Modern Vespa

Crap. Gutted this morning after hearing of Warren AKA wmak's death. He'd fought cancer for the past year or more. It wasn't a fight he was going to win, but it seemed he'd expected a few good years to go and last fall thought a new treatment would help him reach that goal. Apparently not.

I'd met Warren at AV some years ago, Indy I believe. We'd met up again at Memphis, then rode together across Kentucky to Richmond. He'd started coming up to Wisconsin to our annual ride, and last year rode around northern Lake Michigan with a few of us. So we have a few miles together. He was a great riding partner, and great swapping stories with him over coffee or a beer. I'll miss his chuckle.

He was looking forward to making the VCDM ride in Greece this year, and I so wanted him to be able to make it. Guess not.

Hate to be the first on these threads, but lots of you have likely met him and should know.

Man ...

Thanks for bearing the news, albeit sad.

Dammit. That's truly awful.

Met him once. What a Gentleman. What a Cook.

What a loss.

Oh, that's terrible news! We were just talking about him last night. I'll sure miss him.

Rest in peace.

Bob Copeland

Shite. Condolences to his family.

Another big loss, another friendly face I won't see on here again.
RIP Warren

Oh, no.

He was a good guy, I really enjoyed his company.

Going to miss his presence on both the Michigan ride and Wisconscoot.

...dammit....

Really sorry to hear this. RIP.

Dang, sorry to hear this. Had the pleasure of several meetings, most recently last summer on a tour around Lake Michigan. He's both a well travelled and well versed individual, who shared many stories and insights along the way. Quick with a smile and easy going (mostly). During the ride last summer there was confusion on whether we were taking a scenic route or direct to the next hotel. Weather was threatening, a little, but mostly held off. The scenic route was closed off a half hour or so down the way, so we u-turned back to the direct way anyway, costing a little more than an hour, but Warren gave Fledermaus an earful for the faux pas. Warren thought we were going direct and had his expectations thus set, not realizing the original plan. Turns out Warren was hungry. Once fed he was the light of the party once more.

There may be an embellishment or two in the above story, but its in the spirit of Warren's own storytelling and he would approve.

Condolences to Mrs. wmak and the rest of the family. (((hugs)))

RIP

I am so saddened by Warren's passing.

He had too many more adventures in him to go so soon.

Warren was a huge part of my scooter life.

He and Roland took over from Al (Aviator47), after Al's passing in 2017, to do all of the planning for the wonderful VCdM rides.

Plus visiting Florida and riding with him in Wisconsin and Michigan.

We shared a room on the Yooper Loop this year and had a great time.

It is yet another reminder to live life to the fullest.

Scoot more!

Bill

Leuthold/Fledermaus

I was trying to place a face with a name. Bill has the group ride photo
of Warren. Is this Warren on Wisconscoot.

Bob C

Yes, that's Warren.

Awful news for all that knew and loved him. in peace, Warren.

Godspeed Warren

Crap. I feel sick. I missed seeing him on last year's Wisconscoot and was hoping he was going to be able to make it to Minneapolis for this year's Amerivespa. I always looked forward to seeing him.

All of the riders bring small gifts to give out at the kick off dinner on the VCdM trips.

Warren always brought those little bottles of Kentucky Bourbon.

I still have at least one, so tonight I will drink a little bottle of bourbon to remember my friend.

Bill

I lost a great friend and the world lost a great person. In the words of an eloquent educator that we all new and love "DAM'T"

Oh that's terrible news. Looks like he made the most of the time he had. I didn't manage to catch him when he visited the Hermit Kingdom three years ago unfortunately.

RIP brother.

I am genuinely gutted. I've met Warren on VCdM trips, and at Amerivespa. Always a great guy, and someone I will definitely miss.

We were about to take the site out of "mourning" mode (with the black borders). Looks like they will stay for a bit longer.

It's pretty clear that MV has touched our departed members in significant ways, adding enjoyment to their scooting which is often a large part of their lives.
Thank you Jess.

Was looking forward to more riding with Warren this summer, or at least seeing him at Amerivespa.

