I was asked to write Gary's eulogy in 2019, unfortunately I was awaiting heart surgery and could not make the trip for Gary's funeral. His sister Lynda was kind enough to read my words for one on my closest friends in my life. I ran across this today and thought it was appropriate to post it on Gary's memory page. My Random
Memories of Gary Redmond June 10, 1944 – March 28, 2019
Gary and I met in 1954 at Shrine Grade School and went through many life experiences together over the next several decades. It would be difficult to mention all of them in this tribute to his life, (and maybe in some cases a bit illegal too)…….. Only kidding….. Although, I do recall a ride in his 1968 Corvette up the Lodge on the way home at a very high speed (speedometer read 140,) one night and we never saw a police car along the way to the Egg & I Restaurant on the corner of Bembridge and Woodward just down the street from where he lived……. One summer during our high school years we were hired to paint a house for a client of Gary’s dad when he was in real-estate, the client had moved and wanted us to get the property ready to place on the market. Not sure if we were paid by the hour or the job itself, but we worked very fast and hard most of the morning, had lunch and took a “short” nap. Well the owner came by one day and surprised us after waking from our nap, and told us how much he was pleased we had accomplished so much in such a short time. That set the bar for what was expected of us and the nap after lunch became a daily part of our routine for the remainder of the job. We double dated, chased cars and girls on Woodward Avenue during its Glory Years of the 1960’s, both of us were drafted in 1968, and served in Vietnam during 1969 with different duties in separate locations. We would spend a lot of time over the years hanging out and drinking coffee at the Clock Restaurant, I think that was the name of the place next to Arno Paint where Gary worked; maybe it was also called the Ram’s Horn too. Met some interesting people We visited Saugatuck during the Holiday weekends for a few years during the 1960’s, as that was the Fort Lauderdale of Michigan at the time and THE place to be to meet up with other like- minded kids at the time. We rode our motorcycles in the 1970’s with many of our friends, and others that could number around 20 to 25 bikes, we would meet at noon at Ed Fagg’s home on Houstonia in Royal Oak and all would leave together with a hearty roar of open exhaust pipes. (I bet the neighbors were really impressed and glad when we left) each Sunday…. Gary was also a true gentleman, in all definitions of the term. When I was drafted in January of 1968, he would come over and pick up my mother and take her to church at the Shrine each Sunday until he also was drafted in mid -year. He would start my old VW and drive it on occasion to keep the battery up. Now to be fair, I heard rumors my mother would every-so-often bake chocolate cookies for him too. Gary and Jim brought my old 1960 VW to Washington for me while I was stationed in Fort Belvoir, and flew back to Detroit in 1968. I bought Gary’s 1965 VW from him when he was drafted later that summer. We sure had fun with those cars too….. Gary was quite a philosopher and we would get into some very deep discussions about people and their reasons for the behavior they exhibited. Gary was a deep thinker at the same time possessed a really great sense of humor. I can see how he manifested all these attributes with all the children he and his wife Jo both fostered and adopted over the years. I could see him as a parent with these skills and his patient and soft spoken mannerism yet serious meaning. I have many more stories about Gary, but what I would like to close with today is how much I valued his friendship. No actually he was more like a brother to me. We went through all the good times together and some of the not too good ones too. We may not have seen each on a regular basis for some periods of time, but when we did we could resume that last conversation like it was just yesterday. His memory was incredible for so many events and situations we found ourselves involved in so many years ago. We can’t say that about many friends during our lives. We all make many acquaintances in our lives, but very few true friendships last for over 65 years. Gary Redmond, a true gentleman, friend, I will miss you buddy!!
I see many life long friendships in this group and am fortunate to be included in that statistic some of them rekindled over that last 10 or so years. Certainly to be added to our collective litany for the coming holiday.
I was drafted in September 1965. I was at Fort Knox for basic and after basic sent to Fort Belvoir. There for school, Quartermaster, What were you there for?
I don't get to keep up with Class creator. But I always manage to log in at the most poignant moments.
what a beautiful tribute to an outstanding man. I learned things I would never have known both about Gary and Jon!
How lucky I was to have such a wonderful high school experience and all of you made that happen. Thank you.
