There is a gentleman living among us who I would like to introduce to you. His name is Clarence A. Weinandy, “Andy” for short. He was born in January, 1908, in Ohio. He was born to a time when the primary means of transportation was the horse-drawn carriage. His birth was in the year when Theodore Roosevelt decided not to run for reelection and backed the eventual president, President Taft, and it was the year the Chicago Cubs beat the Detroit Tigers in the World Series, four games to one. It also was the last time the Cubs won the World Series. The Cubs difficulties in repeating that feat, however, is not indicative of the life and times of Andy. Andy had a better front office. 
        At home, Andy was raised by a strict and loving mother. He still remembers the basic rules she invoked:

• Cherish your religion and be on time for church.

• Never be late.

• If a thing is worth doing, do it well, and …

• Never be late.

• A person who can’t amuse themselves is poor company for others, and …

• Never be late.

• Every task at home is important. Learn a do it well because you’ll have to do it in your own home, and …

• Never be late.

         When I talked with Andy in preparation for this article, it is obvious these lessons remain with him and is the moral fabric that carried Andy through his first job, his courtships and marriages of two to two wonderful women, his service during World War II, and through life after the loss of those he loved so dearly. 
           In Andy’s senior year, he took a job as a Western Union messenger boy. He knew his home town and he had this “clock for a heart” instilled in him by his mother. It therefore should be no surprise that Andy delivered telegrams on a bicycle. He delivered telegrams to wholesale houses and houses of ill repute, among other businesses. The “red light district” tipped the best, Andy says. Already his life was being guided by his mother’s teachings and would continue throughout Andy’s career and personal life.
           Andy’s first full time job was with the Toledo Scale Company. After four years he was promoted to the Accounting Office as the supervisor of Accounts Payable and Tabulations. Later he also was moved to repairing scales, due to the eye strain exacerbated by working with numbers under poor lighting.  He continued his job changes through Toledo Scale until the sounds of war rang clear as Hitler occupied Italy. It was during this period, while visiting his sister Eleanor, when Andy was introduced to a young woman, Jeanne. As described by Andy —a striking blond, who was dressed in black velvet. She would become his wife of 62 years.
          Andy immediately knew this beautiful blonde, who joined him and his sister for dinner, was the one. Amidst an ever changing career with Toledo Scale and a depression, a two year courtship ensued. The courtship was rocky at times, but they appreciated the period of reconciliation that normally followed such differences. They were married in October of 1933.

        Andy remembers how hectic things became toward the end of the war in Europe. It was during the Battle of the Bulge. This battle was the last German offensive of World War II (December 1944 to January 1945). The German aim was to divide the Americans and the British and retake the vital seaport of Antwerp. It’s the battle which gave us the great eloquent American response “NUTS” to the German’s offer of surrender. It was during this battle where Andy earned his highest praise, made a most significant contribution to the war effort, and earned his promotion to first lieutenant.
         In June of 1946, Andy was discharged from the Army. He and Jeanne resumed a normal civilian life after the war. Andy went back to work for the Toledo Scale Company and became quite a successful auditor and point man for marketing sales for the company. Jeanne loved fashion and fashion design and found her niche in home decorating and furniture to fill them. When it became apparent to Andy that times were changing at Toledo Scale, he and Jeanne began looking toward retirement at 60. His pension from the company together with Social Security and real estate in Florida made the choice attractive.
         Andy retired from the company after 43 years of dedicated service. He and Jeanne departed for Florida in August of 1968. They moved into their retirement dream condominium and continued to dabble in other real estate investments and projects simply to stay active and to express their individual talents. Whether it was condo politics or the production and marketing of decoupage purses, they continued to enjoy their lives together until repeated trips to the hospital for a variety of ailments led to the passing of Jeanne in December of 1995.
         A little more than a year later, Andy met another lovely lady, Dorine. A widow herself, she and Andy began spending more and more time together. This courtship, too, led to the wedding alter in November of 1997. They were together until Dorine’s passing in May of 2005.
         Andy continues to live an active life among us. He is a wonderful man who remains alert and busy. He works out early each morning and does his exercises well for a man of his maturity. Andy will tell you, however, that he’s not there to build muscle, just to keep the blood flowing.