Sad news. Our great contributor Bill Telle (Wild Willy) passed away Friday November 20. It seems, within hours of making his last entry in this forum.
Bill was simply the most supportive and giving human being I have ever known but never actually, physically met! His support for me when I was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2014 was extraordinary and inspiring. I did not find out until later that his wife Karen had been lost to lymphoma some years earlier and he had been active in blood cancer support groups ever since.
Things might have got a bit rowdy on this forum when Bill was on full song, but it was never, ever dull!
I am so sorry to hear of Bill's passing. He was certainly a shining light on this forum. The Worst Jokes Ever section will never be the same without him. Rest in peace, Bill.
Ian, thank you for sharing. I am so saddened to be reading this. When he announced his illness here in his "last bump" posting recently, it hit me with great sadness. It is a bit 'peculiar' to me (not sure if that is the right word?) that one can be impacted by so by someone they pretty much only know online. I read Bill's last bump in the road announcement to my wife that night that I first read it and, every few words, my voice would break as I read it to her. Many of us have been here a while.
I actually did meet Bill briefly at the Cass F800 Rally and got to chat at breakfast one morning. I found him kind, humorous and warm. He will be missed. I am glad that he had a chance to say, 'goodbye', to all. Many folks do not get that chance. I will tip a glass to him this evening and think of the memories.
Thanks Gerry. Bill was on my bucket list of people I hoped to meet sometime...sometime. Bloody Covid has stuffed those plans!
As a measure of this amazing man, here is something he sent me when I found I was back on the Lymphoma treadmill two years ago.
Each Other
When we strip away all that is inconsequential And much of what we feel is important is inconsequential We're left with what really matters Each other
In sorrow painted with tears and in smiles tinged with laughter In the brightness of day and in the darkness of night In the rebirth of spring and in the aging of winter We have each other
In the pain of grief and in the joy of new life In the emptiness of doubt and in the fullness of hope and in a BMW forum We have each other.
We possess much and own nothing We strive to reach perfection and lose sight of the fact that we're already there We have all we really want and everything we really need We have Each Other
A saxophonist, motorcyclist and... a poet. We are really lucky to have "met".
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