Member Contact Joe Van Datta

[rhinoman]

Hi All,

I used to send/receive messages from Joe but they stopped last year and he has not posted in that time either.

Has anyone heard how Joe is or have another contact, I'd like to let him know my Tbird is scooting along with some parts I purchased from him? I phoned him a few years ago and he was chuffed, I am located in Australia.

regards and thanks

Graeme

[phjohnso]

I have reached out to Joe on his personal email but still have yet to receive a reply. I don't know what happened to him at this point.

[rhinoman]

Thanks, hope all is well. Graeme

[jlvandat]

I am Joe Van Datta's son and need to share some sad news regarding my father. Dad passed away May 22, 2009. He had been diagnosed with cancer back in October of '08 and went through surgery and was recovering well when complications arose. He fought hard, especially for a man of 84 years.

I wanted to share this news because there are those here at the Tbird Forum who have shown concern, and I wish I could report differently. Dad often spoke about the people he had met here and loved to share stories of how he had helped other Tbird owners. He was passionate about his 'Bird and this website allowed him to share that passion in ways that made him very happy while feeling connected to people all over the map. It was a big part of his life and kept him young and enthusiastic well into his eighties.

Thank you to everyone who was a part of his life. He is deeply missed.

Jeff

[phjohnso]

Dear Jeff and family...

Please accept our sincere and deepest sympathy on the loss of your dad. We will all miss him. Joe was a regular contributor on tbirdforum.com for the last 10 years and was always kind and helpfull to all the members that asked for help. His enthusiasm and vast knowledge about thunderbirds was appreceated by all here that knew him and received his help. Knowing that your dad enjoyed being part of this community that I started 10 years ago makes me feel somehow more satisfied in keeping tbirdforum.com free for all members so that they can share with one anther the love of their cars.

It was clearly evident that your dad LOVED his bird and I think it was even bird of the month a couple of times. Joe may not be with us now but I'm confident if there is a thunderbird shop up in heaven then your dad is surely managing it.

If you would like to send me some pictures and stories about your dad and his tbird I would like to create a tribute page in his memory here on tbirdforum.com

Let me know if you need his bird to go to a good home where it will be loved and cared for just like Joe used to do.

Thanks you for letting us all know.....

sincerely

Paul Johnson - founder - tbirdforum.com

[rhinoman]

Thanks Jeff for letting us know of Joe's passing, he will be sorely missed.

Joe and I used to email each other after I purchased some parts from him which were shipped to Australia and I called him once in Burlingame. We had a good chat about our tbirds and what was happening. I felt connected to Joe - one of those weird things, my father recently passed away and was in the 2nd WW in the Pacific. Heck, he may have met Joe, "one of those Yanks with lots of money!" ;-)

Jeff, please let us know what happens to Dad's old 66'; would be good to see the new owner join the site and keep the history.

Regards, Graeme Anderson