Hi Everyone,
I hate to do this, but I would like to ask that everyone keeps in the back of their mind a gentleman that I work with on nearly a daily basis.
His name is Paul Hoffecker - he is affectionately known as "Bear," or as I always call him, "Buddy Bear."
He is the commercial accounts manager for a local Advanced Auto Parts store that my Goodyear store (that I'm Store Manager for) deals with many times a day. He is a very kind-hearted man who must be in his 60's who would do anything to help me out at a moment's notice when I was running not only the store in general but the service department when I was without a Service Manager. But not only does he do whatever is needed to make his business work or to make his customers happy, but he is a good friend and was very very supportive when I needed parts to get my 'Cuda ready for Carlisle.
Over the weekend Bear had a massive stroke, and was taken to the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center just outside Harrisburg. He was recently moved out of the ICU into a recovery room at the hospital. I called his room and he was able to answer just enough for me to recognize his tell-tale laugh and tell him that he had all the support and best wishes of my staff, and we wished him a speedy and complete recovery. He couldn't talk at all, just laugh - I could tell he was glad to hear from a friend.
Bear is a great man, and I would love to see nothing better than him to recover to enjoy his remaining years. I realize he may never return to work with me in business, but he will always be a friend. If you believe in God, Allah, Muhammad, Buddha, or whomever, please take a brief moment to ask for health for Paul.
Thank you for your support.
Jeffrey S. Knapp