Happy Thanksgiving 🦃🍁
Jon Saulnier
I was asked to write Gary's eulogy in 2019, unfortunately I was awaiting heart surgery and could not make the trip for Gary's funeral. His sister Lynda was kind enough to read my words for one on my closest friends in my life. I ran across this today and thought it was appropriate to post it on Gary's memory page. My Random
Memories of Gary Redmond June 10, 1944 – March 28, 2019
Gary and I met in 1954 at Shrine Grade School and went through many life experiences together over the next several decades. It would be difficult to mention all of them in this tribute to his life, (and maybe in some cases a bit illegal too)…….. Only kidding….. Although, I do recall a ride in his 1968 Corvette up the Lodge on the way home at a very high speed (speedometer read 140,) one night and we never saw a police car along the way to the Egg & I Restaurant on the corner of Bembridge and Woodward just down the street from where he lived……. One summer during our high school years we were hired to paint a house for a client of Gary’s dad when he was in real-estate, the client had moved and wanted us to get the property ready to place on the market. Not sure if we were paid by the hour or the job itself, but we worked very fast and hard most of the morning, had lunch and took a “short” nap. Well the owner came by one day and surprised us after waking from our nap, and told us how much he was pleased we had accomplished so much in such a short time. That set the bar for what was expected of us and the nap after lunch became a daily part of our routine for the remainder of the job. We double dated, chased cars and girls on Woodward Avenue during its Glory Years of the 1960’s, both of us were drafted in 1968, and served in Vietnam during 1969 with different duties in separate locations. We would spend a lot of time over the years hanging out and drinking coffee at the Clock Restaurant, I think that was the name of the place next to Arno Paint where Gary worked; maybe it was also called the Ram’s Horn too. Met some interesting people We visited Saugatuck during the Holiday weekends for a few years during the 1960’s, as that was the Fort Lauderdale of Michigan at the time and THE place to be to meet up with other like- minded kids at the time. We rode our motorcycles in the 1970’s with many of our friends, and others that could number around 20 to 25 bikes, we would meet at noon at Ed Fagg’s home on Houstonia in Royal Oak and all would leave together with a hearty roar of open exhaust pipes. (I bet the neighbors were really impressed and glad when we left) each Sunday…. Gary was also a true gentleman, in all definitions of the term. When I was drafted in January of 1968, he would come over and pick up my mother and take her to church at the Shrine each Sunday until he also was drafted in mid -year. He would start my old VW and drive it on occasion to keep the battery up. Now to be fair, I heard rumors my mother would every-so-often bake chocolate cookies for him too. Gary and Jim brought my old 1960 VW to Washington for me while I was stationed in Fort Belvoir, and flew back to Detroit in 1968. I bought Gary’s 1965 VW from him when he was drafted later that summer. We sure had fun with those cars too….. Gary was quite a philosopher and we would get into some very deep discussions about people and their reasons for the behavior they exhibited. Gary was a deep thinker at the same time possessed a really great sense of humor. I can see how he manifested all these attributes with all the children he and his wife Jo both fostered and adopted over the years. I could see him as a parent with these skills and his patient and soft spoken mannerism yet serious meaning. I have many more stories about Gary, but what I would like to close with today is how much I valued his friendship. No actually he was more like a brother to me. We went through all the good times together and some of the not too good ones too. We may not have seen each on a regular basis for some periods of time, but when we did we could resume that last conversation like it was just yesterday. His memory was incredible for so many events and situations we found ourselves involved in so many years ago. We can’t say that about many friends during our lives. We all make many acquaintances in our lives, but very few true friendships last for over 65 years. Gary Redmond, a true gentleman, friend, I will miss you buddy!!
Jon Saulnier March 29, 2019
Janet Flick (Stickel)
Jon, Thanks for posting your beautiful eulogy for Gary. He is listed on this website's "In Memory" page along with your eulogy.
I'm happy you and Gary had this beautiful, life long friendship. It's a gift.
Tom O'Brien
Jon,
What a great friendship you guys had. Not many people can say that,
Thank you very much for sharing with us,
Lucia Lenhard (Johnson)
I see many life long friendships in this group and am fortunate to be included in that statistic some of them rekindled over that last 10 or so years. Certainly to be added to our collective litany for the coming holiday.
🍁🦃🍁
Tom O'Brien
Jon,
I was drafted in September 1965. I was at Fort Knox for basic and after basic sent to Fort Belvoir. There for school, Quartermaster, What were you there for?
Gayle Walker (Scahill)
I don't get to keep up with Class creator. But I always manage to log in at the most poignant moments.
what a beautiful tribute to an outstanding man. I learned things I would never have known both about Gary and Jon!
How lucky I was to have such a wonderful high school experience and all of you made that happen. Thank you.
Happy Thanksgiving 🦃🍁
Kathy Chaivre (Brown)
Jon, what w wonderful friend you were to Gary! Your shared memories were a blessing to his family, friends, and classmates. Thank you for sharing.