Auto Parts Store Shock

I went to my Parts Store this morning it was busy I looked around for my parts guy. I thought he might be off so when it was my turn I told another guy what I needed. I was shocked when I asked if Dean was still working. The guy said Dean passed away from a massive stroke. I am still in shock; I have dealt with him for the past 15 years of living at our present location. At one time he left one Parts Store when they changed owners and I followed him to NAPA. I’m trying to get a car ready for a small town car show and I was going to ask him to come, which I’m sure he would have been there anyway since he was also a car-nut.

I’m going to miss him, I would say Dean what do you think would cause this or that and for the most part he would have the answer.

The old counter guys with knowledge are dying off.

Rest In Peace Dean

Richard

Sorry to hear about your friend, Richard. Rest in Peace. Always a shock when you run into someone and learn another person passed away without you knowing. Strokes are nothing to mess with and sneak up on you when you least expect one. (I had mine about 12 years ago)

Don

Thanks Don, I didn't know about you having a stroke but I'm glad your OK and still able to do what you love. Sometime if the Strokes don’t kill you it will leave body parts that stop working like our old cars.

Richard

also sorry to hear about your friend. i also have someone that i trust to know what he is doing working at a auto parts store. they do become more than just a aquaintence. they become your friend. .

Thanks Barb, Yeah it's really nice to have a friend at the Auto Store. I have valued his opinions and his advice he always made it sound so easy, like "you can do it's a piece of cake."

I have my master cylinder and fuel pump plus the cleaning supplies for the car to go to the show Saturday. I just have to get myself in gear and head for the garage and prepare to sweat.

Richard

Richard,Im sorry for the loss of your friend,but if its any consolation to you,its good that he was taken quickly,as I ,as many others,have seen the results of a stroke,that can some times turn a fit and healthy person into a near vegetable,[without being mean].It comes as a shock to learn that the friend has departed so quickly,as with what happened to our friend several weeks back..
Don,was your stroke a mild one??An ex employer,and friend[not ex],had a mild stroke some years back,and he was lucky that all he was left with,was a small speech impediment for a few months..

Lamin8r, Thanks for your words it makes one think what could have been. He could have been around with severe problems and his parents are pretty old. They would not have been able to take care of him nor could they have had someone care for him, as they are not wealthy people. Being a car guy I don't think he would have wanted to live like that either. It's just so shocking when you don't see it coming and find out like I did.

Richard

My wife just had a friend pass away on Monday from a brain aneurysm which is similar to a stroke. She was 47 years old, two fairly small kids, a family relations lawyer and running for family court judge in our county. No symptoms!!! Alive one minute, brain dead the next. Life is tenuous at best!!!

That's a terrible thing for her at that age and for her family to have to be without her. I was telling my wife as I was thinking of Dean; it's like (times up put your pencil’s down)
you just never know when it’s time to go!

Richard

Sorry to hear about your friend. It never is easy to loose someone even if it's just your parts guy. After my last barber passed, and going to a few of those chain chop shops, I started cutting my own hair. Hey I can mess it up for free. Every time I found a good barber, they would pass after a year or two. And even if it was only your barber, you got to know him, and he knew how to cut your hair. It was nice to walk in to someplace and they knew you and you knew them............. Ah the good ol days. Again sorry for your loss.

Sad reality is many of us are at an age where this is an all to often occurance. Spent just a bit too much time this past weekend at the GG event learning and talking about hot rod acquaintances we won't be seeing at these events ever again. Fortunately they've left us with some great memories, and even some good stories to tell............might just be the best tribute.

That's a real bummer Richard, really sorry for you losing a good friend!!! My Dad told me once that you know you're getting old when you go to more funerals then weddings, used to laugh at it but the last few years I've been finding it to be very true....

[QUOTE=lamin8r
Don,was your stroke a mild one??


Yes, it was. I was very lucky that there was no damage at all. I was kneeling down and when I stood up I was dizzy, but it didn't pass like those usually do. We went to the emergency room and sure enough, I was having a stroke. After that, every time I got a headache or a little numbness in my face it made me wonder if another was coming. :eek:

I would suggest everyone over 40 ask your Doctor about taking one aspirin per day. My Doctors told me that if I had been taking one (as I should have anyway after my heart attack 23 years ago) that I probably wouldn't have had the stroke. It's cheap insurance.

Don

Thats to bad Richard, It's just like Bob said.
I am not sure of all the guys we have lost on here
over the last few years But it's allways sad.
We've lost more then our share of gear heads on here.
I guess thats the thing with being in a national club
with so many members. God bless all you gear heads!!!
Kurt

Richard I know exactly what you mean. There are two older guys at our local Napa store, I'll wait in line for them letting other people go ahead to the next available counter person, because they are worth their weight in gold. One guy always chats, takes his time, and will take me in back to look for the right part, versus not taking the time, like the newer guys.
Sorry to hear this news, it's like losing a best friend. We had a local Butcher pass away this year. His name was Merl and he always would give advice when asked about the best way to cook a certain cut of meat, or recommend something based on what you were cooking. When I read his obituary it turned out he was quite famous, had his own radio and tv show. Nice Guy who we miss.

I'm sorry to hear that, Richard. Those things always knock you back a little, sometimes a lot. I just lost someone in much the same way: he was there, then he wasn't; I'd known him all his life.

Thanks to all of you for your Respect and kind words.

I was just so shocked and had to mention it. One example of Dean assuring me I could do a job that I wasn’t familiar with was taking the fuel injection rail off from the upper intake manifold. I had never messed with fuel injection at all. The engine was full of antifreeze leaking from the upper intake but I didn’t know that. I thought I had a dead battery in the winter no less. I got a battery from another car put it in the Olds it still won’t turn over. Now I’m thinking it has to be the starter. I go buy a new one, put the starter on outside in the winter laying on fresh stone in the driveway …the kind that puts those big pockets in the skin on the back. I get the starter on, say a few prayers, turn the key and it still grunts. When all else failed I asked Dean if he had any idea why this would happen? That’s when Dean said it could be the upper intake leaking and the block was full of antifreeze. I was ready to scrap the car. Dean said it would be ok just take the spark plugs out and turn the engine over by the flywheel until you get the antifreeze out. The upper intake I believe was about $400 from GM and the after market I think was about $200 that and was maybe 6 or 7 years ago.
I have a time with the short and long term memory. Just wanted to say something nice about Dean. I did what Dean said I couldn’t believe the Olds 3800 fired up with over 200,000 miles on it.

Richard

[QUOTE=Itoldyouso;393462][QUOTE=lamin8r
Don,was your stroke a mild one??


Yes, it was. I was very lucky that there was no damage at all. I was kneeling down and when I stood up I was dizzy, but it didn't pass like those usually do. We went to the emergency room and sure enough, I was having a stroke. After that, every time I got a headache or a little numbness in my face it made me wonder if another was coming. :eek:

I would suggest everyone over 40 ask your Doctor about taking one aspirin per day. My Doctors told me that if I had been taking one (as I should have anyway after my heart attack 23 years ago) that I probably wouldn't have had the stroke. It's cheap insurance.

Don[/QUOTE]

the aspirin is to thin the blood a little isnt it??I have heard about that before,and I think my late father took aspirin,until the doctor put him on the rat poison..