Thursday, January 26, 2017
I met Andrew Winter when I lived in Long Beach, NY around 1997. The first time I ever saw Andrew he was riding his bicycle during winter wearing only a pair of shorts. He seemed to be unaffected by the weather and he was happy and waving to someone as he rode by. Next time I saw him was at a bagel place nearby. He had pulled out a large garbage bag of bagels out of the dumpster and was feeding the seagulls. I began talking with him and we became good friends for a time. I moved away shortly after and tried to stay in contact with him but eventually lost touch. I then out of coincidence or divine providence (I would choose the later option) I saw him on a video that was online. In the video he did a cannonball into huge indoor pool that was in Manhattan, NY. It was nice to see he was still alive and enjoying himself. I have been looking for him for the past 15 years or so and wasn't able to find him. Finally I just searched and found he had passed away a year ago at a good old age. I was sad to learn of his passing. But I have a lot of good memories regarding him. He was a holocaust survivor who was thrown off a three story building to his death but he survived, leaving his right arm permanently damaged. He told me he was persecuted by Russians (after being saved by them), marched about 800 miles being covered in lice the whole time. He told me how he arrived in America and the good fortune he found here. He was truly a remarkable man and I will never forget him. And I will never forget the love he had for the Lord God. That is why we clicked the most as I had just been powerfully converted to the Messiah through the mercy of God Almighty. He used to bring me around to have me tell my story to homeless people at missions around Long Beach. He used to call me "miracle boy". I guess he would know as he was a miracle boy himself. I would like to imagine him in heaven now enjoying the warmth of our Lord God where Andrew will forever be free from the cares of this world. Although I can't help but shed a tear and be saddened that I never got to see him or say goodbye before his passing. Anyone who knew him may contact me at travelingthrew@aol.com and say hello. Thomas Richards
