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kinzelIt's been cold here, and thus there are, as one learns to expect, fires. House fires, dwelling fires... they become almost common, especially in an area where some people still depend on their woodlot to heat the house.
In the last week I've driven by the sites of several fires, not in progress. I wasn't being a gawker, I was just driving down the road. Usually what you see is plywood in the windows and smoke trails up the side of the building; sometimes what you see is broken windows and gaping roofs. Most often you see the news story or have seen the news story: "Family escapes destructive chimney fire," or "Family and Dogs safe, cats missing in Benton conflagration."
And then as I was wandering through the web and stopped by WMTW's site late last night I saw news of yet another fire, this one fatal. In nearby Waterville. There was the photo on the front page of the site... which was scary. Then I went to the story itself, because, after all, I know people in Waterville. Oh, oh, and oh.
Sigh. Colin Croteau, dead at age 65. He had a house in Waterville, where he lived alone, but as usual, he was living in the Winnebago in the driveway. He'd once told me that everyone would be happier if they lived in a Winnie, because they were so much cheaper to live in than a house. Likely, given sub-zero temps and high wind-chill, he'd been running the propane heater on high for days.
The rest of the story? I don't know the rest of the story. I'd worked with Colin when I was Sales Manager at Maine Computer Connection. He was moody sometimes, but often quick to smile and joke nonetheless; IIRC he'd been in the service in Viet Nam, which he didn't much talk about. He was a part-time computer tech for MCC: mostly he assembled machines, and installed software and smoked. On bad days, of which there were a few, I'd say he smoked and drank coffee, with the work fitting into the gaps.
Over the years he'd had his driver's license suspended -- I think for for driving while drinking -- and I can't say exactly when he stopped working at MCC because his attendance had been intermittent, as had the extra work we had. He'd had a side business of doing imprinting and did some work for MCC and other people.
I last saw him a couple weeks ago when we stopped each other and chatted for a few cold minutes in Waterville's rather windy Concourse, both nodding and waving our way toward warmer locations pretty quickly. He asked me if we were still writing, told me he was getting by, and off we went.
So, I last saw Colin Croteau a couple weeks ago. I wonder what ever happened, if anything, about the book he was going to write.
In the last week I've driven by the sites of several fires, not in progress. I wasn't being a gawker, I was just driving down the road. Usually what you see is plywood in the windows and smoke trails up the side of the building; sometimes what you see is broken windows and gaping roofs. Most often you see the news story or have seen the news story: "Family escapes destructive chimney fire," or "Family and Dogs safe, cats missing in Benton conflagration."
And then as I was wandering through the web and stopped by WMTW's site late last night I saw news of yet another fire, this one fatal. In nearby Waterville. There was the photo on the front page of the site... which was scary. Then I went to the story itself, because, after all, I know people in Waterville. Oh, oh, and oh.
Sigh. Colin Croteau, dead at age 65. He had a house in Waterville, where he lived alone, but as usual, he was living in the Winnebago in the driveway. He'd once told me that everyone would be happier if they lived in a Winnie, because they were so much cheaper to live in than a house. Likely, given sub-zero temps and high wind-chill, he'd been running the propane heater on high for days.
The rest of the story? I don't know the rest of the story. I'd worked with Colin when I was Sales Manager at Maine Computer Connection. He was moody sometimes, but often quick to smile and joke nonetheless; IIRC he'd been in the service in Viet Nam, which he didn't much talk about. He was a part-time computer tech for MCC: mostly he assembled machines, and installed software and smoked. On bad days, of which there were a few, I'd say he smoked and drank coffee, with the work fitting into the gaps.
Over the years he'd had his driver's license suspended -- I think for for driving while drinking -- and I can't say exactly when he stopped working at MCC because his attendance had been intermittent, as had the extra work we had. He'd had a side business of doing imprinting and did some work for MCC and other people.
I last saw him a couple weeks ago when we stopped each other and chatted for a few cold minutes in Waterville's rather windy Concourse, both nodding and waving our way toward warmer locations pretty quickly. He asked me if we were still writing, told me he was getting by, and off we went.
So, I last saw Colin Croteau a couple weeks ago. I wonder what ever happened, if anything, about the book he was going to write.
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The passing of a friend
2007-02-11 18:47 (UTC)Kelly
TC, CA
no subject
2007-02-12 00:54 (UTC)I didn't know Colin, but I understand the feeling.
Colley Croteau
2008-02-14 22:29 (UTC)Im leaving you this message because, I'm the son of Colin Croteau. I want to applaud you for taking the time to write about my father. I was shocked to come across this article. I put his name in google and here I am. I wasnt expecting to find anything. I respect and thank you for taking the time to put this together. My dad was a great man and we all miss him very much. I liked to call him the general he was a trooper for sure, or as you put it a road warrior, those words fit him well. he like to say "the body is week but the sprit is strong" He also referred to himself as Michael Angelo" with the graphics and writings all the poams and prayers he wrote and work he did and as for as the book he was writing for me to read about him and life the teachings of my dad and his beliefs that he spent his whole life writing! both the computer he used to write it and all the papers burned in the fire, along with just about everything else important or that had any meaning scince he was selling the house and moving to florida to be with me and because of the cold he hated the cold so we had put everything important in the R.V getting ready for the big move. I know he was happy just before the tragedy a women came back into his life from high school 45 yrs or more earlier... he almost married but didnt because the ladys parents wouldnt allow her to merry because of him going into the millitary. she looked him up tracked him down and found my dad and came over to the house with a necklace he gave her years 45 or more years ago and asked him if he remembered it he said no but I sure had good taste. she laughed and they set up some things to do to get reaccuanted. unfortunatley he passed the next day.
Its ironic the propane tank blew up on him. I just dont know what to think of all this! Im confused, but that shouldnt of happened theres supposed to be regulaters on them! right? the un answered question of how and why!!!!!! and what do I do to stop this from happening again!
So much lossed forever in one day!
Crazy!
Colley
Re: Colley Croteau
2008-05-22 15:55 (UTC)your father was a hard-working guy; like a bunch of us he had problems he didn't talk about, and some that he did. He was interesting when he found time to talk, and since I'm a publishing writer he had a lot of questions and comments for me.
Steve Miller
COLIN
2008-05-21 18:06 (UTC)Re: COLIN
2008-05-22 13:54 (UTC)Re: COLIN
2008-05-23 18:02 (UTC)Re: COLIN
2008-07-19 01:01 (UTC)Colleycroteau@gmail.com
(frozen) Re: COLIN
2008-07-19 01:10 (UTC)Regards,
Colleycroteau@gmail.com