THE G-5
By Duncan
Bob Cheek - George Burch - Steve Duncan - Aaron Koenig - Richard Meranda
This grainy photograph above was taken at the Red Garter Lounge Indianapolis in December of 2000.
Since the year 2000 I have enjoyed having lunch with a group of guys called the G-5. That stands for “A Group of Five Guys.” Not the least bit political, is it? Sounds like we should be meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, instead of a Strip Joint in downtown Indianapolis.
The glue that holds us together is we were all in the mortgage lending business together. The other sticky stuff (Watch where you step) is we all went through the same treadmill simultaneously. I best not use any names here, names of persons in charge of these fine lending institutions. I’m sure they were loved and admired by someone. We as a Group will almost all agree, someone had to love/like these Presidents and Vice Presidents. But who? Can I get a witness?
That’s why we get together and remember the Pros and Cons of working in the mortgage lending arena.
The Coliseum in Rome still stands, but the institutions of what was considered rock-solid Mortgage Lenders, some Banks, and all Savings and Loans have all vanished in and around Indianapolis.
What is left is the debris of political rules and regulations established by our Indiana State Government that would not allow “OUR” (Lending institutions) to buy other lending institutions across our state lines. We were easy pickings for the buzzards from Biggie Banks “over there.”
All that is left is us, a small band of courageous, stout, hardy men who knew how to play the game “back then." When did our Group of Five (G-5) decide to start holding regular lunch meetings?
It started with one member (Arron) said, "We need to get together and talk." And, of course, the next question was, when and where?
Five guys deciding when and where was not as easy as it sounds. There were things to consider. Where did everyone live? How far did one person have to drive to get to the lunch meetings?
So we had to balance the location so as not to discriminate against the other guys. The first meeting was held at the Red Garter in Downtown Indianapolis because it was in the center of town. I believe Arron nominated the Red Garter because Arron wanted to see half-naked women.
It’s more difficult to enjoy a meal in a restaurant these days. I don’t eat out often, but when I do go to a restaurant I want to enjoy the conversation and comradery as much as the food.
So when it’s my turn to pick the restaurant, I try to find a restaurant that we as a group have never been to. Let’s expand our horizons and try something new.
Richard Meranda - Aaron Koenig - Bob Cheek - Steve Duncan - George Burch
We as a group all attended our meetings faithfully, and December of 2003 was the last time we as a group would get together. Bob Cheek decided to hold our meeting at his home. We didn’t know it then, but Richard (Dick) would fall out of the group.
We all have problems juggling our schedules, and we didn’t pay much attention to his absences. Life continues … and we must have gone our separate ways for a while. I moved to Florida and talked to the Guys by email or text once in a while, but the lunches were put on hold. I returned to Indianapolis after a five-year sabbatical living in North Fort Myers.
Then, of course, the Pandemic came roaring around the corner and everyone stayed away from each other for a couple of years.
Aaron Koenig has always been the hub of this wheel.
“We need to get the G-5 together.”
I was given the task of sending an email to the group about getting together. I would send an email and ask everyone if that date and time will work. And most of the time, the date has got to be adjusted to all our schedules. Adjust as much as a month or more to allow everyone to say,
“Yes. Yes, I'll be there.”
I was not getting any feedback from Richard Meranda. And I called Aaron and asked if he knew if Richard had changed his email address. Aaron did not know one way or the other, so I began to search online for Richard.
I tried Facebook, Linked-In, and Twitter; I even tried emailing his loan processor, “Becky” who worked with Richard for years. No response.
I then began a Google Search.
“Richard Meranda.” Nothing.
I dreaded this search, “Richard Meranda Obituary.” Nothing.
I gave Google a little more information. I looked at my personal database and realized Richard had a middle initial. I gave Google the following search.
“Richard A. Meranda, Obituary.
https://www.echovita.com/us/obituaries/in/indianapolis/richard-a-meranda-9072635
Much to my shock, I found Richard’s Obituary. He passed away on April 17, 2019. How in the world did this life get away from me, get away from our group, without knowing about it? I felt a sharp blade of remorse in my side. I had disappointed a good friend and myself by not being there at the end.
I called the guys and asked if anyone knew about the funeral? No one had a clue. The obituary was skinny, very skinny. No picture was even offered. The obituary asked for comments from loved ones. None were offered. I tried to place myself in his shoes.
Is this the way “He” wanted to go out? Just the facts, no big deal? I did post one of my pictures of Dick in his obituary.
Aaron made a few phone calls and found a fellow named Don Cochran. Don had worked with and for Richard and attended the funeral. Don told Aaron only a few people were there at the funeral.
I called Don and asked if he would be kind enough to join our G-5 lunch brunch and tell us what he knew about the funeral and Dick’s life. Don, not knowing us all that well, was hesitant at first. Then Don agreed he would come to one meeting.
Don lives in Mooresville. (Way southwest of Indianapolis) I looked for a restaurant on the far south side. I found a mom-and-pop in Bargersville called The Grove. On a very hot Thursday, we all entered the restaurant. Don was the last to arrive.
We listened intently to his stories of Richard. Don was a personal and very close friend of Dick. Don did make the analysis that with all the people Dick knew in and out of the mortgage lending and Real Estate community, he didn’t see anyone besides himself. Don was quick to add he was only there for a short period of time.
Preparing to leave, we asked Heather, our waitress, to take our picture. Heather came to the back of the building where we were sitting and looked at our lunch plates.
“You didn't eat all your meals, and you’re leaving?”
We all smiled, tipped Heather, and thanked her for her service.
Restaurant review?
As far as the Grove, "Been there and done that!”
