Category: Obituary

LimoUSA, made in history…

Matthew Heick Leave a comment

Back in April 2000 I was young and in need of some work. I was referred to a job by a relative of mine (I’ll call her Lindsay) who thought I would be perfect for the job. I was to “fix the computers and do the networking, and set up new computers and make sure things worked.” for LimoUSA, a Limo Company in Jamestown, NY.

When I arrived there I met Kevin M. Smith, a name that I didn’t realize would carry negative connotations alongside it in coming months. He told me what I would need to do, when he would need me, how much he would pay me, and that he would pay me in Cash. The hours seemed demanding and the pay at the time seemed very well, but I didn’t own a vehicle so I couldn’t meet his schedule. Kevin responded with “No problem.” and got his mechanic to provide me a loaner vehicle, a Black 1986 Pontiac Fiero GT.

So, I drove it away that night, worked every day as I could, organizing all the desks, computers, cables, phones, working on sharing software and making it load fast with Windows 98 computers for Desktop and one for a Server. They all were networked through a 10/100 switch, and they weren’t connected to the internet back in the days. I made a couple goals, such as taking their Telephone T1 and allocating an outbound line for shared internet through a software proxy on the server so that they could use online mapping software instead of the CD mapping software they had to share. The bossman, however, didn’t think that idea. It’s cool He was the boss.

So, weeks passed by and suddenly there was a commotion. It seemed that the offices of LimoUSA were operating a business on property zoned residential. Kevin’s main argument is that he was so close to the Airport that he was not bothering his neighbors and that he should be able to take the time and operate his business while the planning board rezones his property. That failed extravagantly, and suddenly news and media outlets wanted to come inside and we weren’t allowed out.

Long story short, a memorable employment was closed up and a staple on my resume for a short period of time until I got better jobs and it faded away.

Recently my memory was deciding to take a walk down this same lane and I was a bit interested to find information about what happened. This is what I have so far:

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Before I kill you, old friend…

Matthew Heick Leave a comment

On February 5, 2015, I had signed up with DigitalOcean and checked out my first “Droplet”. It was a 2vCPU host with 2GB RAM and 40GB of storage running Centos 6. You were well worth the cost of $20/month and did everything that I asked.

Today is your last day of life. I’ve moved on to a new host that has 2vCPUs and 2GB of RAM, but 60GB of storage and runs Centos 8. It’s also $5 cheaper.

Before I shut you down and terminate you I’d like to say that you did more than you were designed for. You were excellent in how you handled updates and installing software that you weren’t designed for. You almost had a 4-digit-day uptime but for some reason, I felt the need to reboot you.

[root@VPS ~]# last | grep ^reboot
reboot   system boot  2.6.32-431.1.2.0 Thu Dec 19 09:17 - 14:06 (134+03:49)
reboot   system boot  2.6.32-431.1.2.0 Sun Feb 17 16:50 - 09:17 (304+16:26)
reboot   system boot  2.6.32-431.1.2.0 Sun Dec 30 15:45 - 16:50 (49+01:04)
reboot   system boot  2.6.32-431.1.2.0 Sun Dec 30 15:43 - 15:45  (00:01)
reboot   system boot  2.6.32-431.1.2.0 Mon Dec 10 21:38 - 15:43 (19+18:05)
reboot   system boot  2.6.32-431.1.2.0 Fri Feb 16 11:15 - 21:37 (297+10:22)
reboot   system boot  2.6.32-431.1.2.0 Sat Dec  2 19:59 - 21:37 (373+01:38)
reboot   system boot  2.6.32-431.1.2.0 Sat May 27 10:11 - 19:59 (189+10:48)
reboot   system boot  2.6.32-431.1.2.0 Thu Aug  4 05:06 - 10:11 (296+05:04)
reboot   system boot  2.6.32-431.1.2.0 Thu Feb  5 18:41 - 10:11 (841+14:29)
[root@VPS ~]# shutdown -h now

Broadcast message from mjheick@VPS
        (/dev/pts/0) at 14:07 ...

The system is going down for halt NOW!
[root@VPS ~]#

I’ve shut down other hosts before without giving it a second thought. This, however, is one of the hardest and scariest things I’ve had to do in a long while.

Farewell, my friend at 104.236.197.67. May the bits be ever in your cache.

Edward A. Brzostowicz, Jr., b. 21/Dec/1954, d. 29/Sep/2018

Matthew Heick Leave a comment

Edward A. Brzostowicz, Jr., of Dublin, passed away on Saturday, September 29, 2018, in Grand View Hospital, West Rockhill Township. He was 63.

He was the husband of Crystal B. Hessler.

Born in Buffalo, New York, he was the son of the late Edward A.,Sr. and Florence (Winkowski) Brzostowicz.

Mr. Brzostowicz was a U. S. Army veteran, having served two tours of duty during the Vietnam War.

He had been employed in computer systems management.

