First, I want to thank Len for graciously publishing this.
My first knowledge of “Tennessee Andy D.” came from his comment following the first episode of Grandfather Says, in 2019:
“Wife and I are one of the ‘millionaire-next-door’ type folks … and a whole lot of it is because we built our first, and later second (and current for 30 years) homes ourselves … drove every nail, pulled every wire, laid every brick, etc.
“We left our parents home in our late teens with an old second hand car and a few bucks in our pockets, and retired with a 7-figure net worth, all done without any family financial help.”
Over the years Andy expanded on his remarkable self-reliance.
So, in 2020 after he had not posted for a while, I wrote him:
“Where you been? Our point of view is pretty scarce at Len Penzo dot Com and elsewhere on the web.
“Andy, I think our national crisis presents an opportunity to persuade a few young people to become more self – reliant and Len Penzo dot Com is one place to tell your story.”
He answered:
“Back today.
“As Mark Twain once said ‘Sir, the reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated … ahahhaaaaaaa!”
Then, after his further absence from Len’s blog for more than a year, I wrote him again:
“Where you been? Our point of view is pretty scarce at Len Penzo dot Com and elsewhere on the web.
“I’m still plugging away, but not much evidence of influencing anyone. Don’t blame you for giving up.
“As for me, you have my great respect. You have ‘made it’ far more independently than I have. I won’t forget you.
“Best regards,
“Dave (Deplorable White Toxic Male)”
The awful reply:
“This is Andy’s wife, Martha.
“Andy passed away March 2022.”
Martha has now graced us with her memories of Andy. The rest of this article are her recollections:
I miss Andy terribly. He was so intelligent and down to earth. He talked to me for years about how things were going to change in the future, dealing with the economy, shortages … everything. I wish he could be here with me but I really wish he could see the way things are happening today. So many things he predicted are now taking place. A man before his time for sure.
This was an enjoyable but difficult task. I could write books about Andy. Unless you knew him or had an opportunity to get a glimpse of him through his writings, it probably would sound like bragging. Andy was an amazing and wonderful person. One of his sayings – ’life is not fair’ – proved to be true when he was taken away at the age of 70.
Andy was the love of my life; he was my best friend.
Having been an Eagle Scout in his teenage years may have formed his ideas of “be prepared.” Some described him as a man before his time due to his ability to look ahead and see the changes the world is facing.
Andy kept a copy of the US Constitution nearby and was known to cite the constitution in his attempt to educate others, both on-line and in real-life.
He was a teacher. He taught high school for a few years, but his real teaching was in day-to-day activities, setting an example of a hard worker and one who loved accepting a challenge of something needing done. Most everyone that met Andy would learn something and be amazed at his practical, hands-on-knowledge and his ability to communicate that knowledge. Many a person has told me how much Andy taught them and how they still think of things they wish they could ask him to show them how to do. Many have told me they wish they could talk to Andy so he could explain things to them.
His knowledge was amazing and varied. He loved to read, on many topics.
Brilliant is how one person recently described Andy. I always described him as the most intelligent person I had ever met. He never found a task or challenge that he wasn’t willing to take on. I told him once that he could be a brain surgeon and he told me he thought he could too but he had never found a willing patient for him to try his work. And then he looked at me with a questioning look as he laughed his wonderful laugh.
Early in the Covid lockdowns, he said to me, what if this is just a way to take attention from the economic situation? His mind was constantly processing thoughts and looking ahead. Two is one and one is none became a joke around our home.
When asked what he believed it meant to be a Christian, he once replied that he believed we should be kind to our fellow man and animals, as well as taking care of the world around us. He would always reach out to offer to help friends and neighbors and expect nothing in return.
Andy believed in working hard but stressed working smart. He would look at every task in terms of how to do it more efficiently.
He was the love of my life and best friend for over 50 years. He loved life on the homestead we created. He strived to be self-sufficient and to leave our place a better place. He laughed often and it would include twinkling eyes that would translate to being a happy and contented soul.
