2012 Euroride Leaders - Goodbye Theo

[PoppaNoDoz]

There are pages and pages on Facebook mourning Theo already. Clearly a testimony to the impact the man had the very brief amount of time we knew him.

Theo was a ride leader on the 2012 Euroride and we (Capt T, Ronin, Theo, me) spent every Saturday together for something like 6 weeks. Getting the route right, coming up with ideas on where to eat, making notes on construction, start and end times, etc.

Theo saved the day, as we had to scratch the original run weekend for rain and we lost our spot at a restaraunt. Theo and Tiphani found us a new place to eat.

I just happened to see Theo before he died - we bumped into him, Leanne, Chris at a restaraunt. His Triumph wouldn't start. He kept a good spirit about it, made a few jokes, said he was waiting for a tow truck.

That was the last I saw him. I left him a note on Facebook saying "hey man, did you make it home OK?" a few hours later - he would never answer that question. I won't say that I "knew" Theo - honestly I think only a very small number of people actually "knew" him. I knew him as a rider, as a ride leader, as a motorcyclist. He was my friend, he was our friend.

The Euroride Leaders decided to let the dust settle down and the shock wear off - at the very least for us, and to come out on August 18. We'd ride the last route he rode, stop at his site, spend time talking about him and how we knew him.

Mostly, honestly, we are hurt and we're angry. We walked that stupid site, walked every angle we could look at it from. It doesn't make any more sense now than it did when Chris called me. We had to leave, there was discussion brewing on where the driver lived and what his address was. Nothing good would come from that.

Anyway - I was reluctant to put this up. So much has been said and we don't want to get caught up in the histrionics. The man deserves to be mourned as a man. You put him in the boat, set it to sea, set it on fire and you hold your tongue.

Still, Theo LOVED riding, he LOVED leading rides and I believe he genuinely LOVED the life that he was living. Part of honoring him is honoring what he loved and I hope the little I can say and the small amount I can acknowledge his love is sufficient.

P.S. I hope that left turn was the most important one you've ever made. I hope it was worth our friend's life . . .

[Alex]

looks like a good ride.. just as he would want

[vfrsam]

Once again, a hell of a guy.

[PoppaNoDoz]

looks like a good ride.. just as he would want

It was actually perfect. It POURED from Tampa all the way up to almost Brooksville. My tires are race takeoffs and I was on 275 in ankle deep water through the construction zones with my front tire catching grip, losing it, catching it again.

We all knew it was gonna rain, we all came out anyway. The rain added to the feeling, it didn't take away from it. You really have time to think about your friend and his experience when you are praying not to slip in traffic with no visibility and cars in both lanes behind you with no shoulder.

The gods of motorcycling smiled on us and provided us with a day fit for the event - none of us got hurt, but before the day was over all of us were reminded how fragile our existence is.

[Tiphanid]

glad to hear you finally got your ride in, looks like a smooth day hopefully not full of too much rain... (submitted before I saw your last post)

Theo and I's random ride turned into a ride up to the original lunch spot for the '12 Euro ride, where we later met with Ray and froze on the ride back. It's was my longest ride with him, it was genuinely a great day/night...

-Theo knew really wanted me to go on the Euro ride, and as the day got closer I became unavailable, however on a day I finished class early, we rode earlier in the day w Chris park, just a quick loop around Patterson, then I had to leave for class. After class, we met back up and aimlessly rode to Wesley Chapel, where we refueled and he asked when I needed to be home. At that point, I knew what he had in mind and we rode... I got to experience most of the Euro ride that day and it worked well as he wanted to do one more pre-run before the ride. Everything happened for a reason that day and it was fantastic; long day of riding, which benefited both Theo and I, last minute destination change for the ride, which helped the ride go smoothly, and I got to meet Ray and his lovely lady Chris.

thanks, Scott for bringing forward the memory
... it hasn't been the same without him.

[Ronin]

I rolled the bike into the driveway in the rain, I put it back in the garage in the rain. I looked at my full rain suit and thought, nope, I want to feel this today. I did, I got soaked and dried about four times total. It fit my mood perfectly. I actually love riding in the rain and its a great time for reflection, my peaceful place, my spiritual time if you will. For me it's the best ride. Todays ride allowed me to reflect on Theo and his impact upon us in such a short time.

He'll be missed...........

[ApogeeNow]

He'll be missed...........

Yes, he will.

[pop]

great photo's. the missing man formation photo at maws, very touching. excellent p.s. scott

[echoraven]

Quite a bit of thought has been made about "knowing" him; to me that doesn't mean much. I mean, how much do we really know anyone? The Important thing is to miss him; to feel both that your life is a little bit less because he is gone and yet a little bit more because he was in it.

[Ronin]

great photo's. the missing man formation photo at maws, very touching. excellent p.s. scott

The odd thing is we didn't plan it, at least I gave it no thought, I stood, Ray stood on my left, Scott was setting the camera on a cars trunk and came and stood on my right just before the photo. I just remember Scott saying "I'm not smiling for this" and thought, "it didn't even cross my mind to smile". Kinda weird though.

Jim

[Jgennaro]

Thank you for this post Scott.

Theo was an awesome person and cared for all of his fellow TSB members. This was obvious to all who were exposed to him.