lew Posted December 13, 2011 Report Posted December 13, 2011 (edited) My son Jim was always an adventurous kid growing up and loved doing crazy stuff. He was seldom afraid of dangerous situations so we weren't surprised when he told us he was gonna become an iron worker. Their the guys that walk the narrow steel beams hundreds of feet in the air and bolt them together to form the skeletons of buildings. He became very good at his job and ended up being one of the foremen for his company. He wasn't intimidated by heights but had a great respect for them. Strange as it seems, he always said the higher the job, the more he enjoyed it. Safety belts are obviously mandatory for anyone doing that type of work, but sometimes they have to unhook them to get into certain places and sadly that was when something went terribly wrong and my son fell to his death from a building they were erecting. That was 7 years ago today. Jim was 37 years old and had been walking the steel for 20 years. Anyways, the last couple days I've been wandering around on the internet looking at some of the places he helped build and found some pictures of a few of the more familiar places you may know. He did alot of the steel work in parts of Scotia Plaza and was working there the day 3 other construction workers were killed. This is St. Mary's Cement on the 401 at Bowmanville. If you look above and behind the large building to the left of center you can see the steel cap on top of the chimney that Jim and his partner installed. Compare the size of that cap to the size of the vehicles on the ground and you can imagine how tough of a job it was to install. When your watching the evening news and they show you the traffic jams on the Gardner Expressway, some of the cameras are mounted on brackets that Jim installed on top of the pod on the CN Tower about 1200 feet above the city. When you go to the Sportsman Show at the Exhibition Grounds you'll see alot of Jims work there as he installed many of the curved steel beams that form the front of the building. I always have a real feeling of pride everytime I go there and see his work. One of his biggest jobs and one that he was really proud of was the massive Hybernia oil rig in Newfoundland. He worked on that job for a long time and put up a lot of the steel structure. He said the most beautiful place he ever worked was near Fort St. John, in northern British Columbia where he erected a bunch of communication towers. That was a place he even talked about retiring to when the time came He worked all over Canada and other parts of the world but one of his favorite jobs was erecting a couple buildings in China. He spent a year in Bejing and then another year in Shanghai and was talking about going back to supervise more jobs when they were ready to go. That's Jim on your right in the brown coat with his best bud Kirk when they were in China. He was a big tough guy at 6' 4" and strong as an ox but could also be as gentle as a lamb and was loved by all who knew him. His funeral was huge and alot of the members of this board attended and for that I'll always be thankful. The number of flower bouquets we received at our home from OFNers was unbelievable and meant so much to my family. Even a month after the funeral flowers were still arriving. Anyways, sorry for the long ramble so early in the morning, but I think of Jim always, specially on the anniversaries of his death and today I just thought I'd share some of his life with you. Edited December 13, 2011 by lew
Skipper D Posted December 13, 2011 Report Posted December 13, 2011 Thank you Lew for sharing , it was my trade also when i was bit younger then your son was . Your story brought back things i had long forgotten . My old helment is gladly off today for you and your boy .
Big Cliff Posted December 13, 2011 Report Posted December 13, 2011 I think it is wonderful that you can look at so many things and know that he contributed to their creation. Forever in your heart Lew!
spincast Posted December 13, 2011 Report Posted December 13, 2011 Sad day indeed Lew - this was before my time on the board so the first I have heard of it. You raised a fine young man from what I can see. He did very well with what he chose as a way of life right until the tragic events that took his life. He left some amazing contributions behind that you can be rightfully proud of. My sympathies to you on this day that doubtless weighs heavy on your family's heart.
lew Posted December 13, 2011 Author Report Posted December 13, 2011 (edited) Thanks folks, it's a tough & dangerous job but a proud profession for those with the guts to do it. Edited December 13, 2011 by lew
Skipper D Posted December 13, 2011 Report Posted December 13, 2011 Not many will run the forfty foot spand to release the hook , your right Lew .
solopaddler Posted December 13, 2011 Report Posted December 13, 2011 Thank you for posting that Lew. Most people live in a very small world. Seems to me Jim lived life pretty large and experienced things that few people ever do. Here's to your boy. A tip of the hat and a small prayer to a fine young man.