What a beautiful eulogy. I’m sorry you lost your friend, Dad.
Love,
Carolyn
Thank you, Carolyn
Sounds like a great person more should emulate. A year ago tomorrow I lost my best friend. He kind of fell through the cracks during the Covid stress times. He grew tired all the time and thought it was long Covid as his recovery from a prior infection was difficult. He had always tried to lose weight (good cook, good eater, lived well) and was pleased to see his body size decline. His aches and pains he attributed to an aging body and past sports injuries. Not….by the time he finally went for help the cancer was so entrenched and varied they did not even know where it originated? I visited him weekly the last year of his life and watched him do all the preps so his wife would have everything set before he passed. The basement was cleaned out, vehicles fixed, finances all in order all the while he endured palliative treatments to lessen the symptoms and pain. He shrunk down from a big offensive lineman to a wee wizened old man at age 66. Then he died at home using MAID when the pain became too great to bear. They could no longer even find a vein for his IV chemo.
It took 18 months from first diagnosis to death, and he did not complain about it once. He was the kind of man that if you ever called and asked for a hand he would simply ask when you wanted him to arrive? If you are lucky these quiet heroes might be a neighbour. If you are really lucky they are your friends.
Thanks RD for this, and to Len for being such a good guy to make room for what needs to be said once in a while. Behind our financial planning and values are people who want the best for themselves, family, and community. This is more than a finance site for sure.
Paul, Thank you!
Those of us who are doing our best to isolate ourselves from the current psychological illness of our culture are encouraged to read about good-doing, Western civilized folks.
I used to tell Andy he was my muse when it came to being prepared and self-sufficient living. He sent me some very detailed email over the years that included photos of his storage pantries, freezers, food prep areas, and a 3-season hoop house. It was absolutely inspirational!
Andy also sent me photos of the beautiful acreage and out buildings he and Martha spent decades improving. What a gorgeous place!
Andy’s commentary here was always a joy. More often than not he ended his comments with something witty, followed by his “ahahahahaha!” calling card.
Rest in peace, Andy.
It sounds to me that Andy was a wonderful person.
He was.
A posting of his in the comment section of a Grandfather Says” episode:
We “homestead” farm….mostly to produce food for us, but sell enough surplus when we have it….eggs and produce mainly….to maintain our ag property tax status.
We keep 30 laying hens, and raise 20-25 Cornish cross for meat (8 weeks from chick to freeze). Raise 2 feeder pigs/year, just put the last one up this past week. Cure our own bacon/hams. Have 4 steers of various ageS, will slaughter one in a few weeks for beef. Butchering self-done on the place, I built a 6×6 walk-in cooler run by a window AC unit with a Coolbot controller to hang the meat in a work room off the back of the garage.
Have two green houses to extend garden season to 3 full seasons, plus 2 -1/4ac garden areas for potatoes, corn, etc.
Got peach, pear, apple trees, and couple hundred row feet of raised bed strawberries (20-25 gallons/yr), blue berry bushes.
Finally, two small ponds we raise catfish.
We can, freeze (6 smaller chest freezers) and root cellar our production.
Busy life, but great food and we know how it was raised.
Thank you for sharing Mr. Dave. I am sorry about the loss of your friend but glad you have a treasure of memories about him.
This reminded me so much of my grandparents whom I dearly miss.
Thank you, bill
Mr. Dave, I have a question, was Andy D the man who bought the dregs from sawmills and split his own firewood?
Don’t know about edge wood slabs (“dregs”), but it sounds like something he would do.
Harvesting trees which he cut up and split for his firewood, yes.
He also cut trees to saw for the lumber to build his house.
“Thank you so much. A wonderful start to my day as I sit by the fire with the firewood that Andy split. He left me 3 years worth of firewood!
You brought tears to my eyes.
“Blessings,
“Martha”