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pnwkayaker Samba Member
Joined: April 01, 2008 Posts: 920 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. _________________ 87 Syncro Westy EJ25 ("Tardis")
Seattle Meetup at Marymoor (link)
A collection of Simple Useful Mods (SUM) (link) |
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photogdave Samba Member
Joined: April 05, 2004 Posts: 3052 Location: Vancouver Island, B.C.
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Abscate Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014 Posts: 22665 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... _________________ .ssS! |
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Wildthings Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005 Posts: 50347
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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: 15144 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 _________________
Abscate wrote: |
These are the reasons we have words like “wanker” |
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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! _________________ "Sometimes you have to build a box to think outside of." - Bruce (not Springsteen)
*Custom wheel hardware for Audi/VW, Porsche and Mercedes wheels - Urethane Suspension Bushings*
T3Technique.com or contact me at [email protected] |
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E1 Samba Member
Joined: January 21, 2013 Posts: 6556 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. _________________ ‘84 Westy, 2.1L with Digijet, 5.43 R+P, GT Gears
"Adding power makes you faster on the straights.
Subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere."
— Colin Chapman
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. _________________ 87 westy 2wd (NED) |
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dobryan Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006 Posts: 16503 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. _________________ She's built like a steakhouse, but she handles like a bistro! |
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Sodo Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2007 Posts: 9609 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). _________________
'90 Westy EJ25, 2Peloquins, 3knobs, pressure-oiled GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb |
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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 .. _________________ aka Pablo, Geary
9.36 @ 146 in '86 Hot & Sticky
'90 Syncro Westy SVX
'87 Syncro GL 2.5
https://guardtransaxle.com |
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