Tell me I'm wrong. RIP Dolph

[ducpainter]

DP, 'Diva,

Was there any response from the author of the original article to either of your messages?

I mailed the author again and he finally replied that he had no contact info for Dolph's bro and suggested I try an online source to contact him.

I got no reply from my phone message either...maybe I should try again.

I'm kinda torn...for many reasons. I've stayed somewhat silent on my feelings about this.

My gut feeling is that Dolph's brother David did not share his passion for bikes or forums, and as much as I'd like to be the guy that figures out a way that we can satisfy our need to 'do something' in Dolph's memory...

The other half of me wants to respect his brothers privacy.

I'm open to suggestions.

[orangelion03]

I rode in Dolph's honor yesterday - fast, smooth and very attentive.

Stopped in the middle of nowhere to talk to him.
It was easy to imagine he was there.

If there is a heaven Stop, its roads look like this. 

[stopintime]

............

The other half of me wants to respect his brothers privacy.

I'm open to suggestions.

Maybe we (we = DP) could print and mail this thread to Dolph's brother?

He can then read it if and when he wants.

[Stella]

Maybe the brother's silence is indeed due to his dislike of the moto life, a preference to grieve without an influx of internet strangers... but maybe other family members appreciated bikes. We'll likely never know.

It's human nature to want to rally in support, honor, memory of someone close. In this case and because of a lack of response from the brother, maybe we choose to do something individually, rather than collectively in Dolph's memory.  Whatever our individual way is.  Riding with some of his posts in mind, donating to a food bank, bringing blankets to a pet shelter, reading to a child, visiting someone in a nursing home.... or simply nothing.  

If you've left a message, I'd leave it at that.  My opinion / suggestion.  But thanks for reaching out to the brother on our behalf!  

[ducpainter]

<snip>
If you've left a message, I'd leave it at that.  My opinion / suggestion.  But thanks for reaching out to the brother on our behalf!  

Therein lies the rub...

The device I left the message on was a real answering machine...I think...not voice mail

how many of you remember them?

Did I get in under the time limit...

The writer will be no help...I don't even think he's in Ohio.

I guess I'll try to leave another message in a few days...I'll plan it better to have it be less than 20 seconds.

I don't want to intrude on his grieving...

[Charlief]

I sent a card expressing my condolences.  Nothing moto related.

[ungeheuer]

My gut feeling is that Dolph's brother David did not share his passion for bikes or forums, and as much as I'd like to be the guy that figures out a way that we can satisfy our need to 'do something' in Dolph's memory...

The other half of me wants to respect his brothers privacy.

I (based on nothing at all) agree with your gut.

Maybe the brother's silence is indeed due to his dislike of the moto life...... We'll likely never know.

If you've left a message, I'd leave it at that.  My opinion / suggestion.  But thanks for reaching out to the brother on our behalf! 

+1.

I can well imagine how my wife would feel if a bunch of those foolhardy riders from the death-inducing Dark Side .... were attempting to make matters worse by reminding her. 

Our collective respect is here for anyone who wants to seek it. 

Let it rest I say.

[Goat_Herder]

...  My gut feeling is that Dolph's brother David did not share his passion for bikes or forums, and as much as I'd like to be the guy that figures out a way that we can satisfy our need to 'do something' in Dolph's memory...

The other half of me wants to respect his brothers privacy.

I'm open to suggestions.

My dad passed away 10 years ago this July, riding his beloved BMW motard.  My mom was so sad and angry that she didn't want to have anything to do with the bike, which suffered only cosmatic damanage.  She couldn't bare even hearing the word motorcycle.

By the lack of response from Dolph's brother, my guess is that he doesn't want to be reminded of what took his brother's life away...

[The Bearded Duc]

By the lack of response from Dolph's brother, my guess is that he doesn't want to be reminded of what took his brother's life away...

Or maybe he's just dealing with the more important part of having a family member die.

Funeral arrangements.

If my brother just died I can't say the first thought on my mind would be to thank all the people who said I'm sorry. Let me make the beast with two backsing cry a bit, bury the guy, and get what he left unfinished sorted out. Then I'd think about reaching out to the people I have absolutely no connection to and thank them for their wishes.

My opinion, let the guy grieve a bit. When, and if, he wants to respond he will.

I am very grateful, DP, that you have taken on the role of ambassador for all of us here on the forum. And I'm sure that his brother, if he has received the message, is grateful as well. You've said your part on our behalf so give it some time and reach out again at a later date if you feel the need.

[MendoDave]

I mailed the author again and he finally replied that he had no contact info for Dolph's bro and suggested I try an online source to contact him.

I got no reply from my phone message either...maybe I should try again.

