Honoring Their Friend

As you walked among the attendees at Dwain Naftal’s Celebration of Life, you understood why the man stood out among his peers. The stories, compliments and accolades were abundant as the overflow crowd stood in line at the Florida Sports Park to say goodbye to a great friend and member of their extended family.

For 35 years, Dwain Naftal touched the lives of many in the greater Marco community, both residents and visitors, as he tended to their needs and went above and beyond the call to meet those needs, and those of their families. He would stop in to check on their welfare as he came to know them during their lives.  He was a shoulder to lean on and an ear to bend when needed.

Anyone who thought of him as merely a “tow-truck guy” never really understood who Dwain Naftal was. He cared deeply for those with whom he came in contact and went that extra step to ensure he had done what he could for them.

Those stories knew no bounds, and many of them were expressed during last Saturday’s event as family, friends and acquaintances came forward to share a little about who Dwain was to them. Many of the longtime business owners from Marco Island came out to express their appreciation and love for the person they had come to know and respect.

Marco P.D., Collier County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Highway Patrol, Fire-Rescue personnel, tow and recovery operators, motorcyclists, as well as many who had been assisted by Dwain over his 35 years serving the public, joined in a 15-mile procession across the Jolley Bridge and up Collier Boulevard to the Florida Sports Park. It was there that they gathered to praise the man they called their friend, and enjoyed light refreshments and a cold beverage.

One of Dwain’s friends probably said it best when describing the send-off that was orchestrated by Dwain’s family and co-workers. “This is what Dwain would have wanted. Loud and proud - that was who he was and the way he would have wanted us to remember him.”