This evening I return to thanks giving with a tribute to Steve Cooley. Over the last few years Steve has undertaken winter snowplowing, spring-summer-autumn lawn care, and landscaping maintenance (from hedge pruning to leaf collection and composting) at Rosslyn, ADK Oasis Highlawn, ADK Oasis Lakeside, and the Westport Yacht Club. And last winter he helped us with painting for the icehouse rehabilitation. Thank you, Steve.
In the photograph above, Steve Cooley gamely spent hours, days, weeks working away in our temporary “paint shop”, a rental storage container with makeshift heat and dehumidification [just barely] ensuring the requisite conditions for painting and a paint drying. Noticed that I did not include comfort. Steve, Pam, Kevin and others tolerated decidedly unpleasant conditions to make sure that they kept pace with the demands of the carpenters, installing all of their pre-painted wood trim, clapboard, paneling, etc.
In the second photo, Steve is trudging through the winter snow, transporting a freshly painted board to the icehouse for installation. An enviable conditions, insatiable bed for primed and painted wood, and seemingly endless timeline. And yet Steve cracks jokes and kept on chugging. Endurance. Perseverance. And deadpan delivery of witticisms and wisecracks. For all this, I thank you, Steve.
And Steve’s willingness to extend his contributions have not been limited to painting. Whether installing or removing docks, attaching and removing tractor implements, and virtually any other “We need help ASAP!” request, Steve offers his time and energy. We’re profoundly grateful and looking forward to more of the same in the future.
Thank you, Steve!
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