Dottore's Harmonica's

[gtc]

I'm so sorry to hear of his passing. I think about him time to time and had tried looking him up to no avail.

I met Mark on the 2008 CanAm Tour (put on by Pelicans from the PNW and Canada regional forums). I would have been 27 at the time.
Several years later on another CanAm, after he had sold his 3.2 and was driving a 997, I had the pleasure of sharing a table with him at dinner. I remember his great knowledge of under-appreciated French wines, and stories from his extensive travels, two interests that we shared. He advised me to buy nice air cooled 911s in the US and ship them to europe, then take a lengthy roadtrip vacation before selling the car in Germany where the high prices that 911s were fetching would pay for it all. He also extended me an invitation to visit his house in Whistler. Regrettably I did neither.
What struck me most about Mark was the kind and understanding manner in which he treated people from all walks of life - something uncommon among people of his level of intelligence, from my experience.

Here's a photo of Mark at one of the CanAm dinners in 2008 - he's in the black vest:


Mark's old Turbo-look 3.2 Cab in back:

[LakeCleElum]

Next Gesture Paul - Here's a story:

Dottore and I exchanged a lot of emails after I suggested some great roads for him in Eastern WA and Ore....He really appreciated the tips......Turns out his final blast before the freeway back to Vancouver was Hwy 821 - the famous Yakima River Canyon Road....He got a speeding ticket based on the Airplane up that day. Being an attorney, he wanted to fight the ticket, but wasn't worth the return trip........Last I heard, he failed to respond and probably still a black mark there.....

He also gave me a lot of travel advice on early Europe travels......A fine gentleman...

[Seahawk]

All: I have no definitive knowledge of his passing, only that it has been many years and it was apparent in our phone calls that he was preparing for his next adventure.

Nothing would make me happier than to be wrong. My purpose for starting this thread was to honor what he sent me, make sure his fathers instruments find a good home as I winnow my stuff.

Dottore had wit, sense and bite.

We should all be so fortunate.

821 is the deal, btw.

[billybek]

I miss him on this forum.
A genuine gentleman.

[fanaudical]

I've only been here on the forum about 9 years (not sure I'm one of the old-timers). I lurk a lot and don't contribute much. I've learned much about old 911's but much more about so many other things. It's really the only social media I seriously review. It's posts like this that keep me coming back - a reminder that people can "talk" on the internet without spreading hate and have a genuinely good time.

I miss Dottore's contribution to the group.

Paul - You've done a great thing here. Any tunes from those harmonicas keep Dottore alive with all of us.

[speeder]

He is definitely gone. I was just looking through some stuff last week and found a hand written letter from him stuck in one of several Porsche books he sent me, yes, he was a generous guy. I also still have emails and PMs from him telling me about his cancer returning, my replies offering support, etc. He had a serious and deadly form of cancer and had the means to get treatment in Europe that was not available in the U.S. or Canada, he told me quite a bit about it. He disappeared off the radar soon after telling me about the relapse, previously he would never take more than one day to respond to any message no matter where in the world he was.

I've been fortunate to be around plenty of smart people in my life and yes, he was a high quality individual. His kindness was so much more important than his intelligence or accomplishments, those are easy to come by in some locales. Shortly before he went away, he was still looking at Porsches and called me about a 356 roadster in Toronto he was looking at. A Porsche man to the end.

He was someone I really wanted to meet in person and looked forward to hanging out with in Europe. My brother has a place in south France w a very famous lawyer as his only neighbor, I had visions of inviting Mark up from one of his times spent on the Riviera, (remember his story about the lunch at the Russian oligarch's house?), and chilling out. Sadly, not to be.

Life is short, make sure to live it. That means different things to different people, make sure to make it your own. He enjoyed his time on earth.

[Superman]

I remember him too. Fondly.

[Por_sha911]

Originally Posted by speeder

(remember his story about the lunch at the Russian oligarch's house?)

Would you share it?

[cstreit]

Always wanted to learn. So simple yet I love the sound. His craft would be wasted on me. Glad they are going somewhere they will be appreciated.

[jyl]

Dottore sent me his father's Hermes typewriter. His father was a writer and Dottore explained that he'd grown up listening to the clack clack of this machine. It is and will always be an honored part of my household.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by Por_sha911

Would you share it?

It’s on this forum somewhere. I’ll search when I get home.

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by speeder

It’s on this forum somewhere. I’ll search when I get home.

I think it was when he was on a boat somewhere in France and was invited to a party on the Russian guy's boat docked next to his. The photos of the food were ridiculous, money no object.

[KFC911]

I must have missed many of these old threads....please dig them up guys and post a link. I remember Dottore's posts and insight very well...do tell

[speeder]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

I think it was when he was on a boat somewhere in France and was invited to a party on the Russian guy's boat docked next to his. The photos of the food were ridiculous, money no object.

It wasn't a boat, it was just the guy's yard.

My lunch with a Russian Oligarch

[speeder]

Just a $50k lunch for 4 people. No biggie.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by speeder

Just a $50k lunch for 4 people. No biggie.

Pissed me off when lunch passed the $5 tab...including tip ....

Thanks for a glimpse and the memories Mark

[flatbutt]

A truly lovely gesture Paul, good on you!

[Hard-Deck]

Good move Paul. Dottore is smiling at you.