Athos has been my good friend for 20 years, a lifelong bachelor with no family still alive. We met on a Q&A website (Answerway) and moved to this one after that one closed. Athos also was a Quora "expert". We emailed with each other almost daily. And did occasional phone calls. We have never met in person.

The last email I got from him was in late February. Yesterday (Saturday) I emailed his friend Jim who was also concerned about the lack of communication. Jim called the police to ask them to do a wellness check. They told him that Athos' neighbor, a nurse, had gotten suspicious because she hadn't seen him coming or going, so she called the police Friday to do a wellness check. He was found dead in his house, had probably died several days before that or as much as a week earlier.

He had turned 80 the day after Christmas and had heart problems, and, more recently, cellulitis, so we occasionally chatted about death and the next life. His body is at the county morgue, and I'm digging out and collecting contact information for his lawyer and others (information he has sent me over the years) -- plus other information that will be needed. A lot is still unresolved.

What did he do for a living?

Athos was a very complex man with many interests. Here's his resume in reverse:

Gonzaga University, 1961-1963

US Navy, 1963-1967

AT&T and MCI, 2/71-3/81, Washington, DC (Regional manager – 100+ employees in 3 cities and $20 million budget. Awarded highest bonus in history of MCI Telecommunications)

Various, 4/81-3/91 - WV, VA, MO, MA, NJ (10 years associated with several organizations. Ran retreat center in WV, reporter/copy editor at Reston Times in Virginia, one year living as a Trappist monk in Missouri, Director of Finance for a housing non-profit in Massachusetts, cook for inner-city religious group in St. Louis. Tax work at H&R Block.)

Full-Charge Bookkeeper, Grace Ministries, Inc., Sparta, New Jersey, 4/91-6/93 (Financial duties as above. Managed major renovation of new office location. 4-month project completed on time and within budget.)

Full-time Student, 9/93-8/94, Sussex County Community College, Newton, New Jersey (Dean’s List. Studied computers, law and accounting.)

Financial Administration, 2/95-5/01, Nejeda Foundation, Inc., Stillwater, New Jersey (Payroll for 80 employees, A/R, A/P, journals, financial statements, bank recs and tax reporting [federal/state]. Tracked income/expense budgets, Worked with outside CPA for annual audit, Set up new Chart of Accounts, Set up system for QuickBooks.

D/b/a "Athos", from 1/95 (Sole Proprietorship [Ongoing], Accounting/bookkeeping services, tax returns, payroll, bank recs, etc.)