Thorn Cycles Forum
Community => Muppets Threads! (And Anything Else) => Topic started by: Danneaux on September 12, 2015, 05:00:23 AM
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Hi All,
The world shifted for me today, and became a little harder for awhile.
The Thorn Forum has lost a loyal but quiet member, my father Jack (membername jpine), passed at age 97 due to Alzheimer's, failing kidneys, and a leaky heart valve. Said he didn't want a funeral 'cos he had other places to be.
Named "Daddy" by my sister a decade before my arrival, he answered to nothing else and became "Daddy Boy" to my "Danny Boy", a traditional song he loved and played and a touchstone to his heritage. We were always close.
Bound to a desk job for over 30 years, he retired at age 63, early in my university studies. He reveled in his newfound hobby of bicycle touring and we took many rides together into the rugged, remote backcountry of Oregon's wilderness, including the Coast Range, the Calapooyas, and the Cascade mountain range. He was always game for a ride and put over 13,000 miles on his first tourer before switching to another with even lower gearing (I custom-made the compact crankset and modified the derailleurs to help him up the hills -- treachery and cunning over youth and agility, he said).
Father, buddy, touring partner, we enjoyed many of the same things and shared a passion for anything with wheels, cycling, camping, touring, custom gearing, and computers. He loved his, and spent the better part of his later days online, enjoying activities here. He knew of you all and cared a great deal about how you fared, following tales of mechanical bafflement and tours alike -- "Almost as good as going myself", he said, living his later adventures vicariously.
We did the last of the real adventures together on the eve of his 74th birthday, when we toured the alpine slopes of Oregon's Diamond Peak at well over a mile high. He had a fall that took out three ribs in an area so remote, steep, and heavily forested a helicopter couldn't have landed even if we'd been able to call one. In testimony to his grit, he rode another 35 miles on logging roads, dropping 2500 vertical feet till we could reach a fishing camp the day before it closed for the season. A lucky accident, as the woods were closed to wildfire the next day. Despite the early end and injuries, this remained "the best tour" in his retellings and shows how game he was for Adventure. He supported my own cycling Adventures without fail.
Alas, he's departed on one last tour, pushed on ahead to make camp and set up the tents, fluff the bags, and get the stove warmed up for dinner. I'll be there eventually, but have a few last roads to explore before I arrive to join him.
Take care, Daddy Jack; 'love you dearly.
All the best,
Dan.
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Our deepest condolences Dan.
Love
Andy & Marina
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Condolences to you and your family, Dan. I felt I knew Jack a little, if at secondhand from your reports, and enjoyed him hugely.
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My sincere condolences, Dan, to you and all his family and friends. He is off on his next adventure, may he rest in peace.
Best,
Iain.
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best wishes Dan
ian
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Our condolences and best wishes, Dan.
A life well lived.
What always came through in your posts and messages was the careful and dedicated care that you and your sister gave to Jack as his health and independence deteriorated - never easy, but I am sure made an enormous difference to him.
Take care
Lewis
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Dan,
You have my email.
I will call to talk when you wish. Just let me know,
All the best to you and your Sister.
John
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I shed a tear or two on your behalf Dan.
A very sad loss, may you have only the best memories.
Julian.
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Dan,
Deepest condolences,
Alfie
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Awe Dan what can i say except farewell Jack and keep a place for me up there in heaven. :'(..
he was most certainly one of the good guys he came into my thoughts many a time when i was out on my bike .RIP jack Dan give Denice a big hug from me .
anto.
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Take care Dan, losing parents is a life changing experience for us all. It's great you had such a strong relationship right to the end and someone to share your passion for bicycles with.
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Dan, so sorry about your loss. Your tribute to your dad does justice to a life well lived. My best to you and Denise. John
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What a wonderful relationship you had with your father, Dan! It really sounds like he made good use of his many years! May his next "place to be" bring him ever greater vistas of joyful adventure! It can't ever be easy to lose someone so close, though. My prayers go out for you and your family.
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My sincere condolences Dan.
Andy
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Dan, you have written a wonderful tribute to your dad. I will be praying for you and your family during this time of grieving.
- Dave
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Hi All, Dear Friends,
My sincere and heartfelt thanks to everyone for your kind and gentle words of comfort and tribute. Jack would have been thrilled and my sister Denise and I are deeply touched and grateful.
Though not a surprise, this has hit me hard and it will take awhile for things to be better. I'll get there, but I may have to gear down for the hills and ride the drops against the stiff headwind for awhile.
All the best and with much appreciation,
Dan.
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Dan, take whatever time and space you and Denise need -- we'll manage. If there is something we can offer from our time-and-distances, please let us know and we'll respond. John
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Thanks, John -- truly -- for such understanding and compassion.
Jack was very foresighted and asked Denise and I to make his prepaid arrangements in advance, but there is still so much to be done, and of course time needed to absorb it all and grieve, reflect, and celebrate a life well-lived.
I'll be around administratively, but perhaps not so actively engaged for just a little while.
All the best and many thanks,
Dan.
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Dan as I've said previously in other forums, may your grief not overwhelm your celebration of his remarkable, joyful and long life. Your description of your relationship says everything about you both.
Looking forward to our hoped-for meet-up towards the end of next month.
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Looking forward to our hoped-for meet-up towards the end of next month.
<nods> Surely. Sammy, things are uncertain here now, but should come into focus as time goes by. Let's keep in touch via Facebook and Thorn PM and email so we can work toward a date as things crystallize.
All the best,
Dan.
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Your Daddy has gone but the love remains.
Happy memories
Ian