Vincent P Or D? Price

Vincent Price

Vincent P (D?) Price, late of Craig County, Virginia, left this world in August 2018 after an extended illness. Born in January, 1946, he was 72 years old. Vince had already overcome an injury suffered as a toddler and an expensive and debilitating bout with colon cancer a few years earlier. But Vince never complained. He was quick to help others, but rejected it for himself, fiercely maintaining his independence to the end.

Vince left a former wife who lives in New Jersey, cousins in New Hampshire and friends scattered across the United States.

A New York City native, Vince lived mostly in Jersey City, New Jersey prior to his retirement to Virginia. Vince generally worked for civil engineering firms as an inspector of their road, water and sewer construction projects. After the 2001 World Trade Center tragedy, he played a role in removing the debris from the towers on trains. He liked to keep busy, frequently taking on side jobs, including a stint with the NEW YORK TIMES.

Vince’s high native intelligence was expressed in the mindset and aptitude of an engineer. He was a reader with broad interests, encyclopedic knowledge and strong libertarian political opinions, especially about the Second Amendment. He was a Mr. Fixit tinkerer and backyard mechanic who could fix cars, build computers and MacGyver useful things out of found materials.

Vince was an active volunteer. He served on the board of his Jersey City Episcopal church and as an appointee to the City’s Landmarks Conservancy. He loved the deep history of Virginia.

Vince’s enthusiasm for and extensive knowledge of history was reflected in his hobbies. He was a Civil War re-enactor, and also participated in historical role-playing through the Society for Creative Anachronism at its annual Pennsic War.

Vince also enjoyed the outdoors as a hunter and an avid skier. He talked about getting back on the slopes until nearly the end of his life. During his final years, he read about sailing. He talked about selling his house and possessions to get a fixer-upper boat to live on, then sail to the Atlantic Ocean, and beyond.

The world has lost an undiscovered American original who made no concessions to convention. A character to the last, Vince chose to project a reprobate image without exercising any of the associated bad habits. He used occasional spicy language, but constrained by a superior vocabulary and perfect grammar. Vince’s easy friendliness and quick wit made people laugh. You never knew what would come out of his mouth next. His e-mail signature, shared thousands of times with his correspondents read, in part:

“Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving
safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in
broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly
proclaiming -- "WOW -- What a Ride!" Nighthawk”

I miss our long conversations so much, Vince, and pray we’ll meet again. Until then, dear adventurer, sail on. Fair winds, and God speed.