[ckissick]

Early yesterday morning, we lost one of the earliest Porsche salesmen and longest running VW dealers in America, at the age of 88. Bob Kissick (yes, my father) started selling VWs and Porsches at Dave Rasmussen in San Bruno, CA in 1955, three years before I was born. They lost the Porsche franchise in the late 1960's but he stayed with VW until his declining health finally kept him away from the store a little over a year ago. He was with VW for 60 years.

It all began in 1953 when, while stationed in Heidelberg Germany, he bought a brand new 356 and brought it home to San Francisco. He used to say it was the 7th Porsche in California, but he might just have been embellishing his story. How many might there have been in CA in 1953?

Soon after returning to The City, he drove with his best friend, Doc, to Doc's girlfriend's house on Cole Street. Doc was a fighter pilot and an ultra cool dude. He should have been a movie star. He and my dad must have looked like Paul Newman and James Dean driving up in that car. My mom, the roommate, was mostly intrigued by the strange but cool car, but thought my dad was okay, too. Six months later, they drove that same car to Yellowstone on their honeymoon. My dad could always close a sale quickly. You could say I owe my existence to that little 356. But I think my mom would have liked him even if he drove a Ford. But I was definitely raised on Porsches and VWs.

While living in The City, strangers asked him about the 356 and where they could buy one. My dad would give them a sales pitch, and they would go straight to the newly opened dealership and buy one. The dealer, Dave Rasmussen, told my dad he had been selling more cars than any of his salesman, and offered him a job. He started selling Porsches in 1955 which, in retrospect, was an almost historic time to be in that business. He actually showed customers around 550 Spyders and a bunch of other great cars. Wow.

He moved up to manager and so on until he bought his own VW franchise in Redwood City in 1980. And the rest is history. He wished he could have also gotten a Porsche franchise in 1980, but he was located too close to Carlsen in Palo Alto.

He sold the 356 in 1955 when my sister was born. Also, he got to drive a "demonstrator" off the lot, so didn't need to own a car. But he later regretted selling it. What I would give to still have that car today! At least we still have the '50 split.

Of course I've been very sad. But he had 88 great years and was the best dad ever. How can I complain? We all know no one can go on forever, but we miss them anyway. Thanks, dad, for raising me right. There will never be a Honda in our garage. Never.