Timothy Luis Fontes, a long-term British resident of Japan, passed away on June 27 at the age of 51. He was very sociable and had a sharp sense of wit. He was also my friend.
Grieving a friend is a painful thing, and it is made more so in that Tim and I had similar lifestyles: Like Tim, I am unmarried and planning to live here for the foreseeable future.
I learned of his death from a mutual friend who discovered him in his apartment. His door was unlocked. Had it been locked, we would have needed to contact his estate agency to gain access.