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The family of Henry J Collins uploaded a photo
Tuesday, April 20, 2021
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The family of Henry J Collins uploaded a photo
Tuesday, April 20, 2021
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Tim Collins for Gary Pitt posted a condolence
Saturday, April 17, 2021
My Friend Henry Collins
I met Henry February 1963. My new wife, Sandy, had just started working at an office with Henry and Bill Mitchell ( they threw paper clips at her through the day for entertainment! ). The Collins and Mitchells lived across the street and became close friends.
We moved to California Sept 63, then to Gainesville Sept 66 for a four year stay. We kept in touch with the Collins and visited often during the Gainesville years. Henry was easy to like, he was outgoing and open to everyone he met and made many friends. He was also adventuresome, once in Gainesville we went to dinner and had a wait so we ventured into the parking lot and found an empty charter bus with the motor running, we opened the door and discussed going for a ride but clearer minds prevailed!
During the 70s we were occupied with family, careers, and the pursuit of happiness but found time to get together for a week at St Pete beach twice. Once, we had excitement when Bob Beaudet’s grilled chicken was turned without his permission, Henry helped smooth that one over, but generally, we had a quiet, good time.
Also, in the 70s Henry demonstrated his devotion to family with his care for his Mom and Dad and his attention to the Mitchell’s son, Guy. Henry’s care and love for family and friends was a constant throughout his life with many examples including providing a home for Tim and Sons after his retirement.
In the 80s and early 90s, we had a standing golf trip to North Carolina the first week of Oct that generated a lot of memories and tall tales. Mark and liz Campbell initiated the trips and other couples were involved also. Henry and I approached golf with similar fervor and skill so always had close contests. I had a habit that obviously bothered Henry, after a bad shot I would throw another ball down and hit it. One year during our first day practice round I did that on the third hole, Henry declared, “Do that tomorrow and it will cost you 2 strokes!” Henry was a competitor!
Once in the 90s a few of us guys met at Everglades City for a fishing trip. Our headquarters was Mark Campbell’s Pontoon boat that also served as our camp. One day Steve Benham suggested I take Henry for a ride in Steve’s new, fast outboard fishing boat. So, we rode out into the ten Thousand Islands without a chart, we weren’t going far. After about 20 minutes I was feeling comfortable and heading back when we went from 40 MPH to 0 MPH in less than a second, we had hit a sandbar! I was fine, I had the steering wheel to keep me in the boat, Henry did not. As I watched, Henry flew over the bow taking out an upright landing light on the way. He hit the water and immediately jumped up in a foot of water with his hands up triumphantly and declared he was ok. Afterwards, I told Henry that as he in the air, I thought, “I have killed Henry”. I asked what he was thinking, he said, “ Just tread water, Just tread water” . First time I knew that Henry was not a good swimmer.
The stories could go on and did through the day and evening when we got together which were not often enough.
Henry was blessed with his terrific wife Cathy and children Linda and Tim, he had numerous friends, he had a great sense of humor, he was generous and fun to be with. He had a good life!
Gary Pitt
April 17, 2021
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