An avid outdoorsman, Ed had loved hunting, fishing, and gardening. He was, particularly, a bonsai enthusiast.

In addition to his wife, Ed is survived by his two sons, Christian Brzostowicz and Michael Norman Brzostowicz; three grandchildren, Kaitlynd, Gabriella, and Christian; two great-grandchildren, Janek and Paxton; and his sister, Marsha Tavernier, and her husband, Ronald.

All services will be private.

To send flowers to the family of Edward A. Brzostowicz, Jr., please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.

Sources:

https://steeleyfuneralhome.com/book-of-memories/3622765/Brzostowicz-Jr-Edward-A/service-details.php

https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/grimlore-is-no-longer-with-us.35673/

https://www.bonsainut.com/members/grimlore.14293/

https://www.facebook.com/edward.brzostowicz

Duncan Swartz, b. 29/Oct/1960, d. 28/Jun/2015

Matthew Heick Leave a comment

Duncan L. Swartz Jr.,54, of 282 Forest Ave., Jamestown, died Sunday (June 28, 2015) in the WCA Hospital.

He was born in Jamestown on October 29, 1960 the son of Duncan Swartz Sr., Frewsburg and the late Patricia Constantine Swartz.

He was a self employed carpenter and previously worked as a welder at the former Blackstone. He was also employed at Matco Tools, Phoenix Metal, Crawford Furniture and Superior Bat Turnings.

He served in the US Navy. He was loved by his family.

Duncan is survived by his former wife, Joyce Frye, Jamestown, four children, Tonya (Joseph) Spallino, Jason (Julie) Swartz, Amanda (Joshua) Williams, Jamestown, Brian Swartz, Falconer, a nephew that he raised, Kenneth Patterson, Buffalo step mother, Clara Swartz, Frewsburg, nine grandchildren, seven step grandchildren, a brother, Robert Swartz (Cheryl Steams), Jamestown, a sister, Norine Cramer, Lakewood, step sisters, Tracey Johnson, Frewsburg and Wanda (Chris) Allen, Buffalo. Several nieces and nephews also surive.

He was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Aaleigha Swartz, a brother, Daniel Swartz and two sisters, Crystal Gessey and Rebecca Parkhurst.

A funeral service will be held at 3:00 p.m. Thursday, July 2, 2015 in the Hubert Funeral Home and Cremation Services. The Rev. Hope Furlow, will officiate. Friends will be received for two hours prior to the funeral service.

You can send a condolence to the family by visiting www.hubertfuneralhome.com.

Sourced from: https://hubertfuneralhome.com/tribute/details/340/Duncan-Swartz/obituary.html

Remembering Anna

Matthew Heick Leave a comment

A lot of things happened on the day that I died. Many things changed The whole world bustled with energy as it always does. The appointments that were so important were left unattended on the day of my death. All of the plans that I made will never come to fruition. The calendar that has rules my days and nights for years will no longer be relevant at all. All of my material possessions that I pined for and guarded will be up for the taking to those who want them, or will carelessly be thrown aside. My critics can no longer hurt me, and their harsh words will never cause me undue pain again. The arguments I won that gave me such a sense of satisfaction no longer bring solace or comfort. I no longer rush to answer all of the urgent notification beeps of texts and calls and emails. Their gravity is forever ebbed. All of the regrets I wasted so many sleepless nights on are forever where they should have always been – firmly placed in the past. The worries about the size of my waist, my thinning hair and the deepening wrinkles on my face are gone. The image of myself I so desperately wanted others to have is a mirage; they now have to complete it themselves anyhow. My reputation, flawless and so worked for, is of little concern. All those things both big and small that caused me such anxiety and so many sleepless nights are now obscured. The mystifying questions about life and death and what it all means were at one clarified. All of this and more came true, on the day I departed this earth. For all of this that has come to pass, there is still more things that will occur. There will be those people who truly knew and love me who will now grieve with the pain of my passing. They now suffer a new void. They have been beaten by fate. They will feel unwilling to accept that my time has come. A part of them was stolen from them on the day I died. And what they will wish for more than anything on that day, is to be able to spend just one more day with me in it. I know this, for I myself have grieved over the loss of those I have loved. And because I have mourned, I will try to remember that time is previous. It is finite. It is fleeting. It must not be wasted. For this reason, I ask that you not place materials before moments. I ceased worrying about those things which are beyond my control. All of those things that seem to matter so much, don’t. Do not let them compete for you attention or go against those things that truly do matter, those moments and people that allow you to actually live while you are alive. Do not be robbed of the joy you deserve. Spend your energy on those who make you feel alive, who want to spend their precious time with you. Dance with them before it is too late. Do not waste the daylight any longer in the previous days before the one in which your life ends. Don’t keep giving your life to all that seem to matter, because when you die and are gone from this earth, that stuff won’t matter at all. Yes, I have left this world behind and one day, so shall you. But before you do, live each day like it is the first, last and best day you’ll ever have.

Source: 20180922-Remembering-Anna.pdf