TheSamba.com :: View topic - Erich Kircher needs your thoughts and prayers

Mon Nov 24, 2008 5:41 pm

Group hug! :D

Im waiting to see a post from someone who attended the service...I hope it was attended by some of the VW faithful. Who went?

Mon Nov 24, 2008 7:32 pm

It was a very nice service. There were so many people there. So many VW's in the parking lot. It got real emotional for me at times. Erich will always be in my thoughts....Kyle mr rhd

Mon Nov 24, 2008 8:13 pm

Oldbug.com wrote: Group hug! :D

Im waiting to see a post from someone who attended the service...I hope it was attended by some of the VW faithful. Who went?

It was a standing room only crowd at the funeral. There were probably 200 people (maybe more?) there at the service. Erich touched the lives of many people where he worked and where he "played". And many of them were there to share the moment. Erich and Wendy's parents and family gave us all some strength with their presence. Martin gave a very touching talk about his brother.

A group of us had caravaned from Mark Merrill's in Mountain View to Petaluma, probably 12-15 cars as people joined in during the drive. First, we gathered at Mark's and shared some stories. There were some funny moments just as if Erich was there. On the drive through the Golden Gate, Larry and Ray "behaved" most of the way and didn't let it all out as they would on the Solvang Rallye. (Ray let it roar a little in the tunnels before and after the bridge). But we all had such mixed feelings. After all, Erich wasn't there to join in the chase. Each of us had pictures of Erich and Wendy on our windows of our cars. They were riding with us all the way.

It was so perfectly stated during the ceremony, that Erich showed us all something with his friendship and presence. The importance of life is not how long we live, but how we live it. Erich crammed one heckuva lot of things into 40 years. What an example for everyone. Let's all hold that thought whenever we get together and enjoy life together just as he did. And always remember how lucky we were to share part of life with him.

Tue Nov 25, 2008 11:59 am

With Erich's passing this sticky may slowly drift away. I did not know the man, although I learned much about him reading this thread. One comment of Erichs personalty that rose above all was his genuine concern for people. So it's not surprising that thoughout this sticky there are entries from individuals sharing past and current events in their lives. With this in mind and to honor the man would it be possible to create a sticky that people can share, not sure how to say it, life events? Engagemens, weddings, births, etc. It could even contain thoughts and memories of past members of the VW scene. Maybe simply called Erich's Page or something. Just a thought.

Tue Nov 25, 2008 5:40 pm

I never had the chance to personally meet Erich, but felt like I did through our correspondence on Common Gear and emails. And through the various articles on his and his family's VWs. He will be sadly missed. I have had many close friends and relatives leave us in the last few years and one thing is for sure. It never gets any easier. Especially this time of year it makes it even more difficult to cope with the loss of ones we loved.

Wed Nov 26, 2008 9:24 am

I wonder if in the "Community" section Ev might be able to have a tab "Hero's Who Have Left Us", or something like that. There was Steve Mayes (I think that was his name) who was suddenly taken this last year from the bus crowd as well. Never met the guy (but probably was within 20 feet of him at Bad Camberg last year at some point), but from the responses and the pics, it is clear that, like Erich, he left a huge imprint on the hobby.

Just an idea, but I also know that to Ev's effort, management of such a thing might be difficult, deciding who is listed, what is posted, etc.

Wed Nov 26, 2008 9:53 am

Yes, another person suggested this.

I am open to doing that if someone wants to send me a photo.

I can make a "In Memory Of..." section with the person's photos and link to the thread on the site discussing them. There have been several other people this year as well.

I also considered making a Forum section for it but I'm not sure that makes sense due to the (hopefully) low thread count.

Wed Dec 10, 2008 1:17 am

Hi All,

This is an urgent call to all those who have known Erich, contributed to this topic or you’re someone who would simply like to pass on their respects to Erich’s Family at Christmas time. Realistically there is a time limit on this…until 15th December.

Could you click on this link to read the topic posted by Everett:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=332616

Mon Dec 15, 2008 1:08 pm

Just to let you all know the call for signatures is now closed.

Mon Dec 15, 2008 2:17 pm

Will a .jpg of the cards be posted here when it is done? I'd love to see them...

Mon Dec 15, 2008 3:03 pm

johnshenry wrote: Will a .jpg of the cards be posted here when it is done? I'd love to see them...

