I just today sent off BD's personal effects to his family today. and this closes the book on this sad nightmare of the past 2 and a half months of his accident, extended hospital stay trying to recover, his subsequent death, and the red tape involved with the Fiscalia and Autopsy I had to navigate.
Big Daddy chose his moniker from a character played by Burl Ives in the 1958 movie adaption of a Tennessee Williams play called "Cat On a Hot Tin Roof" Like Burl, he was a heavy set, cigar puffing good ole boy from the South. He was a frequent visitor at the Sportsmen's Lodge in the mid 2000's in the heyday of CR. Jovial, talkative and funny he was an easy guy to be friendly with. He loved the ladies and the ladies loved him. He made up for his lack of good looks (referred to himself as Jabba the Hut) by being "generous" and maybe to a fault.
As CR declined he ventured out to Thailand with his buddy Spanky and spent some time hobbying there.
In April 2013 El Silencioso and I suggested he come visit Medellin with us as we planned to rent the VIP hotel in Patio Bonito with a group, and like many he was immediately hooked. On his next trip a few months later, he met a paisa who he fell for hook line and sinker and, long story short, ignoring my advice, whisked her off to the US and married her. We didn't speak for a few years. And no surprise, left him penniless by 2019.
He got divorced, got up, dusted himself off and called me in early 2020, Hey Bromigo, I am back. Over the ensuing years he enjoyed Medellin the right way, and was at the top of his game with a harem of at least 15 who absolutely adored him. He was living the dream and just months away from full retirement.
Then on Oct 2, while on a trip here in Medellin, after taking a shower, he collapsed in the bathroom and ES found him unconscious on the floor. He was taken to the best hospital in Colombia (they say), had surgery to address fracturs in his spine. He rallied to the point of getting released briefly but complications due his personal health and lingering infections at the surgical site brought him back to the hospital where he finally succumbed on Dec 5.
His amiguitas have been texting nonstop absolutely devasted. Not only because they lost their Cajero Gringo, they generally were sweet on this lovable old coot.
RIP my bromigo gonna miss ya alot.