Very Close Friend Died Last Night... Needlessly

[Anybodyhome]

Steve was 72 years old and was on his way home from Winston-Salem yesterday. North of W-S and Greensboro where 65 & 68 come together there is a DOT construction zone, complete with a flagman and Steve is waiting in line like everyone else. Except he's the last guy in line when a tractor-trailer failed to see anything, I guess, and rear ended Steve, sending his car off the road, hitting a DOT worker along the way. Steve died at Wake last night. The DOT worker is okay. The truck driver charged with misdemeanor death by motor vehicle.

I played golf with Steve on Thursday nights when we lived in VA. He and his wife, Judy, and my wife and I would get together for dinner about once a week or so because we were the only people we knew of who enjoyed dinner at 9PM. We stayed at his lake house at Smith Mountain Lake and my wife took care of two of his daughter's weddings. He and Judy took a winter vacation to the Dominican every holiday season for 2 weeks- first week, just he and Judy; the second week he'd foot the bill for all 3 of his kids, spouses and grandchildren to join them.

In the 15 years I've known the man I can honestly say I never saw him angry. Always quick with a line and a laugh, he could find the humor in anything. Maybe that's why he never looked a day over 50. A smart, honest and caring businessman, he did exceptionally well for himself over the years because he took care of his customers and his employees. Just as sad is the likelihood his business will not survive more than a couple years, but I don't know what provisions he had in place, so I could be off-base there.

Steve was a Boston-area native, he graduated from BU with a law degree and was a practicing attorney handling business matters for several companies before one of his clients offered to sell him his business. Steve bought it and never looked back. Just a remarkable, genuine guy. One of the good guys- I'll really miss his wit and wisdom.

[Pejorative Miscreant]

This is tragic and speaks to how fleeting life can be. Can't say anything that comforts but hope you can one day look back on the friendship and have good thoughts remembering him. I will pray for his family and friends.

[bigjohn]

Damn that's just tough man. Thoughts and prayers going out to you, and his family. Hard to take news like that.

[stirs]

Very Sorry ABH, good friends are not that plentiful.

[pstall]

Sorry to hear abh. Sounds like a solid friend. Those are a rare commodity today.

[PhillyB]

damn. sorry man, i can't imagine losing a close friend like that.

[Jackofalltrades]

Condolences for the loss of your friend.

[Khyber53]

Sorry for your loss. Sounds like he was one of the good guys, if not one of the great ones. I'm sure he's going to be mightily missed.

 

[Jeremy Igo]

Condolences. 

 

I tell my kids every day before school that I love them because I know I am not guaranteed to ever see them again. 

[dos poptarts]

Sorry for your loss.

[Hawk]

that sucks man...sorry for your loss.

[rhyslloyd]

Very sorry to hear that. I'll keep his family and yours in my thoughts.

[CelibatePimp]

RIP Mr. Dashoff. Terrible way to go. Life is so fuged up. 

[Moorgan]

Steve was 72 years old and was on his way home from Winston-Salem yesterday. North of W-S and Greensboro where 65 & 68 come together there is a DOT construction zone, complete with a flagman and Steve is waiting in line like everyone else. Except he's the last guy in line when a tractor-trailer failed to see anything, I guess, and rear ended Steve, sending his car off the road, hitting a DOT worker along the way. Steve died at Wake last night. The DOT worker is okay. The truck driver charged with misdemeanor death by motor vehicle.

I played golf with Steve on Thursday nights when we lived in VA. He and his wife, Judy, and my wife and I would get together for dinner about once a week or so because we were the only people we knew of who enjoyed dinner at 9PM. We stayed at his lake house at Smith Mountain Lake and my wife took care of two of his daughter's weddings. He and Judy took a winter vacation to the Dominican every holiday season for 2 weeks- first week, just he and Judy; the second week he'd foot the bill for all 3 of his kids, spouses and grandchildren to join them.

In the 15 years I've known the man I can honestly say I never saw him angry. Always quick with a line and a laugh, he could find the humor in anything. Maybe that's why he never looked a day over 50. A smart, honest and caring businessman, he did exceptionally well for himself over the years because he took care of his customers and his employees. Just as sad is the likelihood his business will not survive more than a couple years, but I don't know what provisions he had in place, so I could be off-base there.

Steve was a Boston-area native, he graduated from BU with a law degree and was a practicing attorney handling business matters for several companies before one of his clients offered to sell him his business. Steve bought it and never looked back. Just a remarkable, genuine guy. One of the good guys- I'll really miss his wit and wisdom.

​While of course it is a sad tragedy, I found myself actually smiling reading that because you described a man who lived. Who truly enjoyed life. That makes me smile and reminds me that I should probably do more of that living stuff I like so much. Keep your head up Master Chief.