It is now a memorial on my Vx , installed by the great Tone himself !!! You will be missed by so many !!!!!
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It is now a memorial on my Vx , installed by the great Tone himself !!! You will be missed by so many !!!!!
I have been so touched by the outpouring of care and concern for my brother Tone, who passed away this past weekend. Thank you so much for what are your expessions of love for him. That comforts me and I'm so glad he was in some way part of your life.
I have crafted some words that can be found in the Austin Americn Statesman newspaper tomorrow. I will try to post that here soon, as well as some pictures that you might like to have.
Theservice will be held in Austin, Tx, on Sat. at 1pm at Remembrance Gardens. I can be reached at 713-303-4343.
Thank you,
Johnny
What did he die of?
Johnny, it's sad that we meet this way. My sympathies and prayers go with you and your family. I'll be in Austin for the service and am looking forward to meeting you and your family. I do wish it was on other pretenses.
Scott
[BTW I moved your post from it's original location to here]
My condolances and prayers to the family.
need to make up some kind of thing for him at MOAB.. rest well tony
Very saddened to hear this news. Tone was a good man who offered sound advice and backed up his talk with production. I always got a chuckle from his ribbing other members about their vx pipe dreams, telling them either no one has actually built xxx yet or "build it". Bought my s/c and many other parts from him with no problems.
Truly a loss to our community and my heartfelt condolences to his friends and family.
Anthony's obituary is in the Austin American Statesman today.
http://www.legacy.com/statesman/Obituaries.asp?Page=Lifestory&PersonId=125284134
Mark
Thanks Mark!
R.I.P., Tone
Having never met Tone in person, my impression of the man was formed only by what I saw/read of him on this site, and I think "Old School" summed it up pretty well for me. One of those enlightened few who had found his own path, and never hesitated to help others find their own in their own way.
That Tone happened to have developed a passion in life for one of the same things as all of us here I'm sure will always be remembered as our having benefited the most.
My condolences to Tone's friends and family for the loss of who I'm sure was a positive influence in their lives as well.
Sorry to be catching this late, much was said in other threads here that I would only repeat. I only traded emails with Tone on a few things over the past several years and well he was a large part of the reason I came to this VX forum and the vehicle itself. What a guy, what an icon and legend among VX owners. I am truly sorry and send my prayers out to all family and friends that he's touched. Ride that VX in the sky bud.
I have been trying to contact Tone this past week. Originally, I had posted a need for a hitch a couple of weeks ago...and this enthusiastic and kind-hearted man offered to discount me a new hitch. I was relentlessly e-mailing him all week and attempting to call his phone before driving up to Austin this Saturday to meet with him...not realizing that tragedy had happened to his family and this community. I am deeply sorry for the loss, my condolences and best wishes are offered to those who had the opportunity to know him. I am beside myself to have missed the chance to meet and know this man. God Bless him and all who are mourning. I will be in Austin, and plan to visit his memorial, although I am a stranger.
No one is a stranger in this family.... I'll help you with what I can
I met Tone and Lisa in Dec. when Tone put some mods on my VX... He was a generous man with a heavy heart, I spent a great day with a great person. I will miss the future that could have been. My condolence's to Lisa and his family.
OMG I am so sorry, Tone was the one who talked me into getting my VX, he got my my wind defectors from overseas and hooked my up with my VX to do the prototype clear corners. Sold me my supercharger and HIDS, seat extenders and door popper. I cannot believe it. I have some may emails back forth with him.
You will be missed... RIP Tone.
RIP Tone TonyB
I'm so sorry to hear this news. RIP Tone...
I first met Tone through a former employee and friend, who was Tone's roommate at the time. Shortly thereafter Tone came to work for me, and as everyone who met him knows, he made an immediate impression. :)
Tone had a lot of things in common with me. Both of us were single dads of daughters that were the same age, we were both the same age, we both liked Macs, and both of us were into cars. He was on his second VX at the time, the first one being totaled right after he bought it. He'd already installed several gadgets and mods, including a sunroof, in the second.
Tone knew how to live life, and he loved adventure. I went on a few of those with him, such as when we went to the Houston Grand Prix. I was there when Tone took his VX down to Corpus to run in a Porsche club autocross. Everyone else had sports cars, but there was Tone trying to get every bit of speed out of his black VX...with the 3.5L indicator on the side of car altered to read "5L."
