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pnwkayaker
Samba Member
Joined: April 01, 2008
Posts: 918
Location: Sammamish, WA
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 Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2018 10:08 pm Post subject: Farewell Astro Guy |
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I just learned that a fellow forum member, Tom Lowell (Astro Guy) has recently passed away due to ALS. Even though he drove a highly modified Chevy Astro w/pop-top, he loved Vanagons (and Syncros especially), and he actively participated in The Samba until sometime in 2014/2015 when he was diagnosed with ALS (horrible disease).
I never met Tom personally, but we exchanged several emails and he always seemed like a nice bloke, with a great attitude. A fellow whitewater kayaker, his motto was “life is short, paddle often”.
Over at Expedition Portal Tom published a collection of pictures of his many travels with his Astro
https://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/a-t...er.140099/
There’re some great pictures in there, but mostly, they’re a manifest of his love for the outdoors (note to self: get out more often).
Rest in peace Astro Guy.
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photogdave
Samba Member
Joined: April 05, 2004
Posts: 3048
Location: Vancouver Island, B.C.
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Abscate
Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014
Posts: 22633
Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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| Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2018 4:04 am Post subject: Re: Farewell Astro Guy |
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My condolences to all those whose life he touched and made better...
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.ssS! |
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Wildthings
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 50332
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| Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2018 5:47 am Post subject: Re: Farewell Astro Guy |
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danfromsyr
Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2004
Posts: 15141
Location: Syracuse, NY
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| Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2018 6:51 am Post subject: Re: Farewell Astro Guy |
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Soo sad to hear of his passing here.
I've been a long time follower of his posts at Expedition portal forums and he's a large factor in why I bought an AWD Astro as a general/utility vehicle in my fleet.
here are all the posts from Astro Guy
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/search.php?search_author=Astro+Guy
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Christopher Schimke
Samba Member
Joined: August 03, 2005
Posts: 5390
Location: PNW
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| Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2018 8:47 am Post subject: Re: Farewell Astro Guy |
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| photogdave wrote: |
Sorry to hear this. A few of us met Tom out on the WABDR a couple of years ago and had the chance to chat with him for a time.
Really nice guy with a super positive attitude. |
Yeah, he was a really cool. Bummer!
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E1
Samba Member
Joined: January 21, 2013
Posts: 6520
Location: Westfalia, Earth
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| Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2018 9:21 am Post subject: Re: Farewell Astro Guy |
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I don't know him or even of him, but Thanks for honoring Tom regardless.
Class move, condolences to you, and to all those in his circle.
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Subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere."
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Last edited by E1 on Mon Oct 22, 2018 11:25 am; edited 1 time in total |
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RicoS
Samba Member
Joined: December 02, 2006
Posts: 583
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| Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2018 9:38 am Post subject: Re: Farewell Astro Guy |
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| pnwkayaker wrote: |
| . . . ALS (horrible disease) . . . |
Pray to The One and Only God that it remains an abstraction to you; pray hard.
Richie (near The Burgh) |
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mtnride1
Samba Member
Joined: March 30, 2011
Posts: 194
Location: la quinta, CA
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| Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2018 11:14 am Post subject: Re: Farewell Astro Guy |
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Very nice pnwkayaker that you put this up to honor Tom. Did not know the guy but may he RIP.
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dobryan
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 16494
Location: Brookeville, MD
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flomulgator
Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2013
Posts: 950
Location: Leavenworth, WA
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| Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2018 12:36 pm Post subject: Re: Farewell Astro Guy |
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Ugh. I almost ended up going to Gallagher Head Lake with him one year due to his incredible stoke level, but my van was just not in shape yet to survive the trip. He was a natural community-builder.
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Sodo
Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2007
Posts: 9600
Location: Western WA
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| Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2018 1:23 pm Post subject: Re: Farewell Astro Guy |
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Dang. Haven't met him but I do remember him discussing Gallaher. Of which I'd enjoy seeing again before the snow flies.
Stephen Hawking had ALS and was given a few years to live at age 22 yet "lived big" to age 76 (RIP mar2018). He was not able to drive though. Your health is everything, be thankful for health that allows you to do what you want (or you loved ones health).
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gears
Samba Member
Joined: October 28, 2002
Posts: 4391
Location: Tamarack, Bend, Kailua
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| Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2018 4:34 pm Post subject: Re: Farewell Astro Guy |
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Very sad .. RIP, Tom ..
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'90 Syncro Westy SVX
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