Andrew was always kind, and now it is our loss and Heaven’s gain.

My wife and I were on a months long holiday in South America when Andrew finally got the diagnosis we were all dreading. COVID was just ramping up worldwide and any hopes of a quick trip to Hong Kong to see Andrew were quickly dashed. I will forever regret not being able to see Andrew during his terrible struggle with brain cancer. At the beginning we were able to text back and forth on a regular basis. As the disease progressed it was Jennine who kept me up to date on Andrew’s progress. Approximately three months before he passed we had a great hour and a half phone call. We both laughed about our experiences together and cried at the toll cancer was putting upon him. Typical Andrew he was more concerned about how it was affecting Jennine and his children that what it was doing to him. I will cherish that last call as long as I live.

I am not sure why, but once we started working together Andrew and I almost immediately formed a bond that lasted until he passed. While flying together we would laugh at the stupidest stuff, discuss the universe, talk about music, and so many other topics more than I can list. I always felt that with Andrew I could open up to him about anything in my life and he would never be judgemental. I have never had another friend like that in my life. I think Andrew understood me more than anyone else ever has. And I think I came to understand Andrew in the same way.

And the odd thing about Andrew and my relationship was that I was 24 years older than Andrew. It didn’t seem to matter. We got each others sense of humour. We got each others stresses and life’s worries. We had the same interests, worries, passions and beliefs.

We had a lot of crazy fun things happen during our hours in the air, and during our layovers. I remember fishing with Andrew in The Pas, Manitoba. The bugs were so bad in the summer that we went to a sporting goods store and bought gloves and hats with fine mesh that would cover our face and neck. One day we were out fishing for pickerel from this old wharf and we were covered head to toe to avoid the bugs. We had a case of beer and a package of small cigars. We poked a small hole in the mesh from our hats which we could smoke the cigar through, and whenever we needed a drink of beer, we would quickly lift the mesh and gulp a mouthful. While we were fishing a local native came walking down the rode, saw us, and came out onto the wharf. We offered him a beer, which he accepted, chatted with us for a while and went on his way. He was only wearing shorts and work boots. We laughed after he left about what he would tell his family and friends about those two crazy white guys fishing covered head to toe to avoid the bugs.

I used to drive Andrew crazy with attempts to embarrass him. We were on a day layover somewhere in California and realized we were too tired to go explore so we decided to get a couple of rooms at a nearby motel so we could get some sleep before we had to fly again later that evening. At the check in counter, I asked for two rooms with an hourly rate. I then asked if the rooms could have a connecting door in case I got feeling romantic later in the afternoon. Andrew was mortified, and the elderly, blue haired clerk at the counter immediately fired back at me that “they were not that kind of establishment.”  I was laughing so hard at Andrews reaction but finally explained to the clerk that I was kidding and we were two tired pilots who had to fly again that evening. We got the rooms.

Andrew had a love for all living things. God help me if I killed a spider in his presence! One very snowy evening on the drive into The Pas a small white rabbit ran onto the road in front of us. Sadly, the car hit him. Andrew insisted that we turn around and go back and see if the rabbit was injured, with which I totally agreed. We drove back to where we had hit the rabbit and it was laying on the side of the road. I stopped the car and Andrew got out to help this poor injured animal. A few minutes later Andrew got back in to the car in tears. He told me that the rabbit was still alive but suffering badly and he made the horrible decision to wring its neck to stop its suffering. He knew it was beyond saving even if there was a veterinary clinic nearby, which there wasn’t. We drove the rest of way to The Pas in silence, and in tears. That was the Andrew I knew and loved.

I will miss Andrew for the rest of my life. Even though we didn’t see each other often once he moved to Hong Kong, I know we still had a strong bond. We both said many times that we have never had so much fun flying as we did flying together.

Andrew is and will be in my heart forever. 

Craig Thompson

Kelowna, BC Canada