"Farewell Jimmy"

Most of you didn't know my brother, Jimmy. This is him. A.K.A. Santa Claus around the holidays. That's how Hannah remembers him. He has lived in hospitals and group homes for over half of his life. But, there was another side of him that some lucky people were able to experience, me for one.

I have always said that my brothers were like my dad since my dad wasn't around when I was growing up. Jimmy was a great man. He helped mom take care of me along with my brother, Billy. I remember going to the park with him. He took me bowling, along with his son, Scott. He taught me how to tie my shoes. He was the one who introduced me to fried shrimp (which I can't eat much of now because of allergies)and we used to eat enough for five people.

Jimmy was afflicted with a horrible mental illness that kept him from the life that most people get to live and enjoy. He was in his own little world.

He did serve in the United States Marine Corp and was honorably discharged because of his disability. Jimmy, when he was "Jimmy" was a great husband, father, son, brother, and uncle. He was a perfectionist. He was a welder by trade and got Billy interested in it. Billy has since made it his life's work having had his own successful business for over 30 years.

I wanted to sort of memorialize him because he is my brother. We didn't get to see him very often, but he will be missed. He passed away in his sleep on Saturday July 26, 2008. He was 60 years old.

Below are some pictures of us then and now.

Wendy, Jimmy, Billy May 1965

Jimmy, Wendy, Billy July 2004