To the editor:
Over many short years in this community, I have had many meetings with Andy, some very short and others, very productive. Andy always told me, “Remember, Bob, people also live in this place,” and, “This is a very hard place to make a living” — two things that I will never forget.
I would like to share with you some of these meetings. During the year that we celebrated Abe Martin’s birthday, we found a play about Abe, “A Dinger of a Day.” I met with Andy to get his opinion on this play and he liked it. I ask him what to do with the play and he at once said, “Produce it at the Playhouse,” and walked out of the room. Thanks to Andy, the rest is history and a great success.
The other story was at Town Hall and Andy was VERY upset about a parking ticket (see photo in last week’s Democrat) that a new, young policeman gave him. I told him we would take care of it and I paid it. That was the last ticket that he got on East Main.
The last one is about the great “Robin Hood” hat that Andy always had on. One year, getting ready for the Christmas auction, Andy was at Town Hall again with the hat on. Just for a joke, I asked him if we could auction his hat off at the kids’ auction to raise some money. He looked at me like I was nuts. The next day, the hat was at Town Hall with a note: “Give this to Bob Kirlin.” That year we sold it for a lot of money.
I, as well as the whole community, will miss him at all of the many meetings and his dedication to this community. RIP Andy.
Bob Kirlin, Brown County
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