a sad ending to a wonderful friend
 

i'm so close to yelling i can't even begin to tell all of you all. this afternoon at around 3:15 cdt i received a phone call from mike, the owner of the flight school i work at on the weekends.
me: "hey mike"
mike:"hey. (loooooong pause) scinto's dead"

god. where do i begin. i'm so heart broken i don't know. i'm tearing up now as i type this. i met scinto back in 2002 when i was studying for my instructor rating, in a bar. yeah, in a bar. i can study a helluva lot better with distractions than i can alone in silence. anyway scinto has had some problems over the years, be it alcohol or drugs but when he was sober, he would give anyone the shirt off of his back to keep them warm or dry. whew. this is hard. i'm going to cut to the last 3 weeks.

a week ago friday scinto calls me and tells me he's stuck in the mud over at pearland (our home airport, we are opening a satelite location in a nearby town which is where i was located) while we're waiting for someone to drive along to pull him out he tells me that his AA sponsor got him all fucked up. "what?" i asked...he said "yeah, he asked me to go on a retreat which turned out to be a bunch of fucking weirdos! i'll explain when i get there, i'll get someone to pull me out." and he hung up. about 45 minutes later he showed up and proceeded to tell me how his AA sponsor took him to a "cult" retreat. i'm an open minded person. he isn't. he's very susceptible to actions by other people. he tells me that he was held against his will and forced to dance naked around a bon fire and that if he tried to leave he'd be killed. i could see in his eyes that something wasn't right. he was truely scared. i suggested that he dump his AA sponsor and chapter and go with another to which he quickly agreed to. then we just started bsing about other stuff. flying, chicks, friends then he left for home. that was the last time i spoke with him and saw him.

last thursday he showed up at the airport and was drinking, albeit with no intention of flying, he "quit" flying several months prior. a tell tell sign something wasn't right with him? maybe. then again maybe not. you'd have to of known him. i can't explain that part. he's gone off before, but not like this. apparently (i was not there) he left to give some guy a ride home who is not the most desirable people to hang out with. a coke addict. my heart just fell on the floor. no it's not me, but i know this person and can't wait to confront him. god i feel the hate coming out. HOW IN THE FUCKING HELL CAN SOMEONE WHO HAS NO DIRECTION IN LIFE FUCK UP SOMEONE WHO DOES!?!?! AND WHY IN GOD'S NAME CAN HE LET THAT HAPPEN TO HIMSELF?!?! HE HAD FRIENDS TO CALL. WE WERE ALWAYS THERE FOR HIM BUT GODDAMNIT WE COULDN'T BABYSIT HIM. WHY IN THE FUCKING HELL DID HE AGREE TO GIVE CRACKHEAD A FUCKING RIDE HOME WHEN HE KNEW GODDAMN WELL WHAT HE WAS GETTING INTO? WHY WOULD HE PUT HIMSELF IN THAT F U C K E D U P SITUATION?

alright. sorry for the drama, but i don't express myself in typing very well.

the owner of the flight school got a phone call around 5 am friday morning from crackhead that scinto was waving a shotgun around and threatened to shoot him. that's the last we heard. i called scinto friday, saturday, sunday, and monday as well. nothing. voice mail. then i got the phone call today. he had shot himself in the head. rummor has it that there is no head left. fuck. i don't even know why i'm putting this here. to get it off my chest i suppose.

good night all. and remember: no matter how bad it seems, things will always get better. and I sincerly mean that. suicide is NOT THE FUCKING SOLUTION!

more on the wonderful part later. right now i'm still pissed at the hurt that he caused his family and friends.

