It was an unlikely friendship between this odd pack rat fellow who worked in a cluttered office. Piles of car magazines, an overflowing ashtray and a slightly greying man in a rumpled shirt with tie askew.
That is how I found my new friend in a temporary office trailer out back of the Chevrolet dealership that I began working for in the spring of 1984. The attraction was immediate and obvious. We were fellow car guys. He was the fleet sales manager banished to the tiny office trailer in the back because he was a chain smoker. The owners were then and to this day not in the mood to tolerate such a stink in the showroom area.
I found my new friend to be articulate and a wealth of knowledge of all things of old Chevys. His first love was of the ‘55-’57 era. His pride and joy was a ‘55 Nomad.
We shared many adventures over the years. We, along with my older brother and a couple of friends, attended the inagural Checker 500 at Phoenix International Raceway in early November, 1988. We sat in $25.00 seats in turn 4. It was a grand time. The first big time NASCAR event for any of us. Alan Kulwicki won the race and a couple of new fans that day as he wheeled his car around right in front of us to do the first ‘Polish Victory Lap’. Even though he drove a Ford, my friend became a fan from that day on.
As the years rolled on, my friend was diagnosed with emphysema. As his health began to fail, Grumpy became the driver to pick him up, along with his electric scooter and oxygen. We attended car shows, swap meets and even went to the Bonneville Salt Flats. Sadly the rigors of travel and his need for oxygen continued to limit his abilities to get out and enjoy the passion as we once did.
In the last 2 years, my friend passed his 70th birthday and has been pretty much housebound. Tethered to a machine that kept his lungs fed with enough oxygen to cling to life. It is a hard way to exist. Just outside his bedroom window was the place he most wanted to be, his garage. Within those walls a lifetime of things sit. Tools, shop equipment, assorted engines, engine parts, the list goes on.
Yesterday, my friend passed to glory. His suffering is over. I have the mixed emotions that most have when a loved one is gone. Grateful that he suffers no more. Mourning the loss of a dear friend.
For the past couple of weeks, I have been helping to sell off his garage treasures. It is not a task that I enjoy. It was asked of me to do. He would trust only me to take care of his things and see to it that his wife has one less worry at this time. Grumpy was honored to be Best Man when they were married.
Dedicated to my friend, Sanford (Sandy) B. Pierce. aka: Grouchy
Godspeed, my good friend,
Grumpy
3 Comments
that brought a tear to my eye.
Thank you for the lovely sentiment towards my father. He loved 55-57 Chevy’s all his life. From the time I was a little girl, with his infamous red convertible that I loved riding in, to his 55 nomad. There are many days and years of memories because while I personally have no interest in the oldies, my father shared those days with us and gave us memories that are enduring and lasting.
He was always active in car clubs and started the Utah Wasatch Car Club, with another car buddy of his, when he first moved to Utah. My mother helped participate in those drags, by helping with refreshments, flowers and even making prizes.
My fondest memory of my father was when he took us as children to the Spokane Worlds Fair. I remember that trip fondly having started it at my Uncle’s in Montana for a weeks stay, and then on to Spokane to see the future of TV and finishing with the purchase of his 55 nomad. I remember fondly thinking of how I thought, he’s paying a $1000.00 for that piece of junk. LOL!!! I was 15, give me credit for being a girl and not caring about cars
Well what a turn around of that car he made.
Either or, I appreciate your thinking of him and honoring him with your kind words.
Sincerely,
Marian Pena
Oldest daughter of Sandy
Grump & Grouchy … what a duo! I wish I could’ve seen you both in action … what wonderful memories you obviously have!!
You’ll always be that “duo”, then, Grump … just might be in a different way now, and one that’ll be difficult to get used to, of course. We’re all here for you, though, in whatever ways we can be!
My own heart hurts for you, as well as for Sandy’s family and friends right now. And, your post … wow. It’s such a wonderful testament to your friendship, and such proof of your loyalty. Truly — thank you for sharing this with all of us, as I’m sure each of us appreciates the stories, as well as your willingness to honor Grouchy in this way. What a great snapshot into such a cool part of your lives together, too — happy, funny, real … and yes, sad, too … the full spectrum, as all great friendships are.
I know that you will miss your friend dearly, Grump. The vagaries of time and fate never seem to make much sense to those left behind immediately after a loss of any kind, even if we might already understand that “this is not the end”, for we shall be with them again someday. Nonetheless, they’ll always remain alive in our hearts and Souls until then … and through us, they’ll remain alive to our children, and so on.
Please know that I and all of your friends and readers at anglerred, whether or not we all comment with our thoughts and support for you or not right now (some simply don’t choose to write, even if they’re feeling for you), are with you and Grouchy’s family right now in Spirit. My own hand still rests upon your shoulder, darlin’, just as I promised … and just as strongly as yours upon Sandy’s family’s and friends’ right now.
After all, we’re all in this world together, and when one of us hurts — we all do.
Much healing and comfort sent out to the Pierce family from angler, then … I wish you all the best as you work through your grief, but also, as you work to remember the laughter and the happy times. These will come to comfort you most as time begins to heal your loss, so I hope you remember well, and laugh long. I have a feeling that’s what he would want the most right now, anyway … a celebration of his life, which, if spent with Grump at times, grin … must’ve been filled with a lot of laughter and fun.
Godspeed, then, indeed,
angler
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