'Freeing people who are trapped in nursing homes'

"Tim was in shallow water and he was disoriented," Donna said. "He knew I would be coming home for lunch, so I look at it more as a cry for help than a suicide attempt, but it was very scary. That was when we looked into Inglis House, where he could be with people all the time, make some friends and not be so lonely."

At Inglis House, Kinniry created a job for himself: buying candy at discount stores and reselling it to the nursing-home residents at a small profit. He rides public transit from his new South Philly home to Inglis House every day to sell candy.

"I'm just the Average Joe who goes to work and comes home and watches sports - and, I hope, eventually gets married and has a family," Kinniry said.

"When I was a kid, Mom always said to me, 'When the boys and Dawn get married, it's going to be just you and me.' I got ticked off at her because it felt like she didn't think I was going to do the stuff everybody else does. But I am."

His mom agreed. "It's hard for a mother to admit after taking care of him for his first 27 years," Donna said, "but Tim's made a life for himself. I am so proud of him."

When last seen, Kinniry had just wheeled in from the foul weather and immediately instructed the young woman working the Marine Club front desk to tell this reporter what a great guy he is.

"You want me to tell him about your wife and two mistresses?" the woman deadpanned. "No!" Kinniry said in mock horror.

The two went at it for awhile, Kinniry laughing, trading wisecracks, hanging out with his new friend in the lobby of his apartment house - just like an Average Joe.