 His legacy |
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One and only
Tony, an only child, was definitely a one of a kind!
As he was growing up he always felt that he would not live to be old and gray: but we never imagined losing him like we did at this early age even though he tempted fate at every turn:
- age 3 when he was riding three wheelers at Glamis,
- age 10 riding and jumping his bmx bike,
- age 12 doing tricks on his skateboard,
- age 13 snowboarding in the local mountains,
- age 15 surfing the waves at Huntington Beach and San Onofre,
- age 18 sneaking off to the street races and riding bulls with his friends,
- age 20 driving his sandrail in the dunes,
- age 21 riding his Harley Sportster,
- age 25 hot rodding his 1928 Model A roadster around town,
- age 26 riding his Harley Springer Softtail,
- to that fateful night in March 2005 when he rolled his 1970 Ford Bronco while off roading near Salton Sea.
Sometimes I think he did more in his too few years, than many people think of doing in their entire lifetime! He wanted to do it all, he lived and ultimately died hard!
From a very young age, we knew he was our special angel. Our little blond hair blue eyed boy, so full of life and love. He was polite, respectful and patriotic. As he grew older and became so intense, we watched him become a typical teenage boy involved with sports, girls, fast cars and even things I still don't know if I want to know about.
And then he met his future wife - Kim, and his life changed forvever. They quickly became best friends, lovers and then..... soulmates. I have told everyone that they were so good for each other and I know she misses him so much!!
The day he bacame a dad, his life changed again. He had wanted to have a son to share what he had with his dad, but he was blessed with 2 beautiful girls!! He was looking forward to the day when he could coach their softball team, build them their first car and dreaded the day when the boys would start calling. He was such a devoted father to his girls, Mady & Macy who will never again feel his big bear hugs or know the amount of love he had in his heart for them. His face would beam with pride anytime he talked about his kids. His family was the most important thing in his life!
When they bought their first house in Cherry Valley, it was like he was re-born. He had left the big city, moved to a small town and even thought about moving to a smaller community someday where he could raise his family with his old fashioned values that somehow seemed out of character for him..
He was a true die hard Ford fanatic. Other than his first driveable car, a VW, I don't think he owned anything but a Ford. His favorite nascar driver is Dale Jarrett and there were definately some heated conversations with Earnhardt and Gordon fans. He would debate with anyone and everyone the benefits of Fords vs Chevrolet.
And now on race days, his dad and I and sometimes Kim and the girls watch the races together just as we did when he was still with us. I can still remember Tonys laugh the day I taught little Mady to say "Fords Rule Baby!" and Boogity, boogity boogity - let's go racin' boys!". (Although Tony would be having a fit that his driver DJ was now driving a Toytota! and can only guess he would've pledged his allegiance to one of the other Rouschketeers)
Everyone that met him, immediately had a friend (especially if you drove a Ford!). His friendships stretched far and wide. And those friends knew he was always only a phone call away, many times dropping what he was doing - to lend a hand!
Every time I look at his wife and daughters I see the magic that he created and the legacy he left behind and mourn for their loss of a great dad!
Each day I ask myself "why" but there is no answer, so I leave you with this poem.
"No farewell words were spoken, no time to say good-bye.
You were gone before we knew it and only God knows why."
Love,
Mom
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