Modern Vespa

I just learned that our Minn-Max ride leader and MV's insurance expert Bob has passed away. Bob was a good friend and will be missed. Condolences to his family.

How very sad, RIP Bob.

A real gentleman on here, with enthusiasm for anything Vespa related.

RIP Bob. The ride goes on forever...

That's really sad to hear... My condolences to the family.

Dear Bob, you enriched the forum. I always appreciated your contributions to the forum, especially because I saw how much effort it sometimes took you to deal with the newfangled technology. And yet, or perhaps because of that, I had the feeling that the forum and the Vespa community were always very important to you. I will miss your endearing habit of ending many of your posts with a photo of yourself. I don't feel it's my place to repost one of your photos, but everyone can browse through your posts: Bob Copeland

Rest in peace!

My condolences to Bob's family and friends, and RIP to Bob.

A smart dude, true gentleman, and all-around good guy. I always enjoyed reading his posts and learned quite a bit from him. He has been and will be missed. RIP Bob.

Bob was a character for sure. Will have a little something to drink tonight in his honour.

I was just thinking about that dude the other day. No more selfies... More and more people of a certain age are leaving us. Just got a message that my good friend's brother is in bad shape with diabetes complications. Live every day!

That sucks, while I never met him in person, my impression was that he was one of the nicest scooter folk around. Always welcoming to new MV members, and super involved in the Vespa community. RIP.

Farewell, Bob. You added a lot of color to this forum, and will be missed!

Bob was a great contributor to MV and fun to follow. RIP!

Here's one for Bob…

I am truly saddened to hear of Bob's passing.

I did know Bob, a little at least, through a few Wisconscoots and his comments to the photos and stories that Ken Wilson and I would post in Ride Reports.

He was always positive and encouraging about our various tours and rides.

I guess that as we all get older, those around us are leaving in increasing numbers.

His passing should be a reminder to all of us to try to live what remains of our lives to the fullest.

I know that I am trying.

Bill

Rest In Peace, Bob....

Sorry to hear the news. I was just thinking of sending a note to see if I could get a response. I'd tried unsuccessfully last summer. I'd had a feeling his health was deteriorating rapidly.

I'd organized Wisconscoots for the past decade. I can't recall now when he first showed up, but it was close to the beginning. He'd always grab a buddy from his Minn-Max group in Minneapolis who he'd ride the 3 hours or so with to meet up. I got to meet quite a few of the group members as a result.

He was quite a colorful character and had stories of his time in the service in Italy (never averse to recycling a few ) and riding adventures. Most of the Wisconscoot rides were set up as 120+ mile loops over 2 days. IIRC, the second day he and his riding partner would join us, and some time after lunch would spin off and make a beeline for our hotel. We'd find them sitting cheerfully outside of the hotel, Bob with a glass of brandy (?) and a stogie which he'd dip into to glass from time to time, interrupting his story briefly.

One of the rides I'd led, I pulled up to a stop sign to let our group of a dozen or so catch up. Bob pulls up along side of me, and through my earplugs I hear him yelling, "GODDAM IT, DAVID! YOU'RE TAKING OFF TOO FAST! " and related words I can't recall. He may have been right, but I'd been careful to keep us together, and with minimal traffic, it was pretty easy. No one else had complained in previous years, but I heard from Bob. Not a good time to have a discussion with my FF helmet, and feeling a bit peeved, I just nodded and took off- probably a bit more slowly....it never came up again.

RIP, BOB.Hope they've got good smokes on the other side.

RIP, Bob
sincere condolences to all who loved him

I'll light one for Bob...cigar, that is.

99% of his posts were positive and upbeat, most made me smile.

Bob was always a friendly voice to me here on MV, and I'm thankful to him for that.

Fare thee well Bob 🍻

RIP x

Sad news. RIP, Bob…

RIP and sincerest condolances to whom knew him personally.

I regularly recall and ponder on his reflections on riding x advancing age.

Well said, I had the same impression....

Ride In Peace! Sorry to read this terrible news. Condolences to his friends and family.

I enjoyed Bob's posts, he will be missed. What a guy!

Truly a loss for the scooter community (even well beyond this board). His scooter reviews were guideposts for my scooter buying over the years.

Never met him in person, but always enjoyed his input on the forum and on his old site.

Eric

I'm truly better off for having known Bob. His scooter spirit lives on in Colorado every time I take his 300 out.

Truly sad news for his family and friends. I don't think I ever met him in person (unless quickly at an Amerivespa event), but he was always a solid contributor here.

I will miss his stories filled with humor and wisdom.

Rest (and Ride) in Peace, Bob

Very sad. I never had the pleasure of meeting him but always enjoyed his posts from Frost Bite Falls.

Here is a link to his obit at the funeral home. I left a brief message on the page there.

https://obituaries.startribune.com/obituary/robert-copeland-1093447179

Personally I didn't know Bob, but it's always sad when someone passes away.

Thanks. Quite the snappy picture of a younger Bob.

Sad news.
It had been a while since he had posted a reaction which was not a good sign for him being so active on the forum.

RIP Mr. Copeland. My condolences to the family.

Oof! 😥 RIP, Bob.

I didn't know Bob, outside of this forum. I've been missing his presence here, since he stopped posting. My condolences to his family and friends. He surely will be missed.

Bob, It was a pleasure to meet you, converse with you and occasionally buy stuff off you.

I'm going to miss you.

wow, RIP Bob, your going to be missed around here.

Jess , nice layout of the forum , Bob would be rightly chuffed to see himself smiling down at us , to quote him " we like photographs"

Bob you'll be missed and thanks for all your contributions here.