All Members Must Read This- Tone

[Hotsauce]

I'm as stunned as everyone else.

Can we pass the big ole VX hat around? Scott?

[CrnCnn]

I never met him in person but was hoping to some day so I can judge for myself what type of person he was. I wish the best to his family.

[tomdietrying]

I am so stunned at the news about Tone. He was well respected and will be missed greatly by the VX family. My condolences to Lisa, all his loved ones, and family.
Peace.
Tom

[Moncha]

George, thank you for the post. I was notified by Jay Dunford the day before yesterday and have been totally stunned beyond words since.
I, myself have known Tone for what seems a lifetime. In 1999 when he was here in Colorado for a vacation with his daughter, I asked if I could meet up with him, without hesitation, he said he would make it happen. That was my first "live" contact with someone that was as obsessed I was. He was the Master, I ate up every word that he said and felt extremely privileged when he allowed me to take photos of his ride. Of course that wasn't his attitude, he most likely thought of me as some nerd but, was accommodating.

As the years have gone by, I've watch this great man help many as well as grate on others. That was part of his charm, he always kept everyone guessing. No matter, he was a wonderful and (as Anita stated) very complex man and allowed only a few to become really close.

As I think of Tone, I remember times such as the Margarita Machine, a full sized commercial "slushy machine" that Tim G and Larry G brought to Moab. Tone and I probably polished off 5 gallons of margaritas each!

When Tone, Lisa, Jay and I rented ATVs and rode like bats out of hell through just about every trail Moab had to offer (Lisa and Jay, remember the green water?!?!? )!

Also the time we were going up a steep sandy hill and Tone buried his front end. Did he stop? No, he gunned it and threw up 20ft high rooster tails.

Tone HAND delivered a 200lb skid plate to me on way to Moab. We had a big BBQ and a house full of Texans! Love those icecream sandwiches!

He couldn't just walk by my dog Oso without giving him a big hug. The only human that could do it and keep all of his limbs I might say.

I could go on and on! Outside of the ones I have posted, I have hundreds of pictures to help with the memories.

I helped him with his website and will get in contact with his family to see what they want to do with it.

I consider myself a very lucky guy to have known Tone Monday and I will sorely miss him.

Lisa, Jay and Tone's family please accept my heartfelt condolences, I truly have lost a brother from a different mother. See you again someday, Tone.

In taking up the cause I have created a Memorial Fund. If you choose to contribute, please click the link.

[blacksambo]

A tough act to follow, for us all. This guy really had a passion, and genuinely carred about the very best when you really got down to the nitty gritty on someting. His steadfast-presence and definite opinions will be sorely missed, for sure. Adious amigo...or should I better say "true VX'er".

[JULIAN911]

When I got the phone call from Lisa, I actually felt angry at myself for not having spent more time with Tone these last few weeks due to our new born!

I'm one of the lucky VXers that lives in the same town as Tone and we became great friends over the years. One of the most fun weekends were when Tone and Lisa slaved away in my garage to help me with the supercharger... most of the time, it was Tone yelling at Lisa and I because we didn't know what we were doing... or we weren't doing it his way. But because we knew him all too well that we always managed to get him to laugh with us in the end!

I have a few exotic cars in my garage but now the VX just became the most exotic of them all because it is priceless with Tone's sweats in helping me with many mods.

There's a Memorial Service for Tone in Austin this coming Saturday at 1pm and I hope that many of you will be able to make it. If there's enough people coming to Austin, I'm willing to host a gathering at our house after the service in his honor.

I will post the location of the memorial service tomorrow.

Please let me know if you guys/gals are coming down.

[Ms Moncha]

Scott and I have been crying since Monday when we heard the news. We were just talking about Tone this past Saturday during our Colorado meet. We were all looking at each other's mods like the door poppers, rear brake flashers, hitches, etc., etc. Like Scott said, Tone was the first person he met with a VX, outside of our first one. Scott met him in Colorado Springs and brought back pics to show that he wasn't the only crazy one about a VX. When Scott was so sick this past year, Tone would call me asking if I needed anything or if he could help in any way, as did many of you. You fellow VXers have NO IDEA how your strength and prayers held us together (and still does). The best medicine for Scott was to see 5 other VXers this past Sunday. Now, we must all pull together and support Tone's family, Lisa, and Jay in this critical time of need. Scott and I have been talking about dedicating this year's Moab to Tone. I talked with Scott about having black T-shirts made up honoring Tone to be worn in Moab and we could dedicate the VX only run to Tone this year. Let us know what you think or if you have any other ideas. We must do something to honor this man and his passion for our vehicle. We can not let his passing go unnoticed and without celebration for his life and his friendship and his dedication to all of us. We love you, Tone, and you will be sadly and forever missed. I could go on and on but I can't see thru the tears to type anymore.
Laura (Ms Moncha)

[pbkid]

Now, we must all pull together and support Tone's family, Lisa, and Jay in this critical time of need. Scott and I have been talking about dedicating this year's Moab to Tone. I talked with Scott about having black T-shirts made up honoring Tone to be worn in Moab and we could dedicate the VX only run to Tone this year. Let us know what you think or if you have any other ideas. We must do something to honor this man and his passion for our vehicle. We can not let his passing go unnoticed and without celebration for his life and his friendship and his dedication to all of us.
Laura (Ms Moncha)

absolutely. i would be surprised if anyone in the family would have a problem with dedicating some of their time to an amazing friend to all of us.

