Alfred Joseph Guidice

Alf or " Alfie " as he was known to some left an indelible mark on friends, very close friends, acquaintances and neighbours.. I was very fortunate to fall into the category of "very" close friends along with two other people I know of. Alf as he was known to me was a quiet reserved bachelor which I met through my son two years ago. He was eager to learn how to run his computer which one of his other "very" close friends had purchased and set up the basics for him, but the distance to be to hands on, was too far. I was involved in computers and loved to help people. The teacher became the student. The weekly or bi weekly visits to go over any questions was augmented by many emails or phone calls when he needed a more instant answer.
Over those two years we became close but none more so than after the stroke. It was not a debilitating stroke and was really looking forward to getting his license back (the second stroke was caused by a blood clot that moved from a repair surgery 4 months later). I was the designated driver combining doctor's appointments, grocery runs and any other thing he had to deal with. Conversations over those many trips and visits we got to know each others views on life and news topics. It was in one of those conversations Alf said he considered me as a brother. Alf didn't come without his faults as most of us do. I learned that he did have a short fuse especially when it came to incompetence. A couple of times he said he admired me for my patience.
From what I learned over time he was raised in the area around Barton Street and 20 Highway. Going to high school his part time job was pumping gas at a local gas station where he was intrigued by the automobile. He was educated, going to university and majored in economics. After getting out of university he got a job teaching Economics and after 20 years had enough of kids that did not have respect and it only takes a few.
Of his many occupations after leaving the education system, the job he enjoyed the most was being a driver examiner for the MTO.
His weekends at the lake working on the cottages turned into his home in 2020. That's where this story started when my son convinced me to work on his classic car. There are a lot of pages that will never be filled as he cashed out way to soon. He liked to participate in the stock market as well. He always got a little testy if I referred to it as a game of cards like Texas Hold'em. So you learned what buttons not to push.
He had the utmost respect for women but finding one that would "be the One" eluded him. There were lots that applied but did not make the grade.
Alf also liked the theatre buying season tickets for two to the Port Dover Lighthouse Festival Theatre. Some one would always show up to use the second ticket. My wife had to fill in on a couple of occasions when some body's plans fell through. The last time was on very short notice. After letting her in the truck he asked if I minded and I said, "if you were twenty years younger I would be concerned". He smiled with with his wry grin. He wasn't a bad looking guy.
So long friend, didn't get to know you long enough
to be an "old friend"
Merv & Cheryl