I spend a lot of time checking out this board and although I have never met anyone personally who posts here I still feel a special kinship with all of you and some of you with whom I have PM'ed over the years. Last Wednesday afternoon as I was leaving my office to come home my wife called me and told me that my son JJ who was living in Connecticut was found dead on Wednesday morning. JJ had a lifelong struggle with bi-polar disorder and as such had encountered many difficulties along the path of life. We had planned for him to move down here to Ocala and he was going to go to work at my family business in which my wife Beth and my oldest son Justin both work with me. I returned home to Ocala today from Branford, Ct. which is my hometown. The outpouring of hundreds of his friends and family who attended the service yesterday was comforting to myself and JJ's other 4 siblings who were also there but nothing can prepare you for the loss of your child. Mental health issues and substance abuse are still poorly understood by many and in spite of the difficulties which JJ had his caring spirit and fun loving nature were the one thing that all who comforted me were quick to point out. I know for myself that having had a child who had challenging obstacles has made me a more compassionate and understanding person. It was JJ's birth which moved me to made a conscious decision to face my problems with drugs and alcohol and I've been fortunate and blessed to have 26 years of continuous sobriety. He will be missed incredibly by his family and all his friends.
