Many of us are still coming to terms with the loss of our friend and colleague Mark, or as many knew him on the forum old dad. It is only appropriate for the forum to remember Mark and the contributions he has made to the forum in his many years as a member and as part of the moderating team.
This section is to honor of Mark. Please use it to share your memories of Mark, funny anecdotes, expressing of grief, etc.
First time I met Mark was in December 2011 I think.
Canyon (famous ish member) bought his VTX from Texas and took an epic trip back to NH. That put he and I together as acquaintances that became close friends. The plan was for him to stop by my place, have a nice meal and a free place to stay. The next day I would escort him across the state to Rock Hill SC.
Mark was interested in meeting us so he met us midstate somewhere and led us ima cold, soggy ride that day. We shared a nice meal and all went our separate ways. That day he and I started as friends and became like brothers. From then on we seemed to make a way to visit about every 1.5 years. Other stories later.
But on that 1st day I we just how big of a rooster tail that bike would throw, it had a car tire on it then, it was impressive btw, probably 20'high at freeway speeds.
He helped me relax about rain riding. The good pointers and never was impolite.
I miss my brother!
I'll dig up a few pics of our meetings and share.
No Sig, someone whined and I lost it.. Crybaby....
This is the last interaction I had with Mark (see attachment below). When my wife and I moved to Spartanburg SC, I contacted him in an attempt to get together. I unfortunately became so busy with my job and we could not seem to connect. I wish we had. He has my respect for his service to this country as well, indeed. A good man, plain and simple.
I never met Mark, and we only ever exchanged a few posts on here. Old Dad was a user name that appeared in many, many threads. Mark always had some wisdom to share, and was welcoming to all the newbies.
My condolences to those that knew him and called him friend.
First time I met Mark he gave me 2 ride bells, his custom bells one for me, one for Tanya. My first one took a gremlin out and was gone. It upset me to say the least. During a chat one day he asked how it was holding up, I reluctantly told him the truth. A few days, maybe weeks later, a new shiny bell showed up.
Last year I decided i would not risk losing it, I retired it with one that had been grounded down. Tanyas bike was sold so her bells are waiting on her next bike.
I have these over my bike parking spot, not because gremlin bells protect me, no, these came from a man that loved everyone and would do anything for ANYONE!
These bells on display mean love and many many miles of smiles.
I snapped this pic this afternoon, thinking of this man and what he meant....
It made me cry again because I lost such a good friend. But in actuality....He gained his sister and father that went home before him.
Those of you that haven't met Mark, I am so sorry, he was a fine man!
More memories will come.
No Sig, someone whined and I lost it.. Crybaby....
Yeah, Mark was a Great Guy.. :0) …I’d ask how he was doing (as I have been known to do with people), and he’d immediately PM me as to not bring personal stuff into a thread and Hijack it …which I would NEVER do!! ..Still, that’s the way That-Man-rolled! By the Book! :0)
Now, Old Dad, he wasn’t on all the time, and things sometimes do get rowdy ‘round’here. But I noticed that things tended to quiet down when he logged-in – not because he was some Fire-Breathing Hammer-O’-Thor - n-nuthin’, …but because we all respected him, and we knew how He respected this forum, and how things should be around here. His succinct observations and calm demeanor has quieted many an outburst on this forum. :0) ...MANY! :0)
Very few people can pull that off if you can think about it? …Anybody can breathe fire. Mark didn’t have to. You have to respect a person for them to control situations like that. And Mark earned that respect. …He was a leader by example, was that man!
He spent a lot of time away towards the end. He spent much of that time taking care of a family member. .. In our conversations about that, I was impressed at how Selfless he was. …That was just who he seemed to be; making people ride-bells for the asking (for example).. He seemed to enjoy doing for others. He was Undoubtedly a Good Man.
Like I said on the previous thread.. I have no doubt about where he is right now.. None.. And I hope I get to meet him one day. I really do.
We lost a Good One. And, selfishly, I’m gonna miss him around here.
I've been gone and sounds like there's been much I've missed. I corresponded with Old Dad both on line and off. He was a full grown man, often a voice of reason. He will be missed. He will always ride with me in my heart.
It's been a while since this was updated.
This afternoon the wife and I were headed out on a road trip celebrating our ANNIVERSARY#25...
As we hit a spot on SC Hwy 122 at I26 I was reminded if the time (s) Mark and I met there. It was not often enough, bit, it was real.
I reminisced with my wife about how GREAT it was to chat with him, he always knew the right to check in. She met Mark several times and knew how GREAT he was too.
So, we get to our destinatiom, Gatlinburg Tennessee, to see this sign as we walk up t main street.....
It even looks like Mark!
Man I miss him, he was family!
I was on this site many years ago under a different name and went silent for the last three /four years. When I was a newbie Old Dad responded to my posts in a wise and kind way. I always looked for his posts as they were enlightening and insightful. I apologize I didn't post a condolence sooner. Yes, the community here will miss him as I do.