Tone added NOS and a supercharger to his VX, and became a forum moderator (not sure if it was this one) at one point. This became an issue when he was working for me, when it came to light he spent a great deal of effort getting other people to do his work, so he could spend time on the forums. :)
I have never met anyone more enthusiastic than Tone, and I learned things from him that I never otherwise would have, had I not met him.
The last time I saw Tone, I was entering the freeway driving an FJ Cruiser and he blew past me in his Mercedes SUV. This was a few months ago. He didn't know it was me, but I'm sure he was eyeing the FJ when he made his move. This was vintage Tone. :)
I just returned from the service today, there were many VX's in attendance, including some that drove thousands of miles to be there. Tone had a lot of friends, and was always willing to lend a hand or do whatever he could to help out a fellow enthusiast. He will be missed.
To Lisa and the family, my condolences.
RIP TM.
-Robert
You could put the photo of Tone on it (the one they were giving away at the memorial service)Quote:
Originally Posted by Ms Moncha
Man I forgot to get my picture :(Quote:
Originally Posted by Scott Harness
Service was very nice and even tho not right circumstances , I was glad to meet everyone there.
I love when the fam comes together in time of need :)
I would say no photo...
but rather am embroidered/silk screened dedication on the back , and a favorite Tone phrase on the breast pocket.
I think Portrait type pics on shirts can look a bit tacky...JMO!
If a pic is the general concensus.....how about the one of Tone Jumping his VX??
jo
Yes, they definitly have to be done right! (the photo)Quote:
Originally Posted by JoFotoz
I miss you Tone! :heart:
I miss all the fun times spent in my garage with Tone, and because I'm somewhat mechanically challenged, he would often tell me "Now, what did I just tell you?"
Tone's the only person I actually enjoyed getting yelled at because in the end, he would do anything for you.... I miss you dearly bro!
Rest in peace Tone.
Breast Pocket area...
STOP TALKING ABOUT IT,
AND ACTUALLY DO IT!.
jo
Rest Peacefully Tone.
Prayers to all of us left behind
The whole drive back to Colorado, all I could think about was you and Tone. I'm sending you every last bit of extra energy I have in prayers and thoughts. I am very somber and It made for a very quiet ride back. :(Quote:
Originally Posted by VX crazy
Tons of love your way Lisa!
x2 stay close to the familyQuote:
Originally Posted by Moncha
Don't know if this is the absolute best place to put this post, but since we have been talking about dedicating this year's Moab to Tone and making t-shirts for him, I found an image that might be good.
I was trying to find the door popper installation instructions on Tone's CD that he sends with everything, and if you take a look at all of the pictures on there, there are some really good ones. There are a couple of him that are just spot on Tone, but the one I found seems like it could be a pretty good representation of him without actually using a picture (I agree that picture t-shirts can be a bit cheezy).
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/da.../Tone_Knob.JPG
What do you think?
That is perfect! But we need to Photoshop an 11 on there.
I just found out tonight (Thanks for letting me know, Anita). Really at a loss for words, but like I told Anita, I always thought of him as an invincible man. I guess none of us are invincible...
He's helped me out so many times over the years. I feel lucky to have known and met him. My condolences to all his family & friends. He was certainly a man who made an impact on our world. Rest in peace man.
________
PERSONALITY DISORDER ADVICE
I just found this, what a shock for Me and Linda don't really know what to say that hasn't already been said. Tone we will miss you.
Todd and Linda
Wow...Damn....I suddenly feel very very old
You guys should have heard the wonderful things that were said about Tone at his service. I cried like a baby. Here was a guy who would help ANYONE, anywhere, any time. He was a great friend to many, a good brother and son, and a very good father.
He liked music and cars and travel and fast things. He liked good coffee and Apple computers. (Maybe we were separated at birth?) He is definitely someone I would have liked more time with.
On one hand, 48 years is way too young to leave the planet.
On the other hand, he really utilized those years with a full life.
See you on the other side, Tone!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Public service announcement: although spelled 'Tone', it is pronounced 'Tony'. :)
I can't stop thinking about how much Tone meant to all of us. :cryy: I know that he would not want us to be crying and moping about, all down in the mouth. When I think of Tone, I am reminded of a quote I heard recently that totally describes Tone's philosophy on life:
"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, 'Atomic Fireballs' in one hand and 'a diet Mountain Dew in the other', body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!"
It was just way to soon, for all of us.
Thank you Laura, I just didn't know what to say that wasn't already said. I never met Tone, but what you just said was pretty much the impression I had of him.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ms Moncha
Rest in Peace my friend, you will be missed
This very bad news =(
REST IN PEACE TONE
RIP
RIP Tone :(