Plthijinx, I am so very, very sorry for the loss of your friend. My words, all words, are woefully inadequate to the task; but I am sorry and I do feel a bit of your anguish. It comes through your post, I can imagine your anger, sorrow, confusion. You have helped me today by sharing this with me. I will reflect on your friend, and I will offer you my sincerest wishes for healing. God bless.

thanks bri, and your welcome.

scinto was a character. we'd always try to out land each other, bust each other's chops whether it was on the deck at the school or on a beach surf fishing, or just hooking up for lunch. i remember this one time, no not at band camp, walked up at the school with this goofy ass look on his face and said you'll never guess what just happened to me. we all looked and listened on: "i was driving down I-45 and my cell phone rang, so when i answered it some guy asked me if i wanted a blow job! shit, i thought it was one of y'all so i said 'sure, why not, i haven't gotten one in a while. promise to play with my balls too?' then the guy was like sure! let's pull over! and i was like 'who is this?!?' he said 'see the blue truck in front of you and in the middle lane?' then i remembered that i'd just put my company name and phone number on my truck and said 'uhhm no thanks, i gotta go now'
by now we are on the floor holding our guts we're laughing so hard! then someone asked him, can't remember who, 'so do you still have the number in your caller i.d.?'
always pretty quick witted he said "no, i deleted it so i wouldn't be tempted to call him later." man. we got some mileage out of that one! we had fun with that for about a month. i'll see if i can resize a pic of him that i have here at work so y'all can put a face to the name.......

I'm sorry you lost a friend, plthijinx. You may never know exactly what was going on inside him to make things come to this, but you can always cherish the good memories. Hope you feel better after awhile. :(

gah. sorry plthijinx. suicide is the absolute worst thing to cope with in the world. even worse than murder, imho. prayers to the family and you and your friends. :(

thanks guys

may 1st of 2002:

I'm sorry Plthijinx, that seems so wrong. I don't know what to say. Life doesn't make much sense sometimes.

Damn damn damn. I am so sorry hijinx - Lost a close friend the same way on January. We knew he had some issues, but no-one ever even considered the idea that he might take his own life. I don't think he did either until that moment. I'm really trying to stop asking "why", and just be grateful for the time that he was a part of my life, and never forget the cherished memories. Here's a big hug for you and his other friends.....

I'm terribly sorry... I know that situations like this are tough. My thoughts are with you, his friends and family right now.

Wow, I'm so sorry plt. That's just terrible...

thanks again everyone. yeah, i'm trying to forget about wondering why and am trying to focus on the better times. that's why i mentioned the story above on his bj proposal. *chuckle with a smile*

the night i met him we exchanged phone numbers and agreed to go fly the next day to which we did. god this is embarrasing. we had just moved to pearland and where we were set up, there wasn't a concrete ramp. just grass taxiways and it was hard to tell where to turn off onto them. well it had rained real hard either that day or the day before i don't remember, but anyway, yours truely was taxiing a piper tomahawk (a little bubble shaped cockpit funny lookin' 2 seater thing) and after the flight i uh, well i turned short of the grass taxiway and got into the goopy mud. i buried that damn plane all the way to a prop strike! that prop slung mud all over that plane!!! nothing was damaged since the ground was so wet but geeze. having to pull that thing out of the mud by the tail tie down with a truck was sooo embarasing. lol. i caught shit for that one for a loooong time!thanks again everyone. yeah, i'm trying to forget about wondering why and am trying to focus on the better times. that's why i mentioned the story above on his bj proposal. *chuckle with a smile*

the night i met him we exchanged phone numbers and agreed to go fly the next day to which we did. god this is embarrasing. we had just moved to pearland and where we were set up, there wasn't a concrete ramp. just grass taxiways and it was hard to tell where to turn off onto them. well it had rained real hard either that day or the day before i don't remember, but anyway, yours truely was taxiing a piper tomahawk (a little bubble shaped cockpit funny lookin' 2 seater thing) and after the flight i uh, well i turned short of the grass taxiway and got into the goopy mud. i buried that damn plane all the way to a prop strike! that prop slung mud all over that plane!!! nothing was damaged since the ground was so wet but geeze. having to pull that thing out of the mud by the tail tie down with a truck was sooo embarasing. lol. i caught shit for that one for a loooong time! :smack:

Hang on to the good stuff....tight.
I've been fortunate that none of my friends have offed themselves except by doing stupid shit. Come to think of it, that may apply here too. :(

One of my Dad's best friends jumped off a high bridge in the middle of winter and I think that haunted Dad for the last 25 years of his life. I think the problem was Dad refused to talk about it with anyone.
You're doing the right thing, plthijinx. Talk about it with everyone....get it out there, especially with anyone that knew him. Hell, we're always here, man.

btw- Stay the hell away from the crackhead...it really won't help you and it could cause you a lot of grief. :headshake

Bizarre Twilight Zone shee-at............my friend who shot himself's mom just called - I havent' heard from her for a while. Weird. She must have sensed I was thinking about him.

