It was only a day or so ago that I wondered if bad news would come “in threes”. Specifically, we had heard that Ontario car builder Bill Snow had passed and then, suddenly, Jason Challlice – son of Gary Challice. I hoped not but, alas, it has. Yesterday, on Good Friday (you’re in good company bud), we lost our good friend Dave Roy aka “Davey Joe”. I don’t plan on eulogizing Dave here (you can read what his friends are saying HERE). I simply want to share a few thoughts.
About His Sense of Humour
I don’t have to tell you that Dave had a terrific sense of humour. You have to know that someone who used as his avatar a photo of Tommy Chong in character had an interesting sense of humour. I chuckled every time I saw that avatar. Being a prolific poster on the Canadian Rodder forum, his humour was everywhere and always spot-on.
About His Generosity
I’ve been told directly, and read about, many examples of DJ’s generosity. When we hear the word generosity, we tend to think about it in terms of giving tangible physical things or perhaps time and support. As I said, I’m aware that, in these ways, he was very generous. But he also had a generous spirit. I quote from my fourth Canadian Hot Rod Tour article:
“Upon arrival in Kamloops, we made our way directly to The Fortune Plaza. Wow, there were a ton of cars there and they were waiting for us. We were escorted through the crowd to the front of the restaurant where we were greeted warmly by our group and bunch of guys from the Canadian Rodder Forum. Neat stuff and I got another hug – from Davey Joe this time. Memorable moment of the day #3.” I was moved by this simple act of generosity and, of course, “comrodderie” as we call it around here. I had never met Dave or even talked on the phone yet he must have known I needed that hug.
The philosopher and writer Jean Jacques Rousseau said “When a man dies he clutches in his hands only that which he has given away during his lifetime.” There’s no way that Dave would have been able to clutch in his hands all that he gave to us.
We’ll miss you bud.
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