Thoughtful, hardworking, tough, charismatic, funny
Andy had a big personality and an even bigger laugh. He loved a good joke and was always quick to make the people around him smile. Being around Andy meant you were likely to hear a funny story about his most recent fishing trip or see that big grin of his that could light up a room.
One of Andy’s favorite traditions was the annual family trip to Bailey’s Campground in Scarborough, Maine. Bailey’s was a second home. There, generation after generation, grandparents, parents, and children slowed down and reconnected. They’d catch up in the crisp morning air and tell stories around the crackling fire. Their laughter echoed long after sunset, into starry nights, mingling with cricket chirps.
When he visited his Grandma Janet and Grandpa Bub at their home by Lake Champlain, they would sit together and “watch the lake go by.” This meant the trio would take in the summertime boats drifting, winter’s ice fishermen, and the painted sunsets. Lake Champlain was also where he spent time with friends and family for BBQ’s and boating.
Even the most bitter winters couldn’t diminish Andy’s love for the outdoors. When the lake froze, Andy and Grandpa Bub bundled up, drilled holes in the thick ice, and sat side by side in the still winter air, conversing, storytelling, and waiting for the fish to bite. They’d snowmobile across the frozen landscape, laughing as the wind nipped their faces, or wandering through the snowy woods searching for tracks. Grandpa Bub loved showing Andy how to read the land: where animals had passed; how the wind moved; how to respect nature.
Fishing was Andy’s connecting point with many of his loved ones. Andy and his brother, Lee, built a shanty together and spent countless nights on the ice, staying up until sunrise chatting and waiting patiently for the next big bite. Competing in local fishing derbies alongside Lee, his friends, and his brother-in-law, Brian, Andy found camaraderie amidst rivalry. Win or lose, that time meant everything.
He shared fishing and his love of nature with his twin daughters, Abigail and Madison. They made countless memories in the woods and on the water, but that time wasn’t just about hunting or fishing. It was being together, learning from their dad, and feeling loved. Andy loved watching them play sports. Always their biggest fan, Andy could be easily spotted amongst the crowd, clapping and cheering the loudest on the sidelines.
Andy believed in showing up, working hard, and taking care of others, especially during difficult moments. When his brother Lee was struggling with addiction, Andy stepped in. He was familiar with the tough battle for sobriety and compassionately supported Lee with unwavering loyalty. Whenever Grandpa Bub and Grandma Janet needed help around the farm and lake, Andy was there. Whether in the midst of other’s struggles or his own, Andy’s devotion to his family made their bonds unbreakable in the face of hardship.
Andy’s mother, Victoria Collins, provided the information for this narrative.
September 29, 1979-October 4, 2024–Age 45
Portrait Artist: Shawn Faust
Narrative Writer: Willow Kline