Plt, thinking of you, honey.

i barely give that idiot the time of day. i watch him like a hawk when he's around. i know how his type thinks. give him a cookie and he'll ask for a glass of milk. :eyebrow:


found out that the funeral will most likely be saturday. not sure what time but i'll know for sure later on this afternoon. i wonder if a missing man type formation in private aircraft would be appropriate.....

thanks babe. and thanks to everyone for the support. it's appreciated and needed! :beer:

Probably shouldn't be crying and flying. :(

funny how that works!

true. there's saying, the I'M SAFE rule.

Illness
Medication
Stress
Alcohol
Fatigue
Emotion

then again, i was in El Paso the day my father passed away last september. granted i didn't fly the first leg but i flew the second from Kerrville to Pearland. it's weird but cool that when in an airplane i can channel all attention to the aircraft and forget everything else for the time being.

For me it's painting or writing. I think we can all tune out if we focus on what we're passionate about, and for me it's really good therapy. Very healing. If you're feeling safe, go for it. I'm sure he would appreciate the gesture.

So sorry to read of the loss of your friend. I lost a friend to alcohol myself a while back. Everyone who knew him did all we could for him. I went over to his place with another friend once and we just baby sat him through a rough night. But that's the trouble - like you said, you can't babysit an adult 24/7. Its such a tragic waste of a life. Sounds like your friend was coking it up pretty good at the end with that wild story of his about cults and AA.

Carry the best part of him in your heart and remember the good things about him. Our friends and loved ones never really die. They live on in our hearts.

very true, mari.

this is just great. i just found out about another. wtf is this? death week?! a guy who i'd hung around a few times at the ice house, various parties around the neighborhood and and also worked across the hall from me for a different company passed sunday from complications to surgery. not sure what kind but still. i wasn't that close to him, we had mutual friends. jeez. i'm going to go to bed and not come out until next month. :banghead:

IMSAFE
 

If you know some other pilots who didn't know your friend, maybe they would do the formation for you. I'm sorry man, this hits very close to home here as well.

By the way, Plth, you've been having a rough go of it lately what with the relationship thing and now this. Chin up and all that. Your due for some good things to happen. You've had plenty of the bad. Things are bound to turn around eventually for you (I hope!)

yeah, i'm thinking the YAK squadron that is based out there, one of the same planes in the Yak Attack thread. edwin and his brother knew scinto and edwin practices for airshows with the other 3 planes in the flyby link. i doubt it though. but we'll see.

That's right man, things always turn, just be patient and look for the good.

yeah, this is true. i know. from may of 2002 til sometime in 2004 it all sucked. now i'm flying alot, although it's taking time from my fishing. oh, yeah. i almost forgot i have a trip coming up for offshore on sept. 2nd that i need to make reservations for!

I would have spoken up sooner, but there was something about this thread that the netnanny didn't like.

Plthijinx, first off let me just say that it is incredible the way you honor your friend's memory by sharing the tales with us. The photo you've posted in absolutely priceless. Just the sort of mischevious look and friendly face that really hallmarks a fun guy.

I am very sorry for your loss. Here's to a better life for him on the next go-round.

Anyone with issues would be lucky to have a friend like you, man.

Twice today I pulled cases that my friend who committed suicide had done the last admitting evals on.

The doctor on today and I had a good bit of a cry over this.


The YAKs would make an awesome tribute if you can get them together ... but the honor is in your being there for your friend. Don't sweat it if you aren't able to pull it off.

Just think on the good times with him when you fly, dude.

els, i can't begin to tell you how i feel. scinto meant alot to me as a friend. we've been there for each other and listened to one another. he was there for me during my divorce and gave me the support i needed. i in turn, gave him the support he needed up until he lost it. i had no idea, nor did anyone else what he was going to do and to be honest, i don't think he did either. he just did it. your post nailed my soul brother. i will go out of my way to make people happy and to please them because that's my nature, ask NBN.

yeah, i and we will. (all of his friends). crap. it's bed time. i'll finish this tomorrow. i'd like to get more than 3 hours tonight. 6 in 48 sucks. nite y'all.

