Local artists feel the love of their community

Mentone area supports furniture maker Jeff Rymer following heart attack

Jeff Rymer is known to many for his artistry with rough-cut wood and for his friendship to so many in the area. He and his wife Silvia Costantino create original works of art — she with woven wares and he with log furniture. Their work can be found in Hummingbird at Loom, a their shop on Highway 117 in Mentone.

Rymer recently suffered a heart attack and was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. One of the couple’s many friends, Debra Fey, started a GoFundMe campaign to help. Fey says the left side of Rymer’s heart was operating at 15 percent efficiency, and the right side at 30 to 40 percent.

He underwent surgery to place several stints on the left side in order to save his life and give him time to heal sufficiently to withstand additional surgeries as needed. Although his breathing is better, he is weakened and being careful not to exert himself.

“My health is going to determine what I do next, but I love what I do,” Rymer says.

The town of Mentone and Rymer’s customers love what he does, too. Rymer and Costantino are beloved members of the community, and not surprisingly, the town was ready to help.

“Our thought was to create a fundraiser to help Jeff get through the next few months,” Fey says. “Daily needs are the greatest challenges for them right now. Jeff’s medical debt will just have to wait. Erlanger Hospital has a charitable organization that patients can apply to that will assist them with medical bills. They are looking into this. But the fundraising efforts are to help them pay for the necessities.”

Rymer was one of the first artists Fey met when she moved to Mentone in 2011 with her first husband, Rick. “When Rick became ill in 2012 with a rare and disfiguring head/neck cancer, we were already in the process of establishing our little shop, The Graceful Giraffe, in one of the small wood buildings along Highway 117,” Fey recalls. “Jeff’s shop was right next door, and we became friends.”

Fey says Rymer was always helpful and supportive during the five years of Rick’s illness. “After Rick passed away in 2017, Jeff and Silvia were always there for me, helping keep me distracted and offering to assist in any way they could,” she says.

“I have several of Jeff’s pieces, including a yard swing, a meditation bench, a tabletop, a stump bench, a cedar mantle we turned into a Native American flute stand, and a surprisingly dainty table that has a cedar top and a burled wood base,” Fey adds.

Rymer was born in Cleveland, Tennessee. A friend told him about Mentone in the early 2000s and suggested it would be a good place to live and start a rustic furniture-making business. He fell in love with small-town life and found a shop for his woodworking. He met Costantino in 2015.

When told that the fundraiser had collected almost $1,000 a day for three days running, Rymer told Fye, “All of your love is making me feel better inside and out.” Costantino added, “My life moment is changing again, but I live in love and gratitude.”

According to Fey, Rymer and Costantino are doing their best to tend to their shop, and patrons are supporting them by purchasing their creations.

“I greatly appreciate all the support we are getting from our friends and family — near and far — and even support from people we do not know,” says Rymer. “But then, you all are my family. Thanks to those who are contributing to the GoFundMe, and to those who will contribute. Silvia and I love you all for everything, including your prayers.”

To donate to the Buying Time to Heal campaign, go to gofundme.com and type Jeff Rymer in the search field.