I'm kinda torn...for many reasons. I've stayed somewhat silent on my feelings about this.

My gut feeling is that Dolph's brother David did not share his passion for bikes or forums, and as much as I'd like to be the guy that figures out a way that we can satisfy our need to 'do something' in Dolph's memory...

The other half of me wants to respect his brothers privacy.

I'm open to suggestions.

I would suggest that we send his family or brother a DMF Toaster, and some sort of direction to this thread. Maybe we could sign the toaster, or it could be painted or something.

[Edit] After thinking about about it for a while, we could send it around to every local board (about 35) and have someone sign it with the local acronym from the board, and send it to the Ohio board last. Maybe a group could deliver it in person. I would be willing to pick out a toaster and sign it on behalf of the MOB, and maybe get it signed by Northwest, before sending it to Japan or OZ land. It would take a small effort to make a contact at the next Board and send it there. If we set up a fund for all the postage say 50 cents or a dollar from everyone, it would probably cover most of the postage.

It might take a while, but the effort could be worth it.

[CDChase1981]

I joined this forum about a year ago. Since then I haven't posted much, but I'm on here daily reading. I didn't always agree with is posts, but I always enjoyed reading them. I'll miss reading his posts.

R.I.P. Dolph

[metallimonster]

I will be more than happy to get the Toaster and take it to him.  I'm only about a half hour from where he lived. 

I too made a few calls and have got nothing back.  The writer at the paper said the family did not want to be contacted though.

[NuTTs]

RIP Dolph

I hate to be "the guy", but a lot of this talk about doing something he loved and living on the edge glorifies exactly what many of us had told him multiple times. Riding in the fashion he did on the street is very dangerous not only for the rider, but also possibly to the general public. It is a tragedy that this happened, but to those less experienced riders out there, take this to heart. Rethink your riding habits before it's too late.

I was on my way to most probably ending up half broken in a ditch at some point, I got onto a trackday to see what all the fuss was about.

I'm hooked, I do about 15 trackdays minimum a year - 20 max. Sure it is very expensive and time consuming especially with the odd 7-8 hour drive to each race track but it's worth it.

I traded in my super bling road bikes for a humble BMW F800R (you can still have a lot of fun with 85hp) and pimped out my 749 into a RAD02. I now have fun annoying litre bike riders with my 750, in relative safety knowing I wont run head on into a car/van/truck coming the other way. Or ride off a cliff and die painfully.

I too hope street riders do learn to get their kicks on track and live a bit longer, if not for themselves.. for their loved ones.

[RAT900]

When my cousin died after a long bout with cancer

his mother/my aunt said to me a week later with a wry laugh...."Being consoled is exhausting work"

in that, she meant that her grief was something that she preferred to express and feel in private,

listening intently and conforming to the expected grief role appropriately for others was more for their benefit than hers


probably best to leave it alone as a group

[Grappa]

Or maybe he's just dealing with the more important part of having a family member die.

Funeral arrangements.

If my brother just died I can't say the first thought on my mind would be to thank all the people who said I'm sorry. Let me make the beast with two backsing cry a bit, bury the guy, and get what he left unfinished sorted out. Then I'd think about reaching out to the people I have absolutely no connection to and thank them for their wishes.

My opinion, let the guy grieve a bit. When, and if, he wants to respond he will.

I am very grateful, DP, that you have taken on the role of ambassador for all of us here on the forum. And I'm sure that his brother, if he has received the message, is grateful as well. You've said your part on our behalf so give it some time and reach out again at a later date if you feel the need.

Agree.  Looking for a quick response isn't right.  Give the brother some more time, like another month at least.  He has got a lot on his plate right now.

I would suggest that we send his family or brother a DMF Toaster, and some sort of direction to this thread. Maybe we could sign the toaster, or it could be painted or something.

[Edit] After thinking about about it for a while, we could send it around to every local board (about 35) and have someone sign it with the local acronym from the board, and send it to the Ohio board last. Maybe a group could deliver it in person. I would be willing to pick out a toaster and sign it on behalf of the MOB, and maybe get it signed by Northwest, before sending it to Japan or OZ land. It would take a small effort to make a contact at the next Board and send it there. If we set up a fund for all the postage say 50 cents or a dollar from everyone, it would probably cover most of the postage.

It might take a while, but the effort could be worth it.

Disagree.  While this effort might seem worthy to you, and might mean something to you, I think it would be wholly lost on the family.  Seriously, a toaster?  I know the history of Toasty and all, but to them it will just be a toaster.  What the hell are they going to do with it?  Put it on the mantle?  They might even think it trivializes Dolphs' death.  Think about it for a bit.