Date: Wed, 27 Dec 2023 10:49:09 -0800
Reply-To: SC Strawn <scstrawn@VERIZON.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: SC Strawn <scstrawn@VERIZON.NET>
Subject: Re: A sad day, Scott Foss has left this realm
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I've been on this list for 20 years, and lurking before that. I always
appreciated Scott's practical advice, and his generosity in sharing his
abundant knowledge. His tips have often helped me keep my van going, and
I have tried to "channel" him often over the years.
My favorite response he gave to those who were asking about a problem,
without mentioning anything they had done yet to try to solve it: "Have
you LOOKED at it yet? Go LOOK at it". He was right. Can't have that
light bulb moment of seeing what's wrong, or even successfully ask for
help, until you look at it.
I am sad to hear of his passing, and sad for you, Karl, in the loss of
your friend and a good human, and for all of us in the loss of such a
good list member and resource. I am particularly sad that he never got
to get out of the hospital and work on his beloved vans again after what
sounds like an prodigious struggle. I am glad he is out of pain and at
peace.
Sally Strawn and "Vanna White"
> On Mon, Dec 25, 2023 at 8:46 PM Karl <tdiguru@westyventures.com> wrote:
>
>> I'm sure a few of the oldsters here remember Scott Foss aka Turbovans
>> aka Scott Daniel depending on where he was posting. I met him quite a
>> few years ago when we were both deep into turbodiesel Vanagons. He moved
>> his shop around a few times, from northern California, to Port Townsend
>> Washington, to Talent Oregon as the last location. He once had a printed
>> catalog of new and used Vanagon items he sold. He also had an online
>> journal which he updated occasionally with his thoughts.
>> https://turbovans.livejournal.com/
>> A search on Scott Turbovans etc might turn up more of his writing.
>> He had semi-retired and was living in a small community in Hawaii where
>> he bought - or rented - a two-story cottage, coming back to Oregon
>> occasionally to play with van projects, of which I think there were 17
>> at the time. In 2016 he had a tragic accident one night, falling over
>> the railing of the second floor deck of the cottage after tripping over
>> a bucket, down onto lava rock where he laid partially paralyzed for
>> three days until a friend found him. He told me he was incredibly lucky
>> to be alive. He had been in different hospital and treatment facilities
>> around Colorado, Oregon, not sure where else, ever since the accident. I
>> visited him a couple times in the hospitals and tried to stay in touch
>> via his cell phone, conversation often gravitated towards Vanagons as
>> they were the main love of his life even then, it seemed. Because he
>> couldn't pick up the phone, I'd call and leave a message, then the nurse
>> would set him up to talk with a headset and call me back. I hadn't
>> spoken to him for over a year so I recently called on his birthday to
>> see how he was doing, his recorded message was gone, I never received a
>> callback.
>>
>> Concerned, I messaged a friend of his, Ruth Temple, who accompanied him
>> one time when he had visited my first shop here in Oregon, and received
>> a reply yesterday that read:
>> "Scott did pass away a year and a half ago. He had amazing stamina and
>> lust for life as you know. Thank you for your concern."
>>
>> I spent most of the evening yesterday in sadness over the news of my old
>> friend. I had hopes that he would someday spend time outside the
>> hospital, even if it meant in a wheelchair. He was an fun, energetic
>> guy, out of the box thinker and a bit of a 'McGuyver' like me, and I
>> will miss him greatly. I'm sure those of you whose lives he touched feel
>> the same. I just wanted you to know.
>>
>> Karl
>> westyventures.com
>>
>
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