Notes:
Tiago came to the U.S. 17 years ago [2006] with maybe $300 in his pocket and didn�t speak a lick of English. He spent his first few months in the U.S. working at an amusement park and living in the on-site housing in a dorm room with five other guys. If you know Tiago, you won't be surprised to hear that he created a cleaning schedule for all of them (including one of the guys� girlfriends who basically lived with them).
After that, he began his career in food service working at IHOP as a busser, dishwasher, and cook. Following a brief stint at an Italian restaurant, he made the leap into Brazilian steakhouses. He spent about nine years working in Brazilian steakhouses as a gaucho, server, and bartender and it was there that he learned how to cook, cut, and serve meat. It was also his first foray into fine dining. Fun fact: it was in a Brazilian steakhouse that I first laid eyes on this beautiful creature although we wouldn�t officially meet until a month later.
He was still learning English when he received his first serving position and when he took drink orders, he didn�t understand what was being ordered. He would write down the sounds he heard and take them back to the bartender to interpret and it worked and that�s how he started to learn cocktails, mixed drinks, etc.
He�s worked at farm-to-table restaurants, major chains such as the Cheesecake Factory, and even a famous bread factory on the San Francisco Bay. He�s worked banquets and private caterings, helped manage staff, and helped with purchasing and inventory. He�s worked across the country including Cincinnati, Chicago, Scottsdale, and San Francisco.
I used to get really frustrated when folks would cast judgment on him because of his accent or question his intelligence because of his English. He�s one of the smartest people I know and speaks not one, not two, but three languages.
He�s also worked harder than anyone I know (at one time he worked three jobs to make ends meet). He makes this world, country, state, city, and my life better by being here and I�m so grateful he chose discomfort over comfort all those years ago in the hope of creating a better life for himself and now, for our family.

Documents:
Burial headstone, Oakwood Cemetery, Eaton Rapids, MI

  

 

Obituary:
MILFORD - Victor Robert "Bob" Cook. Beloved husband of 25 years to Madelyn Cook. Loving father of Corri (Will) Riley and Lea (Bill) Walker. Proud grandfather of Benjamin Riley and Tyler and Carly Walker. Son of the late Victor and Mae Cook. Dear brother of Gene Swing, Vicki Lawwill and Brad (Sandra) Cook. Son-in-law of Virginia Joanne "Jo" and the late John Fred Awe. Brother-in-law of Kimily (Michael) Crea and the late John Awe, Jr. Passed away March 6, 2020 at the age of 66. Bob loved music and playing guitar, poker, golf, cooking for his family, wood working, and his pets. Friends will be received Saturday, March 14 from 2-3:30 PM in the Tufts Schildmeyer Funeral Home, 129 N. Riverside Ave., Loveland, where a Memorial Service will follow at 3:30 PM. Donations may be made to Queen City Hospice or to the ASPCA. www.tuftsschildmeyer.com
- The Kentucky Enquirer, 11 May 2020

 

 

 

  

Obituary:
John Gregory Collins was an outgoing and caring man who brought an aura of positivity and strength to each new day. He was a tremendous father and husband who cherished every moment he spent with his loved ones. Throughout his life, John was an organized and hard working man who could easily light up a conversation with his dry sense of humor.
John was born into an exciting decade in our nation�s history. For Robert and Marceil (Creamer) Collins of Kalamazoo, Michigan, these were especially exciting times for their family. On February 3, 1955, the couple received a double blessing with the birth of two healthy sons, John and David. John was a mere six minutes older than his twin brother, and made sure to make light of it while growing up. John and David were welcomed into the family by their older siblings, Pat and Mike.
John was a typical boy growing up � very adventurous and fearless, yet smart and witty. He attended Portage Public Schools, and graduated from Portage Northern High School in 1973. John attended Western Michigan University after high school, where he earned his BA in Finance and his MBA in International Finance. He began his career in finance at First Bank of America, but then went to work at Upjohn/Pharmacia Company in the International Finance Dept., just like his father. In fact, many of the people his father hired in now worked with John. Besides doing a job he loved, John also had the opportunity to travel to 40 different countries for his work, and experience other cultures.
Although John made his career out of finance, it was apparent that his most important job in life was taking care of his beloved wife and children. John dated his wife, Mary, in high school, but they went their separate ways. The two became reacquainted in 1988, and were happily married on October 26, 1990. John and Mary had two wonderful children together: Kaitlin and Matthew, though John was also a good father to Mary�s son, Christopher, from her first marriage. For John, there wasn�t anything more valuable or more rewarding than being a loving and devoted husband and father. He wanted nothing more than for his children to be happy, to be good individuals and to know that they were loved. The successes in their lives are a great testimony of his parenting!
John was a strong role model for his children, with his meticulous work ethic and great sense of humor. He was a huge Woody Allen fan. His choice in music, however, may not have been passed down to them. He loved music of all genres, though he especially enjoyed songs from the 60s, 70s and 80s.
In 1998, John�s job with Upjohn/Pharmacia was transferred to their New Jersey office, which led the family to move. Unfortunately, because of company cutbacks, he lost his job in 2003. Not wanting to uproot his children from school and their friends, John found other means to stay in the area. After John received the devastating news that he had ALS or Lou Gehrig�s disease, the family moved back to Portage in July 2007 to be near their family during these trying times. John died at home on Wednesday, February 27, 2008, at the age of 53.
Whatever John did, he did with zest and enthusiasm. He tried every day to share his happiness with his loves ones. His years of dedicated work afforded him both a happy place in life, and a family that loved him dearly. He will be deeply missed.
Members of John�s family include his wife, Mary (Farrand); his beloved children: Kaitlin and Matthew Collins; a stepson, Christopher Slocum; his twin brother, David (Jeanie) Collins of Kalamazoo; sister, Patricia (Len) Cooke of Ann Arbor; brother, Mike (Stephanie) Collins of Kalamazoo; and many loving nieces and nephews. Visit with John�s family and friends on Friday, February 29, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Life Story Funeral Home, 5975 Lovers Lane, Portage, where services will be held on Saturday, March 1, at 10 a.m. Please visit John�s memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you may share a favorite memory or photo with his family or sign his online guest book. Memorial contributions may be made to the R.M. & John Collins Endowed Nursing Scholarship at KVCC.
- Life Story Funeral Homes

 

 

 

Documents:
Wedding announcement, The Danville Advocate-Messenger, 26 Jun 1994

Documents:
Wedding announcement, The Danville Advocate-Messenger, 26 Jun 1994

 

Documents:
Burial Monument, Riverside Cemetery, Henderson, Shiawassee, MI