Yes Paul tells me he will post pictures in the next couple of days. :)

Tue Dec 16, 2008 11:48 am

Pictures of Erich's Card and Dave Mayes's Memorial artwork and card can be found on Dave's Split Bus Topic: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=3481524#3481524

Sat Jan 24, 2009 12:41 am

Miss you Erich. Sure isn't the same anymore man....Kyle

Sat Feb 07, 2009 3:25 pm

I didn't know Erich but I just wanted to point something out to all of you in case you haven't seen it. In the March 2009 issue of Hot VW's there is a picture of Erich, Wendy and their son posing at the back of the 48 splitty. It's a nice shot and very prominent in the article. The picture is in the upper right corner of page 67. It is the second page of the opening spread in the "Solvang" article. I know Everett mentioned that he could add that topic if there were pics and I'm sure R.K. would be more than happy to give that one up for a good cause.

Thu Feb 12, 2009 8:24 pm

I just wanted to take a moment and thank all of you who sent thoughts,
prayers and notes of support over Erich's passing. Recently, I received
a copy of the tribute that was published in the Vintage VW Club
newsletter and Rich Kimball's column in Hot VW. They were beautiful and
make me proud to have Erich as my brother.

Erich touched many many people and to read about the feelings others
had for him here on The Samda is wonderful.

Thank you all,
Martin

Thu Feb 12, 2009 8:27 pm

Thought I'd lighten the mood a little. This is my brother. Ain't he cute!

Thu Feb 12, 2009 8:29 pm

Erich and Wendy

Thu Feb 12, 2009 10:48 pm

Great pics Martin....I sure hope you are doing okay man. I know I miss Erich a lot. Him and my brother Jeff are doing the VW swaps now..Take care buddy....Kyle

Sat Feb 28, 2009 9:40 pm

Hello all.
After running this idea past Erich’s wife Wendy, and Everett, I have decided to tap this thread to solicit funds for a cancer research fundraiser I will take part in this coming July.

One week to the day after Erich’s passing, I was very suddenly diagnosed with cancer. Needless to say, it was a day I will never forget. Although quickly I learned that my cancer was very treatable, it was a bombshell to say the least. I had just driven vintage VWs with Erich in the Solvang event 2 months prior, had lost a relative to cancer the week after that, and had lost my own father Christmas eve 2007 to cancer. It was not easy news to take.

In the weeks and months since, I have undergone surgery to remove a tumor, two rounds of chemotherapy, CT scans and xRays and endless hours in front of the computer learning about my cancer and corresponding with people with similar diagnosis. Along the way, I met a very special, and inspiring patient, and research biologist who you can read about on my event page at the link below.

My future is optimistic, and my chances for recurrence very slim given the therapy that I have opted for. If it does recur, it is still very treatable. But along the cancer path, I have learned what it feels like to be a cancer patient, I have seen its impact on family and friends, and I have experienced firsthand the current state of treatment. I have also been the recipient of overwhelming compassion and support from friends and family during this time. And in Erich’s case, as witnessed here, seen the outpouring of compassion for him and his family. And I have decided to try to turn all of that into something positive.

My first goal is to trumpet the message of being an advocate of your own health. My cancer was in no way hereditary…. but it was detectable with simple self exams. Please learn what cancers you may be at risk for, and take the steps to diagnose them as early as possible if they should strike. Apathy in this area has taken many lives, some needlessly.

Secondly, I want to encourage people to support cancer research. Great strides have been made in cancer treatment in recent decades, but the norm of therapy (chemotherapy and radiation) is still borderline barbaric. Surprisingly to many, it is not terribly scientific. The silver bullet will come when the cancer cells can be targeted specifically and killed with surgical precision. I met a fellow cancer survivor on the internet who had nearly the same diagnosis as me 2 years prior. After corresponding on a cancer survivors forum on which he was a moderator, I found that not only did he live about 35 miles from me, but was a cancer biologist at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. You can read about him on my event page.

I will take part in a 24 hour bike ride in Charlotte NC in July called the “Booty Ride”. It is an established cancer research fundraiser that has grown every year. And I am not a biker. My sister, who lives near Charlotte and her husband have taken part in this event in prior years and invited me to do so. I will train this spring and summer, and hope to make 100 miles in the event. I am also very optimistic about the money I can raise, and will tap into the groundswell of friend and family who supported me these last few months. But I will ride in Erich’s memory as well and wanted to post here in his thread, inviting anyone who might be inclined to contribute to this worthy cause. For me, it is an honor to remember Erich in this way. Feel free to enter “For Erich” if you like when making a donation.

My personal event page is at
http://hob24.convio.net/goto/johnhenry

You can read all about the event, the research it funds, history, etc, at that site.

Thank you.

Mon Mar 23, 2009 10:21 am

Congratulations on meeting your goal John ! Good luck !