Occasionally you get to look back and realize that something has happened without plan or intent. Something happens that causes you to reflect, and the realization comes to mind. You might have an a-hah moment.

More specifically, recently a good friend and neighbor passed away unexpectedly. Events such as this cause us to look back and remember our relationship with a friend. Our first meeting was 22 years earlier. He had been given my number by a colleague at work that we had worked for. When he called we went through usual list of questions and answers that our intended business required. Arriving at directions to his home I then asked if he would mind me stopping in right away. No, not at all, he said.

I walked over and knocked on his door. This caught him a little by surprise because only 3 minutes ago we were on the phone with each other. What we didn’t know at first was that we were new neighbors because our family had just moved in kitty corner to his. We were both amused by the coincidence. And that is how I met Jon Pipe.

Admittedly my main concern was to acquire a new client for our roofing business. At the time our main focus was exterior renovations in the Watertown and Jefferson county areas which required a constant flow of new customers. Usually referrals from past customers worked best and here was a prime candidate. But now there was the added fact that we were neighbors. Could a business and good neighbor policy blend well enough?

Apparently so, in fact I would say we actually became good friends. I give the credit to Jon mostly. He had a knack for drawing you out with his engaging personality. Perhaps it was his own career choice as an art teacher that taught him to do so. More than likely it was just part of him already that helped make him a great teacher. Regardless, he was able to make everyone feel good about themselves. It became a pleasure to stop in occasionally to just chat with him about whatever was the topic of the day.

Over the years we did nearly everything that was done in or on his home. As our business grew into other avenues he was always supportive. In his kitchen is the first engineered hardwood floor I ever installed and that was also where my son Jon mixed the entire tub of epoxy grout for the tiled counter top too soon and we had to work like mad men to get in on before it set up. Both caused a bit of stress at the time and became a source of humorous comments later.

No problem was insurmountable and a job well done always resulted in a welcome pat on the back. All of his intended projects were pretty well thought out before he called, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t entertain a fresh idea. I remember one call to simply add a closet turned into a major overhaul of the master bedroom with vaulted ceilings and expanded dressing area.

Certainly as a client Jon will be missed. But more so, the ‘hood has lost a good homey and many have lost a good friend. One of the few that many would say, Thanks for being a part of our lives.