Remembering Gleno - 5 years gone by

[Jake]

Tomorrow, somewhat unbelievably, brings the 5th anniversary of Gleno's passing. I'm not usually one to remember such things, but 'ol G'Mac has been on my mind lately. If you have been lucky enough to know him, then you know that he was truly one of a kind, and his legacy is one of the most enduring on these pages. If you didn't know him, you've prolly (sic) sensed that he truly was a character not to be missed by the many stories told by our members.

 

This photo is one of my faves as it catches him in a rare moment not flappin' his lip - just happy to be making new friends as was his specialty. He flew to Chicago to see for himself what the Chi-Town Crew was truly all about. When I picked him up at the airport it was freezing cold, and he of course was wearing shorts. This is a shot taken at the infamous inaugural Party at Paperbutt's.

 

Post your favorite Gleno pic, and share with us why you too felt like you were his best friend in the world...

 

[Les is more]

Two legends--

 

 

Lovin' up Buttercup

 

[Lone_RT_rider]

He did like wearing shorts, no matter what the occasion.

 

Spring Torrey 2004

 

 

Gleno overseeing the crew just prior to one of his world famous grilling excersizes.

 

 

The Torrey crew... as it was

 

 

That world famous smile

 

 

Gleno overseeing the help.

 

 

 

And a small video....

[texasaggie97]

Never got to meet Gleno but I have heard so much about him from so many on this board. I wish I could have meet him. I remember the post the night Gleno had his accident and the response of so many. RIP Gleno you are missed and I wish I could l could have meet you.

Blessings,

Todd

[Ron_B]

I'm not sure who took this picture, but it was taken at the Kopper Kitchen Restaurant the morning after one of Kathy R's parties.

 

[beemerman2k]

I have a picture somewhere around here of the effect Gleno's posts always had on me. That guy was a riot! He could totally insult you, ridicule you -- and I'm talking about the first time you interact with him on this forum -- yet you'd be in stitches!

 

Oh, here's the picture:

 

[Kathy R]

Great comedy has truth at its heart and Gleno always spoke the truth.

 

The first UN rally. Gunnison, Colorado July 2002

David Baker and the inimitable Gleno

Brant Herbert had the genius idea of photographing every participant, as they lined up for the group catered dinner, in a big tent at the camp ground

 

At Gunny with his RT

 

Torrey, Utah at Cafe Diablo in 2002 or 3?

 

Admiring the view from Mark Keicker's condo in Chicago in Dec 2002

 

He loved to feed us (Party at PBs Dec 2002)

 

In the basement party place with Tom Roe (two legends)

 

In Volo, IL checking out the wheels

 

At the UN in Gunny - this is the photo of the Chi Town Crew and all the adoptees

 

In Minny, MN at T Roe's surprise birthday party

 

In Chicago at the famous Lou Mitchell's with Jake

 

Party at Ron B's (or as Gleno named him Raaans)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[WURTY]

I just made me some ribbs last night and Gleno was on my mind telling me I was weak for not using Mansmith's Grilling spice on such nice chunks of meat.

 

[EffBee]

Thanks, Jake. A month doesn't go by that I don't play Lisa's video. I cry every time. There has never been a soul among us who has touched so many, brought so much laughter, helped as many people, hosted as many, nor shared his love with us as there was with Gleno. I stayed at his home numerous occasions, and he at mine.

 

Glen had lived a hard life at one time. It was partially circumstantial and partly of his choosing. But he overcame that anger and found so much joy and love in his heart, not just for his fellow man but for his lovely bride, Terri, and their family.

 

He was generous to a fault, a gracious host (something like 21 bikes and 30 people at his house for Tech Daze II), and a master with the BBQ. He had a knack for mixing just the right ingredients to create a set of flavors unlike anything you'd ever experienced. It was a gift. I've got a lot of his recipes, and try as I might it never comes out as well as when he did it. He could just look at a piece of meat and it would surrender and grill itself to perfection. Of course, that's an illusion, but it seemed that way.

 

I lost my father in Oct. '05, then lost my best friend from the motorcycle industry in January of 2006, and one of my best friends in life, Gleno, in February. It was a tough couple of months. But they would all have wanted us to continue to enjoy what we love, to pursue our passions and to live with gusto.

 

As Gleno would say, "Life is great. Celebrate!"

[Ron_B]

Another one taken in Chicago: Glen & Terri.

 

[T.M. Roe]

I don't think he had a sneak mode.

He had such a presence that you knew when he was in your state.

[Ohio48]

Never got to meet Gleno but I have heard so much about him from so many on this board. I wish I could have meet him. I remember the post the night Gleno had his accident and the response of so many. RIP Gleno you are missed and I wish I could l could have meet you.

