All Members Must Read This- Tone

[nater]

When I saw the post's title, I thought, "Whatever Tone needs, I'm going to help him out." Then I read the post and a chill ran down my spine.

RIP Tone.

Nate

[AlaskaVX]

Man, I have been a here for a long time, never met the guy, but he was one of the biggest influences/help guru's on my build. Such a loss to this community. RIP Tone, you will be greatly missed.

[PHO2GR4]

Wow. Just wow.

I was really looking forward to seeing him again, now that we've relocated to Austin. This is horrific news.

For those of you who never had the pleasure of meeting Tone in person, he was a very genuine, kind, real person. He made a trip out to Seattle a few years ago for a VX gathering, and really impressed me in all regards.

I hung out with him again in Moab a couple of years ago, which reinforced my opinion of him as one of the "good guys".

The world is a lesser place with his absence. Best wishes to his family.

[Anita]

Wow… I’ve been speechless ever since I heard the news.

I’ve known Tone since 1999 when I first started my obsession with the Vehicross in the days before VMag when there was a few owners on Edmunds.com. He and Lisa Ketrick of Los Angeles were the two owners I started corresponding with when I was thinking of purchasing a VX. It was with their great advice and enthusiasm that I ordered my 2000 Ebony.

I came to know Tone as a complex man; smart with a quick wit, a man of many talents, at times abrasive (he never shirked from a donny-brook and there are posts to prove it ), but he also could be giving and nurturing. He even allowed himself to be vulnerable with his closest friends. He was a driven man. When he had an idea in his head to do something, he DID it. He made things happen.

He had the greatest passion for the VX. I looked again at that great picture of his Ebony flying through the air at a monster truck rally. He lived hard and played hard. It was because of him that VX owners had accessories! Brush bars, step bars, interceptors, brake flashers, seat-extenders, tow hitches, rear-door poppers, and the list goes on and on. I think most of the VX’es on this forum have some aftermarket part that came directly or indirectly from Tone. He supported others who wished to create accessories for us, like Ron of Vehicross Concepts and John FInnell of Powervault mufflers.

He adored off-road fun and looked forward to the yearly Moab trip. At various meets he would bring his VX goodies and install them on our VXes. The Texas and Moab VX clan can tell you all about that. My rear-door popper and brake flasher were installed by him when he was here for a Los Angeles meet.

He adored his daughter. I remember years ago accompanying them to a cheerleader meet to watch her compete. He was a very proud dad.

Tone and I banged heads many times; strong personalities in a china shop. I am glad that we waved our white flags a while back and stayed neutral since. He is leaving a lot of people who loved him and will miss him deeply.

I am reminded of my own mortality once again in the face of losing the third friend this year, all who died too young.

Rest in peace Blondie.

[ron]

I am at a loss for words here. I wanted to express my deepest sorrow and sympathies to Tone's family and friends. I had the pleasure of meeting Tone back at the LAVX meet and was humbly at awe with him. He was the greatest VX mod-king IMO and will forever hold that title.

Thanks Anita for letting me know about this shocking and unfortunate event. I will always remember Tone for what he was and the inspiration that drew us all to him. RIP Tone.

[cyronman]

Sad news...

[deermagnet]

I'm in shock. This is devastating news. I've been reading Anthony's helpful posts since March 2000 on the suv.com board. He replied to my first ever VX post asking for info just days before I bought mine.

RIP Tone.

Mark Griffin

[geshaw30]

I came to know Tone as a complex man; smart with a quick wit, a man of many talents, at times abrasive (he never shirked from a donny-brook and there are posts to prove it ), but he also could be giving and nurturing. He even allowed himself to be vulnerable with his closest friends. He was a driven man. When he had an idea in his head to do something, he DID it. He made things happen.

Perfect Anita....truer words never been spoken. To those people who have never met Tone the above paragraph sums the man up.

[MSHardeman]

I really have no words to describe the depth of my pain and sadness.

Tone, you will be greatly missed.

[navistar]

To Tone,

I hope this doesn't sound trite but from now on every time I look at my tow hitch I'll think of you and I have two of them. Thank you Tone.

Navi

[zadam123]

RIP, This board wont be the same. My thoughts and prayers to his family

[Riff Raff]

A true VX legend has passed; perhaps the biggest and certainly the most influential VX member on this entire site. I am terribly saddened by the news.

When I first bought my VX and joined this forum, TONE was one of the very first I sent an E-Mail to asking for advice. He always quickly replied, and as we chit-chatted via E-Mail I found out we both owned '68 Mercury Cougars. Just the other day, I was browsing at different photo's on the forum, and came across one entitled Tone's Birthday, which depicts TONE smiling and holding a birthday cake. I remember thinking to myself, "what a fun looking guy to hang-out with".

Whenever I saw a posting by TONE, I always made a specific effort to read it, as his advice was considered the gospel truth above all others. Many, many, times TONE's posting was the very last posting on a thread simply because "the guru has spoken", and no one could even come close in matching his sound advice.

ToneMonday's website-- the "only" dedicated site for VX aftermarket parts. I surely hope that the legend of TONE will continue to live on in his VX parts website known as ToneMonday and operated by a family member; not only for his awesome VX accessories, but as a way to pay special tribute to a true fallen VX hero.

R.I.P. TONE. May God's gentle hand lift you up high above the angels, so you may have a full panoramic view to watch over your VX flock here on Earth. Riff Raff