The friends you make and the one's you loose in the hobby

[Allegheny2-6-6-6]

 I have watched all of The Great Model Railroad video series and have talked to many modelers over the years at train shows and open houses etc. As in the video's as well as in person one common thread seems to be how many good people we meet and how many friendships we have made over the years,  some with people locally and some across the country or on the other side of the globe in some cases. A few years back I was fortunate enough to meet an outstanding model builder by the name of Dennis Santora from Hammonton New Jersey. We met at a local train show where I was blown away by his model building skills and over all personality a genuinely nice guy. You know when someone is just being nice to you so you'll buy their stuff and then just the regular Joe. We became really good friends and Dennis built many of the structures for the new layout a few are posted below. he built many building for a lot of guys in our area and I believe he even entered and maybe even placed in some of the MR photo contests.

He was more then fair in his pricing and most of the time he refused to take money and we would swap for things like wiring or making trees or stuff for each others railroads. Maybe not the best business practice but a heck of a good friend

My friend passed away yesterday from of all things a tic bite. He will be greatly missed and the best tribute I can give him is that his memory will live on  in his structures on my railroad

Sorry if this post is too depressing and if the powers that be feel it needs to be deleted I fully understand I just figured what better way to pay tribute to a fellow modeler, God speed my friend you will be missed

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[tomikawaTT]

The greatest irony is that the only guarantee we have in life is death at the end of it.

I never knew your friend, but I can feel your pain - I have outlived most of my closest friends and all but a few of a rather extensive family.  You can do him no greater honor than to do what you have done - given his models a permanent home on your layout.

Above all, remember the good times.

Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)

[tstage]

Allegheny,

No reason to apologize for your post.  It's a very honorable tribute to your friend and the pictures reinforce that.  I am also very sorry to hear about the loss of your friend.

Tom

[selector]

I think it is a nice tribute to someone who influenced you.  I'm sure I would have liked him myself.  God rest him.

-Crandell

[rjake4454]

Allegheny2-6-6-6

My friend passed away yesterday from of all things a tic bite. He will be greatly missed and the best tribute I can give him is that his memory will live on  in his structures on my railroad

I am so sorry to hear about the passing of your good friend. May he rest in peace, God bless him, and God bless you for making this wonderful thread in tribute to him.

Indeed it is an inspiration to us all, life is so short and precious, we must all remember to cherish family and good friends. Thats what is so great about this hobby, it can live on through generations, brings family and friends together, so many memories that will never fade.

Take care.

[BRAKIE]

Allegheny,Sorry to hear the passing of your friend.He sounded like he was quite the friend.

Sadly,I been there more then I care to mention but,their memory will live within my heart.Good solid friends all.

 Come to think of it with each passing year there's fewer long time friends around.

[spidge]

I am sorry for your loss. Your thread is a great tribute to him for his great skills in modeling and relationships. He will never be replaced but we can all hope to find such a friendship that will last.

Thank You, for sharing his model photos with us and your reflection of his freindship.

[RailfanS]

Sorry for the loss of your friend,

By the looks of those structures he was a great Model Railroader. May he Rest In Peace.

Regards,

Jamie

[reklein]

Allegheny, nice little memorial for your freind. Its like when we were kids just when you start havin fun somebody has to go home.  BILL

[fec153]

Ditto to all the other responses.  Yeah, I too know the pain.

Phil

 

[AntonioFP45]

 Very good and appropriate thread, Allegheny.  I'm so sorry for your loss and understand. Wonderful how you are honoring his memory.   It's absolutely good to see that the guys here are being supportive. No doubt that you formed a solid bond with this gentleman. I lost a wonderful friend who was a retired locomotive engineer and posted the info on a thead on another forum.  Not a single response, which really saddened me more. Goes to show that despite ups and downs, we have a good group of people here.

May your friend rest in God's Peace

[Allegheny2-6-6-6]

To all who have posted such nice responses thank you very much. I posted a link to this on an online memorial guest book a family member had started.  I also sent a link to his wife who also was an avid rail-fan as well. I'm sure they will very much appreciate all the kind words

[CTValleyRR]

8500HPGASTURBINE

Allegheny2-6-6-6

My friend passed away yesterday from of all things a tic bite.

 

After reading that when walking the dog today I was looking all over the place for Tic's. I never heard about anyone who passed away from a Tic bite. Was it from Lime disease or something related to that?

 

Mike

Ticks can (and do) carry both Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.  Both can be fatal to someone with a weakened immune system.  Living as I do only about 3 miles North of Lyme, we are very, very conscientous about performing tick checks after working or playing in the woods.

My father successfully battled leukemia for 6 1/2 yrs, and was ultimately felled by the common cold because his immune system was too weak to fight it off.

Allegheny, my condolences on your loss.  I think that is a terrific tribute to your friend to display those structures so prominently on your layout.  I, too, have numerous structures which are a little out of place on my layout, but stay there because they are my father's handiwork.