Blessings,

Todd

 

Me to

[Chris K]

I can't find any pictures, I just have to get by on memories. Gleno was like a loving tornado. Even if you tried to stay on the sidelines he just sucked you into whatever was going on!

[Kathy R]

Torrey 4?

 

Chicago - Gleno and Jake

[Ron_B]

Torrey 4?

 

Yes, Torrey 4, Fall 2002. Having lunch in Escalante

[Kathy R]

Thanks, RAAAAANNN!!!

[Bob Palin]

Biff looking at the view from Mt Gleno this afternoon. (more to come)

 

[Bob Palin]

The view from Mt Gleno this afternoon, a series of small snowstorms moved across the area but it was mostly sunny. Amazingly for this location there was no wind.

 

I've stood at this spot many times over the years and thought that the view of Cathedral Valley from the point opposite must be amazing. Today Biff and I walked over there - the snow was knee-deep down the hill but patchy on the other side. When we reached the top we discovered that there is another one just beyond it, then another one, then... At the third one I gave up and turned back, I think the next view of Cathedral Valley would be from the valley floor!

[hANNAbONE]

...tIME hasn't healed this one. He still lives in my mind/heart.

A great fellow and a true friend.

Miss him and think of him all the time.

[KTM Doug]

Jake,

 

Thanks for posting this. Even though I stopped riding a few years back, I still think of Gleno a lot and remember the last time I saw him in Torrey doing wheelies down the main street with "Nando" just shaking his head watching. I also enjoyed seeing the other pic of him and our friend Rodger standing between Marty and Al. Good stuff. RIP to them both. And thanks PB for posting the pic I sent you awhile back from Un 1.

[Dennis Andress]

...tIME hasn't healed this one. He still lives in my mind/heart.

A great fellow and a true friend.

Miss him and think of him all the time.

 

Time is not not the healer we hope it to be. At best it makes the good memories strong enough to balance the loss we feel.

 

Ride good, Gleno

 

[ericfoerster]

Riding has not been the same without being able to call Glen and brag how far and how fast I went. I miss his posts here on the board and wonder how much pepto the mods had to ingest to keep his posts up.

 

I miss his posts getting pumped up for rides many months in advance. I was usually worn out by the time actual ride took place.

 

There is something missing without him.

 

Better to have known him and now miss him. There are some lucky people on this board who got to shred some tires with the man, break bread with him, and listen to his words. I am remembering him in all the light that was Gleno.

 

[yabadabapal]

In 2008 I was in Oregon. I was not yet a member of BMWST and not much of one now because I just have not participated much. But how I love this site and the people who belong to it and run it.

But it was Gleno who got me to join. I use to peruse his posts and I was in awe of who this guy was. He was the fonz, or one of the characters from on the road, or brando from on the waterfront.

So I became a member and in great anticipation of posting with him, was informed that he has passed. I got to love someone I never met or spoke to according to who I think he is as a result of ingesting his personality via his posts. I was sure he had the answer to all my questions that I could never answer myself.

It was shortly thereafter that another cool poster who I had not met named Phil who is now Captain in his department (firefight911) was kind enough to send me a key chain that said, "life is great, participate" and "Gleno". I would sit at the piano and have the key chain there and sometimes after working on a new song I would rub it and look up and say, "what do you think Gleno" One day I went to a coffee shop and had emptied my pockets on my table to look for something. I took out my wallet, my cash, my gleno key chain. Then A woman came up to me and asked if I minded to share my table with her because the place was packed. Sure I said. I went to the restroom and when I came back, the woman was gone.

My wallet was still there. My cash on the table was still there. My keys were still there. But she had stolen my gleno Key chain.

Thats all she took and to this day I never quite got over it.

Maybe she really needed to have that key chain to be reminded that life is great and to participate.

[azkaisr]

A couple more

 

The day we paid Tribute to Gleno is one that always sticks out in my mind.

 

I was at the funeral with the hundreds of motorcycles and am still struck by 2 things. The total diversity of the crowd that day. And the feeling of knowing that this is a guy that wouldn't be forgotten. I only spent a few days with Gleno, but he left an impression and like I have said in the past, I can only be both grateful and tremendously saddened that he left this world before we both had a chance to get into a lot of trouble.

 

One other thing about the man. He was a complete Tool sometimes and never minded what people thought it seems. He also was a man who would do wonderfully kind and generous things for people he didn't really know. Especially in the motorcycle community. Living in Nevada, I know of at least 2 times where he drove for several hours to go help people who had bike issues on his own time off even with a lot of things going on. He was that kind of person.