Jeanna and the kids,

I am so thankful to have had the privilege of growing up with your dad and wanted to share with you some of my favorite memories of your stud-muffin husband and father.

As we grew up through middle school and high school we became really good friends.  We helped each other grow up as young men in Cazenovia.  We helped each other figure out what it really means to be a true friend to one another.  We helped each other grow in our faith and our relationships with Jesus.  And here are a few snapshots that I want you to know…

The first is that Andy was the absolute, not-even-close, hands-down the worst driver I have ever ridden with!!😃  He had this van with special controls and when we would roll around town (blaring Collective Soul on the radio) and I to this day am still not sure how he wasn’t in more accidents!  If ever we wanted to have a “come to Jesus” moment with one of our friends, we would just throw them in the back and head out!

The second is all the mornings that Andy and I spent together.  Some of them were just him and I on Caz lake as the sun came up, fishing for bass.  He was a great fisherman and catching fish was great…but even more than that was the friendship and investment in each other.  Other mornings we spent doing Young Life stuff, Bible studies, Campaigners, and encouraging our friends in their faith.  Your dad was a strong and consistent leader of men, he let his actions do the talking and showed strength through his integrity and character.  He led with a quiet confidence that was one of his greatest strengths.  As I have been remembering some of those times in the past week, I remember that he and I were fiercely loyal to each other and seeing our friends know Jesus…and I love that about Andy.  If you can, find some friends like him.  Those are the kind of people that you want to walk through life with.

And lastly, we would try to meet girls at Young Life camp using his wheelchair (his idea, not mine)!  There was this hill that went from the dorms to the main camp and we would wait at the top of the hill for a group of girls to walk towards us.  Andy would tell me, “Take a few steps like you are walking me down the hill and then lose control…I will take it from there.”  So I would take a few steps and “slip” and he would take off down the hill yelling “help” and they would come running to help.  Worked every time!  I have actually used this story in my talks when I have spoken at Young Life camp over the years.  Kind of cool to share that your dad has been a part of me sharing the Gospel to literally tens of thousands of high school kids over the years.

I love your dad very much and can’t wait to see him in heaven.  I am praying for you all in these days that the peace of Christ will cover your hearts and comfort your hearts.  I pray that you will carry his legacy forward…the ways that he loved you and loved the Lord.  Phil 1.20-21