[VCrossfan]

WOW.. I have never had the privilege of meeting Tone, but his knowledge of VX's and anything with wheels will be missed by all. And mainly my heart goes out the his Family. My daughters and my prayers are with you all.. R.I.P. TONE....R.I.P.

[Kenny]

Donna and I are just in shock.
This is going to take a while to accept.
Our hearts go out to such a giving guy and his friends and family.

[Ldub]

WOW. I am speechless and emotions are on a roller coaster at the moment.


My thoughts are with lisa and the rest of Tone's friends and family.

This is horrible, I don’t know what to say. He was one of the first VXers I ever talked to. I can’t believe he’s gone. I can’t imagine what his family is going through right now. He was a very good man and will be missed. If there’s anything we can do don’t hesitate to ask.

My thoughts and prayers are with his family.
He was such a great help to me and others on this site.
He will be missed.

Wow, this is horrible news. My thoughts go out to Lisa, and everyone else that was really close to him.

Bart

Happy Trails Tone....RIP.


jo

Donna and I are just in shock.
This is going to take a while to accept.
Our hearts go out to such a giving guy and his friends and family.

I, for once, am at a loss for words...
I can't even believe my eyes...this is just terribly shocking sad news.

Rest In Peace Brother, You will be missed an awful lot by many.

[Sprey]

I havent been here long possibly 4 months, but have read alot of writeups and been on tones site numerous of times looking at the products etc.

Then i came on here to read what this was about and i was truely shocked.
Very sorry to hear about this.

R.I.P Tone, condolence to family and friends.

[Ldub]

Scott and I have been crying since Monday when we heard the news. We were just talking about Tone this past Saturday during our Colorado meet. We were all looking at each other's mods like the door poppers, rear brake flashers, hitches, etc., etc. Like Scott said, Tone was the first person he met with a VX, outside of our first one. Scott met him in Colorado Springs and brought back pics to show that he wasn't the only crazy one about a VX. When Scott was so sick this past year, Tone would call me asking if I needed anything or if he could help in any way, as did many of you. You fellow VXers have NO IDEA how your strength and prayers held us together (and still does). The best medicine for Scott was to see 5 other VXers this past Sunday. Now, we must all pull together and support Tone's family, Lisa, and Jay in this critical time of need. Scott and I have been talking about dedicating this year's Moab to Tone. I talked with Scott about having black T-shirts made up honoring Tone to be worn in Moab and we could dedicate the VX only run to Tone this year. Let us know what you think or if you have any other ideas. We must do something to honor this man and his passion for our vehicle. We can not let his passing go unnoticed and without celebration for his life and his friendship and his dedication to all of us. We love you, Tone, and you will be sadly and forever missed. I could go on and on but I can't see thru the tears to type anymore.
Laura (Ms Moncha)

That was beautiful Laura, & dedicating this years Moab to Tone is a great idea.
I'm sure he will be fondly eulogized on the stoop at the Red Rock this May.

I, for once, am at a loss for words...
I can't even believe my eyes...this is just terribly shocking sad news.

Rest In Peace Brother, You will be missed an awful lot by many.

That was SO not enough, not for Tone...
I met the man for the first time in Moab, in 2006, he had just sold his VX, & was actually wheeling his AMG Benzo...not something most would even consider...he didn't think twice about it, just removed the front & rear valances, and down the trail he went.



Never one to be satisfied with just "going further", he capped off the weeks activities by wheelin' the Benzo up & down the infamous "Lions Back".


He MORE than went out of his way to make all the "noobs" feel welcome.
I'll never forget the first time we had a few bumps, to wash down that days trail dust. After a few adult beverages, we came to the conclusion that we must have somehow been seperated at birth...he was that kind of guy.
Always there to help out a fellow Isuzu brother or sister.
This is one of my favorite pics of him, carefully studying the line for Beej, who was a bit aprehensive about coming up out of the entrance to Hell's Revenge.




Tone knew he could do it, and after talking to Tone for a few minutes, Beej knew it too...he was that kind of guy.

There is so much more to be said...I'll let others tell their Tone stories.

You will be missed my friend...Godspeed.

[Moncha]

Getting back onto the subject of doing something special for Tone in Moab, I've designed a window sticker (probably 4in dia.). The idea came from his (IMO) most famous photo.
His tag line for the photo was "VX gives you wings"



How profound.............


Let me know what you all think

[SPAZZ]

Terrible sad news indeed.
I was actually thinking of contacting Tone about a SS for my YJ.
Strange things happen, like I moved right by Gpa Bob.
But in memory will he be on the Rubicon with me
as in memory I have had alot of Tone's Sarcasm and Mods galore.
Whenever next at Moab and/or on Hell Revrenge I'll Remember ol' Tony.

Lisa havn't spoke to you in a while, but please don't drink too much Jeager.
Keep going, keep everything alive in your mind and heart.

I'm truly sorry and my sympathies go out to Tone's Family and Friends.