Sounds like you had a really good friend, it's sad when the good ones go. It also sounds like he enjoyed life and helping people be all they could be.

I had a neighbor when I was a kid he didn't set records, discover anything although he was always making things to make the job at hand easier. To me he was a great man and not a day goes by without me thinking of him and what he taught me. I was lucky to have a good neighbor and you were lucky to have your friend, boss, mentor and all around good guy.

Richard