He owned and drove daily about 5 of 'em.

  A great man; a great loss....

Mike B.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jake de Villiers" <crescentbeachguitar@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, October 23, 2008 5:48 PM
Subject: Re: We lost an icon last night.

> Aw sh*t!  Bob  Donalds was a really good man and the repository of a lot
> of
> wisdom, some of it concerning these vans that bind us together.
>
> Good journey Bob, and smooth.
>
> On Thu, Oct 23, 2008 at 2:31 PM, Andrew Martin
> <campahvan@earthlink.net>wrote:
>
>> Daryl,
>>
>> I never knew Boston Bob personally though we did correspond a few times.
>> His contributions to the Vanagon community were immeasurable and it is
>> our
>> very good fortune that his wisdom lives on in our archives and in many
>> Vanagon (and Zamboni!) engine compartments.
>>
>> I will join you in toasting Bob tonight.
>>
>> Andrew
>> Bainbridge Island WA
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
>> Of
>> aatransaxle
>> Sent: Thursday, October 23, 2008 2:03 PM
>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>> Subject: We lost an icon last night.
>>
>> I am truly saddened and sorry to say that Boston Bob Donalds died last
>> night
>> at 2am.
>>  Those of you who just knew him from the list posts likely have only an
>> inkling of the true Boston Bob.
>>  I was fortunate to meet and become friends with him over the last few
>> years.
>>  He was a true individual that found his niche and pursued it with
>> perfection and gusto, both professionally and personally, thru most of
>> his
>> life.
>>  He had beaten cancer twice, once as a young man and again a few years
>> ago,
>> and the 3rd time finally got him, despite the pure stubbornness and
>> energy
>> with which he fought.
>>  He never complained about his life or any of the things that would have
>> beaten a lesser person down.
>>  We would talk about our businesses and customers and the issues that
>> small
>> business deal with.
>>  We would reminisce about the good old days when life was simpler.
>>  We would laugh and  complain about the things we had no control over,
>>  just
>> to have a laugh or two and make the day go a little smoother.
>> He helped me thru my sons cancer with words of caring and wisdom and
>> tried
>> to downplay the bad with his typical cranky old fart sense of humor...
>> Just
>> what I needed at the time.
>> I will make a toast tonight, from the bottle of 20 yr old Bourbon I have
>> been saving, and shed some more tears to the good friend that has gone to
>> a
>> better place and will suffer no more.
>>
>> Below is from his lifelong friend Shaun ...
>> Subject: Shine on You Crazy Diamond
>> >
>> > Come down, come down, Red Molly, called Sergeant McRae
>> > For they've taken young James Adie for armed robbery
>> > Shotgun blast hit his chest, left nothing inside
>> > Oh, come down, Red Molly to his dying bedside
>> > When she came to the hospital, there wasn't much left
>> > He was running out of road, he was running out of breath
>> > But he smiled to see her cry
>> > And said I'll give you my Vincent to ride
>> > --------------------------------------------
>> >
>> > I was very lucky to have spent most of yesterday with Bob Donald's
>> > at his bedside in Mass General Hospital. For three hours it was
>> > just the two of us, which was a gift. He was not conscious, but I
>> > feel he knew I was there and when his daughter Julia touched his
>> > hand later that night, he opened his eyes for one brief moment and
>> > smiled. He died at AM. I was praying that things would go quickly
>> > as he was not comfortable but now, is. Beyond his humor
>> > and irreverence, not to mention his intolerance for authority
>> > (gee, why were we friends?) I admired the way that he lived without
>> > complaint. From financial challenges to a 24/7 special needs
>> > daughter I never heard a "woe is me."
>> >
>> > Here's to Robert, I assume he and Charlie Valley are working up a
>> > new routine.
>>
>>
>> Daryl of AA Transaxle
>> (425) 788-4070
>> aatransaxle.com
>> 86 Syncro Westy..Happy the Camper
>> Zetec in the trunk
>>
>
>
>
> --
> Jake
> 1984 Vanagon GL
> 1986 Westy Weekender "Dixie"
> Crescent Beach, BC
> www.crescentbeachguitar.com
> http://subyjake.googlepages.com/mydixiedarlin%27