Studegary

[regnalbob]

Here is a post from the SDC Forum.

Gary,

You are in my thoughts and prayers.

Bob Langer

 

Gary has been battling cancer for a while now. Recently it was found to have spread. I have been trying to stay in regular contact like we always have but had not heard in a while. I e-mailed him again yesterday and he responded that he is not doing well. Currently in a rehab facility after emergency surgery.

It is hard to know the right thing to do. I was going to PM this because Gary wanted to keep this private, but decided to post because he has many friends here who I know would want the chance to pray for him. At this point that is all I know. I will post any updates.

Last edited by Bob Andrews; Today, 07:48 AM.

[mfg]

I was wondering why Gary hasn't posted on this forum lately....Thanks for posting this information Bob.

[mfg]

I was just thinking about Gary Lindstrom...sure hope he's improving.

[silverstude]

Think he would like this

https://studebaker-info.org/index.html#garygetwell

 

[mfg]

On 4/7/2022 at 4:14 PM, silverstude said:

Think he would like this

https://studebaker-info.org/index.html#garygetwell

 

Very nice!

[regnalbob]

Thanks to Bob Andrews for the update posted yesterday on the SDC Forum.

 

I spoke with him yesterday. Being honest, his prognosis is not great. He is taking it well, considering. He seems happy to hear from me, but I always caution him to not hesitate to end the call if he feels tired, or for any other reason. And if you know Gary, he will. I had thought about asking if he would want me to post contact info, but when you're that ill it can get overwhelming quickly. This is all part of life, but it still sucks. I just stay available for when he feels he needs me.

He does try to e-mail status updates. Below is an excerpt from the latest one (some info redacted):



It has only been two weeks since my last Status. Things are about the same. I can not walk. I am usually uncomfortable (abdomen, to differing degrees. I eat well - three meals a day. I sleep poorly.

I am still waiting to get a new enhanced PET scan. I think that it is being held up by my insurance co. because I had one nine months ago. I have an idea what it will show, but I would like the scan. This will also lead to what treatment I may go on.

I have had some welcome calls and visits. My niece, Cheryl, drove up from Florida and spent three days with me. We discussed a lot of things, including family history back to the Civil War.

[pantera928]

Thanks for the update.

[regnalbob]

Thanks again to Bob Andrews.

Yesterday, 06:40 AM

 

Just got off the phone with Gary. We chatted for a while. He seems to be holding his own. I felt like he sounded a little better than last time I talked to him. I told him that some of you were inquiring about him and he said to say thank you all but he wasn’t really up to posting right now. Besides, he didn’t feel like signing in because being in a facility he doesn’t have access to his reference materials if he needed them 🙂 A big day is this coming Monday when he has a scan coming up to get a clearer picture of his situation.

I’m always trying to gauge how much or how little he might like to talk. I told him I would give him a call again next week, and invited him to call me anytime if he felt like it.

[wdaly]

Thanks for keeping us posted.  He is in my prayers.

[pantera928]

Thanks for the update

[regnalbob]

1 hour ago, wdaly said:

Thanks for keeping us posted.  He is in my prayers.

 

31 minutes ago, pantera928 said:

Thanks for the update

The real thanks goes to Bob Andrews for posting updates on the SDC Forum.

[regnalbob]

An update from Bob Andrews.

Today, 06:33 PM

Update 6/4/22-
Just got off the phone with Gary. There’s not a whole lot of change to report. At this point he is no longer able to get out of bed. His voice is a little weak, but his mind is still clear. We did talk some about his treatments and so forth. At this point he has so many doctors and specialists looking after him it’s hard for anybody to keep track of them all. As usual we spend our time talking about old cars, and old times. That is the bright side of the situation.

Nothing much more to do at this point other than wait and see what effect the various treatments and medications have.

[regnalbob]

Sad news from Bob Andrews.

Today, 10:44 AM

A little late getting here with the update. Sadly, I have to report that Gary passed away last Sunday, June 19, 2022, at age 82. Gary had been in a battle with what started as bladder cancer several months ago. As sometimes happens, the cancer was stopped. In March, he went into renal failure. When they did surgery, they found that the cancer was back and had spread to his kidneys, and other areas. They were able to restore function to one kidney. At that point he was not very mobile. For the last two months or so, he has been bedridden but in a very nice rehab facility in Fishkill New York.

Gary and I were working on a joint business venture at the time. We were in fairly frequent contact. Then I did not hear from him for a few weeks, and my messages and calls went unanswered. On April 2 he sent me an email and told me where he was and what had happened. At the time he decided it was best not to make a big deal out of it, but he did give me permission to speak on his behalf here on the forum. Over the last couple months, we talked on the phone frequently. While his physical health deteriorated, his mind stayed sharp . I think that a lot of people do not know not only how intelligent he was, but the amount of experience he had in the automotive world, including operating two different gas stations. We all know about his love for Studebakers. We had many good talks at length about the gas station business back in the day, and how the car business used to be.

The last time I spoke with him was last week. He sounded tired, but seemed to be doing all right. He had just started on a new, expensive medication regimen that insurance would not approve and he was going to pay out of his pocket. I tried to call him a few times over the weekend, finally getting an answer from someone that was not Gary. Fearing the worst, and knowing where he had made his final arrangements, I checked the funeral parlor website and sure enough, his obituary was there. I’ll post that on the appropriate page.

So, I guess that’s it. Gary’s wife had passed away last year, and he had no children, just (I believe) a couple of nieces and a nephew scattered about. His legacy will be his brilliance, and his dedication to the Automotive world. Not many know that Gary had helped people within this club, sometimes monetarily, with varying levels of appreciation from those individuals. That’s too bad. I always knew Gary as a serious person, kind of a stickler for details, soft-spoken and shy, but a good friend if you took the time to get to know him. I’m glad I did.

Rest in peace, my friend. You will not be forgotten. And while our business venture was not meant to be, I will take with me your approval and belief in me. I know that now you are well, and back with Cathy and your folks, and I look forward to meeting up with you again when I get there. God bless.

Last edited by Bob Andrews; Today, 12:35 PM. Reason: Fixed a couple of typos. Gary would have wanted that

 

[pantera928]

Thank you for sharing this very sad news.😢

[mfg]

Thank you Mr. Andrews..RIP Gary.