The day before we celebrate the birth of our Savior, with heavy hearts we learned of the passing of our dear friend and recent past Absaroka Region President Herb Stoick after his recent struggle against cancer. Herb will be missed amongst our ranks.
Herb joined Absaroka Region in 2010 after displaying his first red Porsche 928 he called “HNDBSKT” at the 2010 All Euro Car Show at Rocky Mountain College in Billings. Like many since him, his enthusiasm and active participation in our little region showed the leader and friend he was.
Herb was a bit reluctant to be president, but he grew in the role and left a permanent mark on all of us and continued to raise the standards of excellence expected for our region. He led us on new adventures exploring the back roads of Montana like the recent trip aboard the Charlie Russell Chew Choo in Lewistown, Montana. That was a wonderful last drive together.
Herb had a big heart and was a friend to all. He was always willing to help fellow members and he enjoyed having parties at his home on the Yellowstone River.
In 2015, our then Zone 6 Representative wanted to do a “Grand Tour” of the entire zone. It was a monumental undertaking. When the group passed through the Absaroka Region we wanted to do something special for the fellow PCAers to highlight our region. Herb volunteered to have a party at his home on the Yellowstone River and was excited about hosting it. The party was held at Herb’s and it was a massive success. In my travels to PCA events across the county as a former national staff member, the topic of Zone 6’s Grand Tour frequently came up and without hesitation the highlight was always the evening at Herb’s home on the river. He hit a home run with his warm hospitality to PCA strangers.
In 2018 the 63rd Porsche Parade was being held at Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri. A PCA member from the Alaska Region was driving to Parade in his 928 when he hit a deer somewhere in the wilds of southern Canada. The President of Alaska Region called me, told me what was up, and asked if anyone in our region could help his fellow Alaskan member out with his 928. I called Herb who in turn called the PCA member, and they met at Herb’s place. At the end of the day, the PCAer was back on the road to Parade with repaired body work and a new headlight.
We’re going to miss Herb. We’ll think of him driving in his second “HNDBSKT,” a black and orange 928 S4 on our journeys through our beautiful Absaroka Region. Whether over the Beartooth and Chief Joseph Highways, through the Big Horn Mountains of Wyoming, enjoying dinner at Chico Hot Springs, or on our jaunts into Yellowstone National Park, we’ll miss him and his homemade wine at our get-togethers.
After the death of Brazilian racing driver Ayrton Senna, the Brazilians introduced a new word to the world, “Saudade.” It’s described as “the love that remains” after someone is gone. It’s an emptiness, like when someone, or something that should be there in a particular moment is missing, and the individual feels this absence. It brings sad and happy feelings together; sadness for missing and happiness for experiencing the past.
Saudade, our friend.
