches, when he grabbed you, you knew he'd grabbed you."   

John Welsh (Moderate Supporter) said:

Here's to Paul, for having a positive impact on Curtis' life and for making a better Cutis which has lead to Curtis having a positive impact on all us here on GRM.

That's how Paul touched my life!

Nailed it!

Here's to Paul.

As a former wrestler for almost 20 years, I know the influence my coaches has on my life. I'm sure that there are many men out there that your uncle had as an influence on their life. It looks like he had a life well lived. 

I'll crack a pilsner for him shortly. I suspect that he was a no nonsense, firm yet kind, pilsner type guy. 

Appleseed said:

So, what beer would have Uncle Paul have dunk on that certain special occasion?

Usually nothing special, just had a particular dislike for Genesee.  He did like his Miller High Life though.

11GTCS said:

This morning coffee is for Paul.  I'm glad you got a big smile from him even if it had to be from a distance, that's a great memory to have.   Let's see some pics of that Bonneville sometime please....

Edited to add: Just followed the link, seems like he had a lot of positive influence on people in the area and that's truly awesome.   I loved this quote from one of his students: " He had hands like wrenches, when he grabbed you, you knew he'd grabbed you."   

He was remarkably strong.  A story about his father (my pappy):  Dad was trying to get a rusty hitch ball off a bumper.  He even went as far as taking the bumper off and standing on the wrench (a big 12" adjustable).  Pappy came over to help, grabbed the wrench with his hands, loosened the nut, and split the wrench down the center in the process.  I'm sure there is more to the story.... dad probably loosened it a little and cracked the wrench in the process... but the family story will always be that pappy broke a Craftsman wrench with his bare hands.

I do recall that Paul replaced an engine in something when I was very young... AMC Matador I think.  He returned the core block to the store by sticking his hand down through a bore and carrying it inside.  Some little 4-banger, but I just remember watching him carry an engine block with one hand.

11GTCS said:

  Let's see some pics of that Bonneville sometime please.... 

You asked for it.  I drove it for a while on the stock 389 until it started losing compression and burning oil.  I had the shortblock rebuilt and put 6X heads on it and drove it another few years.

I had big dreams of a diesel (no surprise there) but the diesels at the time were either not ideal or too big.  This was in the mid 90s.  A 6.5L would have worked, but they made too much black smoke being IDI and not much power.  7.3L powerstroke would have been great, but way too tall.  Cummins was too tall and too expensive.  So instead I built a torque monster Caddy 500.  I had the heads ported and a custom cam ground actually a little smaller than stock and used a diesel TC that stalled around 1500.  I put in a 14-bolt full floater out back and spindles and brakes from a 3/4 ton up front, and a Gear Vendors behind the TH375.  I drove it that way for a few years.  Took it with me to Los Angeles where I stripped it down completely bare in preparation for a dip tank.  Then I moved to Austin where I instead had it soda blasted and left it at a body shop where it still lives.  The body guy got divorced and lost his shop, but he still has the car.  I just need to go get it and finish it.

Now that we're in a more modern age, it will be getting a Duramax with a built 4L80E.  I would do an Allison, but that would require some pretty major floor surgery.

1988RedT2 said:

John Welsh (Moderate Supporter) said:

Here's to Paul, for having a positive impact on Curtis' life and for making a better Cutis which has lead to Curtis having a positive impact on all us here on GRM.

That's how Paul touched my life!

Nailed it!

Yep, I usually don't partake during the week but I will crack one open at dinner tonight for Uncle Paul.

To Uncle Paul y'all!   Uncles make life a lot more interesting place. 

In reply to Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) :

"Some little 4-banger, but I just remember watching him carry an engine block with one hand."

Your Uncle Paul sounds like he'd have been a kindred spirit with our summer neighbor Earl.  His nickname when he was a kid was the "Barre Bull", he wasn't particularly tall but he was build like the proverbial brick E36 M3house.   I was probably 8 or so (early 70's); Earl showed up in the spring with a new boat and an 80 HP Mercury outboard.   My dad says "nice rig, where'd you get it?"   Earl proceeds to tell the story that after bargaining with the marina owner over the cost of the boat and motor package the guy says in frustration "if you can carry that out the door to your car, it's yours".   Earl proceeded to pick up the engine and walked right out with it; probably between 250 and 300 pounds.   Not sure if it was completely free at the end of the day but I have no doubt he did it. 

Earl and his wife never had any kid of their own, they were great to all of us neighbor kids though.  Taught a slew of us how to fish...   He was a machinist by trade and a WPI grad.  He was successful in beating (not literally) algebra through my thick teenage skull and had all kinds of cool farm boy skills at the same time.   He could run his hands over a granite boulder and with a few whacks with a 15 pound sledge have it in pieces for example.   I was lucky enough to visit with him for a while before he passed a few years ago, honorary uncle forever.   

Thankfully there are people like Paul that shine brightly and instill a reverence early on. I usually say people suck, and that I'd rather spend time with my dogs. But that's the kind of person that makes me reconsider.

I'll raise a beer for him.

Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) said:

He did like his Miller High Life though.

Just so happens I ended up with a 30 of High Life this week instead of my normal PBR. Damn hipsters driving up the PBR prices....

Cheers Uncle Paul

Knowing that he was a High Life fan tells me he was a good man. I'll have one later today for you Paul (it's 10 am and I'm working).

Raised one in Paul's honor last night. 

You folks are awesome.

I'm glad you toasted him with a beer that you knew would provoke an argument.  I think that's a sign of a really healthy relationship.  Tiptoeing around and being careful not to offend doesn't sound like the late Reverend's style anyway.  (Which I guess makes a Duramax Bonneville just about perfect....)

Salute, Paul!