Park Hill Character: J.R. Ewing: A Life Well Built
’Park Hill Lost An Amazing Guy This Year’
Story and photo by Jack Farrar
For the GPHN
In the book, Folk Heroes of Park Hill, which has yet to be written, one entire chapter will be devoted to J.R. Ewing, a unique neighborhood personality and master mason. Ewing passed away at his home on Hudson Street on Jan. 27 after a protracted battle with cancer.
Ewing was what one calls a character, and approached life with effervescence, quirkiness, eccentricity, sometimes even childlike behavior. In April 2017, Ewing was the first to be profiled in an occasional ongoing feature about Park Hill’s many characters that appears in these pages.
Over his lifetime Ewing expertly planned, poured and assembled hundreds of patios, walls, chimneys, fireplaces, planters and sidewalks, many of them in Park Hill. He took great pride in doing a job well, often chastising tenders (assistants) for things like not producing exactly the right color of grout.
He was a mason for more than 45 years, starting in high school in Indiana as a hod carrier, one of the most physically taxing and least glamorous jobs in construction.
“From the moment I met J.R. Ewing, I knew I’d found a friend,” says Ali Van Skoik. “He worked on our bungalow with care and pride. He explained his craft. He enjoyed entertaining my daughters with gifts of building blocks, flowers and, one year, a surprise snowman. His life stories brought me so many laughs and so much joy.
“Park Hill lost an amazing guy this year. There is some peace in knowing that he is free of the burdens of this earth and no doubt having an amazing time on the other side.”
Another neighbor, Nancy Berenado, will always remember the night, years ago, when Ewing appeared on her doorstep. “… He presented me with a single flower. He just handed me a flower and left.”
Ewing shared a few wit and wisdoms in the April, 2017 newspaper profile:
On religion: “I believe in God, but I’m not what you’d call religious. I was an alter boy at St. Thomas. Does that count?”
On immigration: “I worked for many years with a tender who was an undocumented Mexican. He was a great worker and a great friend. He was deported back to Mexico, where he makes eight bucks a day. That isn’t fair.”
On politics (when The Donald was in the White House): “Trump is a pumpkin-head with a possum hairpiece.”
J.R.’s daughter, Jasmine, preceded him in death by just a couple of weeks. A memorial service is being planned for Saturday, April 17, with a site to be determined. For further information on the service, call J.R.’s son, Trapper Ewing, at 720-687-9998.
King For A Day
One day in 2008, J.R. Ewing’s neighbors presented him with a scroll, heralding their appreciation for him. This is what it said:
For outstanding neighborly service to the 2200 block of Hudson Street
We hereby recognize J.R. Ewing
King for the Day
From walkways to walls to windows and porches to crawl spaces
to garden oasis
J.R.’s hands have shaped our places on the block. Free shoveling snow
and trimming yards.
Then with playful heart and stories to tell he has opened up
conversation with neighbors.
This chatter is what matters in creating a community.
Thank you J.R.