I am sorry for your loss.. I don't mean to sound cold(if I do) I'll tell you a story sometime. man, you're right though, things aren't always as bad as they seem. usually far from it.

his obit came out today in the houston chronicle:

MICHAEL DONATO SCINTO, 29, of Webster and formerly of Katy, passed away Friday, July 22, 2005. Michael was a friend of Bill W. and loved all his friends. He was born August 17, 1975 in Bridgeport, Connecticut; but grew up in Katy, where he was involved in the Boy Scouts, swim team, football, and karate. Michael was a licensed pilot and did angel flights. He loved to scuba dive and loved adventurous outdoor activities. He attended Stephen F. Austin State University and was the owner of Westchase Plumbing. He is survived by his mother, Kathy Scinto; his father & stepmother, Ralph & Jackie Scinto; his siblings, Rebecca Arnett and husband Billy, Anthony Scinto and wife Catherine, and his baby sister, Catherine; as well as other loving family members and friends. The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Friday at the Schmidt Funeral Home Chapel, in Katy. Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, with Rev. Robert B. Tucker, S.C.J., Celebrant. Interment in Katy Magnolia Cemetery. Schmidt Funeral Home 1508 East Ave., Katy, TX 77493 (281) 391-242 4
Published in the Houston Chronicle on 7/28/2005.

you didn't sound cold, and i'd love to hear it...

That was very nice.

I read that obit, and I think "what a full and meaningful life, full of family and honorable pursuits". I suppose this menas that it is always easier to be someone on the outside looking in than the person on the inside looking out.

I know I've been to the place where copping out seemed like a pretty good option, just to stop the pain, but now, almost 15 years down the road from it all, I'm pretty glad I didn't.

If I had, someone else would have probably read my obit and thought that my life was well worth living, too.

i rejoined Angel Flight after a couple of years hiatus. Scinto had flown several of them as have i, however due to the restructure of my finances via divorce i had to quit, but now i'm inspired. in a nut shell Angel Flight pilots provide their services and airplanes to give cancer patients transportation when they either can't afford the airfare or the drive is just too long. granted, i won't be able to do the long trips except as a co-pilot but i can knock out some in the S.E. texas/louisiana area.

Rock on, man. Do you just need more hours, or a IFR, or what? (so that you can make the long flights)

no, i've already got my IFR, actually i've got all ratings up to commercial multi-engine. all i can get past that are "type" ratings, i.e. - you have to have a 737 "type" rating to fly that particular model of the '37.
but yeah, i need a few more hours to join the airlines. in fact i've already been turned down by express jet (aka continental express) but was asked to keep in touch so that when i meet the hour requirements i'll get hired. i applied just to get my name in the hiring pool.

well scinto's mother requested a fly over so we'll see how it goes. right now i believe it's only going to be one plane but we'll see.

Dude , I am SOOOO sorry to hear about your friends !!! That just SUCKS !!!!!

Stay strong !!!!!

one plane is better than none - I'm sure he'll appreciate anything you do in his honor.

i'm going to the wake tonight and perhaps tomorrow i'll fly a plane also. it won't be hard to get 2 more volunteers to complete the formation.

how you feeling? still numb? sad? angry? hang in there - it will get better with time.

actually i'm feeling a lot better. thanks to everyone here and my friends, y'all have made this week easier to get through. now tonight, the tears will flow. that's for sure. i just got off the phone with a friend of mine and the Yak's are going to fly and i believe i will be flying the arrow to complete the formation.

Good luck tonight friend. Hugs are healing. (so is food)

well the service was good. the fly over consisted of 3 YAK's and a piper arrow. the arrow was the missing man and did the pull away, while the YAK's blew smoke on the flyover. everyone lost it then and started crying. the funeral, as far as they can go, was a success.

Glad that came off well. You can all thank him in your prayers for being a good bad example. He may have kept you or someone else from doing something bad in the future. Maybe he brought the rest closer together so you'll watch out for each other. I know he gave you all great stories to reflect on when the pain subsides. Hang in there, man. :thumbsup:

I'm very sorry. :(

thx, it sucked but i'm dealing with it.