fishindevil Posted December 13, 2011 Report Posted December 13, 2011 WOW!!! what a tribute lew ...he was sure great as his job,and you sure are proud...i now remeber when that happend,you sure have lots of great memories,thanks for sharing lew,its great to see all the work he did not many people can show memories like that... shawn
Spiel Posted December 13, 2011 Report Posted December 13, 2011 I've never forgotten Lew and again you and your family are in my thoughts today. God bless
danc Posted December 13, 2011 Report Posted December 13, 2011 I remember that day very well Lew. God bless.
Handlebarz Posted December 13, 2011 Report Posted December 13, 2011 Dang 7 years already it does not seem that long ago when I remember you telling us about it thanks for the post Lew it was nice to see the things he has done. he lived a full life and just think many will not leave there city before they die for the young age he sure made you guys proud.
NAW Posted December 13, 2011 Report Posted December 13, 2011 Thanks for sharing that Lew. Your son looks like a very unique man. One that would never be forgotten once met. It's a terrible shame that his life was cut short. You did a great job on the post.
Grimace Posted December 13, 2011 Report Posted December 13, 2011 Great tribute. As a crane operator I am constantly working with iron workers. They are salt of the Earth. Looks like you had a real good one there. I am sorry for your loss.
Joey Posted December 13, 2011 Report Posted December 13, 2011 I remember that day well Lew and the heartbreaking funeral that followed You and your family will be in my thoughts today. Very nice tribute to your son! Joey
bushart Posted December 13, 2011 Report Posted December 13, 2011 Sorry for this Lew He was part of some great projects
bigugli Posted December 13, 2011 Report Posted December 13, 2011 A fitting tribute to your son. It's a truly sad day when one is called to bury one's own child
RickOnt Posted December 13, 2011 Report Posted December 13, 2011 Yes Lew an incredibly sad day for sure. But you are a very proud Father of a Great Son and you have some fantastic memories. Rick
Harrison Posted December 13, 2011 Report Posted December 13, 2011 (edited) Hard to believe that was 7 years ago now Lew. I remember the words spoken at his funeral, you have so much to be proud of today. Phil Edited December 13, 2011 by Harrison
Cookslav Posted December 13, 2011 Report Posted December 13, 2011 Great post Lew, A very touching tribute, its obvious you you have a lot to be proud of. God bless on this difficult day.
mercman Posted December 13, 2011 Report Posted December 13, 2011 Never met you Lew, and only know you through the words spoken of you by the friends you have in here.All good words BTW. But after reading your tribute to him, and seeing his picture, he was most definately his fathers son. Keep his memory alive, and God Bless you and your familly Lew. Paul
Fish Farmer Posted December 13, 2011 Report Posted December 13, 2011 Thanks for sharing your tribute Lew. I see 2 great people, you and your son.
Gerritt Posted December 13, 2011 Report Posted December 13, 2011 Hard to believe it has been 7 years Lew, I remember that day well. You and your family are in my thoughts today. G.
lew Posted December 13, 2011 Author Report Posted December 13, 2011 Thanks for all the kind replies folks, they mean alot to both myself and my wife. Joey & Phil, it was an honour having you both at the funeral and Spiel, your yearly condolance messages have always been much appreciated. Jim was an excellent fisherman, specially bass & pickeral, and if he was here today he'd definetely be a member of this board and would be proud to call you folks his friends.
lew Posted December 13, 2011 Author Report Posted December 13, 2011 Hard to believe it has been 7 years Lew, I remember that day well. You and your family are in my thoughts today. G. Gerritt, I also remember very vividly the day you also lost your son and as with Jim, it's hard to believe so many years have passed since that terrible day for you & yours.
Gerritt Posted December 13, 2011 Report Posted December 13, 2011 Gerritt, I also remember very vividly the day you also lost your son and as with Jim, it's hard to believe so many years have passed since that terrible day for you & yours. Thanks Lew, 9 years ago this past October. Time certainly has marched on... G
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