I'll never forget riding together to Richmond from NW Kentucky. A great travel partner. At one point in or near West Virginia, him leading, saw him raise his arm overhead. Thinking it was some kind of signal, looked more closely, saw his middle finger up, looked to the right and saw a huge political campaign sign. That was Warren. I'D gotten an AirBnB for us there, where I got to experience is cooking skills...not bad for a quick run to a grocery store and not much to work with. On the way back, knowing I was in a bit of a hurry to get home, he asked me if I wanted to take a straight shot to Lexington where his wife would meet us. 525 miles in a day, finishing in a heavy thunderstorm, so close we didn't bother with rain gear. Don't think I'd ever been so wet in my life. He was a great sport.

Missing that chuckle of his.....

I never knew or met Warren, but he sounds like a typical member who came later in life to the scooter scene and buying one changed his life. I am so pleased that he managed to spend a few years of retirement enjoying life on 2 wheels.

A nice gesture from Jess to keep the black borders in place following Attila's sad demise.

R.I.P Warren.

I don't believe he and I ever crossed paths, but it always sucks to hear of the community losing another rider. Clearly a lot of good memories out there.

It's the second night in a row that I've woken up between two and three am and immediately thought of losing Warren. We've been together on several VCdM trips; he, together with Roland, had become the core of our group since the passing of Al Fragola (Aviator47). Smart, well-read, and opinionated in just the right amount. He frequently showed a great deal more patience than I ever could, like the time multiple riders filled-up with diesel instead of gasoline. He spoke with command and authority on multiple subjects without ever pontificating, in a quiet Kentucky gentlemanly fashion.

He was candid in sharing his prognosis with the group, but we all thought he had more time, and we were looking forward to riding in Greece in three months after multiple COVID postponements.

His passing is just another reminder of the uncertainty of life. I'm never again going to second-guess the risks of what all of us here enjoy doing so much; we all need to spend the time we have doing what pleases us.

May his memory be a blessing to his family, and to all of us who had the pleasure of knowing him.

Another sad loss for the community RIP

I have lost a great friend. He was my first MV Christmas gift exchange partner. I first met him in person at Al's Pyrenees Rally. We shared a room on three more rallys and I was looking forward to seeing him and Susan again in Greece this year.

I visited him in Kentucky a few years ago. Me and my wife took his Vespa for a ride along the Ohio river. He rode his Ducati. We also did an epic tour all over Berlin together. Great times.

He had such a talent for languages. He practised modern Greek and German at the same time in preparation for our next trip.

That chuckle. He considered himself a five-year-old.

Condolences to Warren's family and friends. I'm so sorry for your loss.

Sad to hear of the loss of another member. I didn't get to meet him when he visited our fair isles, but felt I knew him from his posts.

Like many MV members that have gone across the bridge I never met Warren in person but the feeling of loss is the same no matter. Condolences to his family.

You were almost neighbours, weren't you? I remember stopping in Nashville on my way home. Cute town.

Yeah he didn't live far. In fact, I was going to ask him if he wanted to ride down together to the spring scooter gathering in GA.

Warren reminded me a bit of my grandfather who really loved and accepted people as they were. He always had a humorous story it seemed. A great addition to any group conversation.

Like so many here, I met Warren in Greece and through the Christmas gift exchange. His warmth, humor and grace will long be remembered.
Condolences to all who loved him.

I heard this news on Friday morning and am absolutely gutted. I got the chance to meet Warren at a club ride in Cincinnati back in 2103 or 14. We rode together 500+ miles to AmeriVespa in Memphis in 2016 and a few times thereafter. It was always a great time with Warren.

He was a great rider and friend - funny, smart and caring. He was a retired teacher who gave a lot more than he ever got. He and his wife loved to travel. Here is an article from 2017 that sums up his love of exploring... https://www.mycarrollnews.com/content/live-your-passion-t-travel-warren-and-susan-mceuen

I was hoping to ride with him again this spring, but very disappointed that won't happen now.

RIP Warren - you will be greatly missed.

Craztcarl,

Thanks for the link to Warrens's travels. He was a world traveling soul.

My limited advise to others: travel when and as often as you can. Do not
put it off. When you become an old geezer like me, it is tough to muster the
energy. First class or cheap class, the destinations are always an adventure.

Bob Copeland

Condolences to both friends and family. RIP.