Sad News... Matt Vacher (dilligaf on WildGuzzi) has passed...

[Ambogal]

I just learned that Matt Vacher passed away early this morning.  Matt and his wife Marion put on the SC Rally for a few years.  They had their own BMW shop in SC years back.  I didn't meet Matt until he was already retired but he rode many, many miles on his bikes. I'm fairly certain he was retired from the Navy.   

Don't have any details but I have lost a good friend and his wife Marion is an outstanding person.  She was the first woman to complete the BMW mechanic school many years ago and of course rode her own bike.  By the time I met them, she traveled many miles on the back of Matt's Guzzi. 

I will post any info I get on this very sad, sad news.   God Speed Matt...I will miss you terribly.

[Mayor_of_BBQ]

This is terrible to hear, very nice fella..  Met him at the VA Rally and never thought his personality matched the DILLIGAF handle...  A real road warrior, het put many miles on Guzzi's. A loss to our community

[oldbike54]

 Oh no , really sad news . Matt brought so much to the board , and the MC world in general . His Alaska trip report was brilliant , he sent me videos and pics from the road . He will be missed greatly  A life well lived 

  Dusty

[Lannis]

This is terrible to hear, very nice fella..  Met him at the VA Rally and never thought his personality matched the DILLIGAF handle...  A real road warrior, het put many miles on Guzzi's. A loss to our community

His handle was the opposite of what he was really like; knowing him, it may be why he chose it!

The whole Guzzi community is going to miss him.   He was a real rider and a good man.

Lannis

[Waterbottle]

Dilligaf's gone, Very sad, He had a great sense of humour
Condolences to His family and friends
Ron

[rocker59]

Making this a sticky.

I added his screen name to the subject line.

[Ambogal]

I'm sorry I forgot to mention that he died of ALS also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.   It advanced very rapidly.  I know he was in a wheelchair but I thought it was a temporary situation since he had been complaining of back pain for some time.   We had talked about taking a LONG ride this Spring heading north into Canada and that I had to get a passport before we left.   It never happened as I was suffering from a bad car accident and he was already feeling that he might not be up to it. 

[blackcat]

Sad news. Matt and I were supposed to meet some time back as his daughter lives near us and we couldn't meet due to some time restraints. Sorry to read this. RIP.

[Aaron D.]

He sounds like a very good man, and I enjoyed his Alaska trip report very much.

He seemed to handle his ALS and all it meant with grace. I hope his passing was peaceful.

It's a beautiful day here, I'll remember this.

Condolences to his family.

[maquette]

Matt was a good guy and will be missed by all of us. He was much more kind than his forum handle would suggest. My condolences to Marion and the rest of their family.

Tom

[ohiorider]

I am sorry to hear that Matt has passed.  He was an inspirational rider!  His trip to Alaska on a 'small block' R65 held my attention from start to finish.   I think the answer to the question posed by Matt's forum name is 'yes .... absolutely!'  He really cared!

[beetle]

Rest in peace.

[Nick]

So sorry to hear about Matt.
Pat please convey my sincere condolences to Marion and his entire family.
Matt was a classy guy. I'll miss him.
Nick

Here is Matt at the SC Campout

[Triple Jim]

I'm sorry I forgot to mention that he died of ALS also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.   It advanced very rapidly.

Boy did it!  He was trying to arrange to drop by the 2-stroke meet at Deals Gap this past spring while I was there, but couldn't make it because of his neck problem.  I'm shocked that things went bad so quickly.  My best to his wife and family.

[screamday]

Sad news. I only met Matt once, at the Nort Georgia Guzzi rally....about 3 years ago. But we talked long enough for him to leave a lasting impression.  Our little Guzzi community wlll be ever so slightly smaller without him. RIP Matt.

[davedel44]

Condolences to his family for their loss.  Matt was a fixture at Swamp Scooters, great guy and rider.

Dave
Galveston

[Wayne Orwig]

Sad news. I'm surprised that ALS advances that fast.

[Vince in Milwaukee]

Very sorry to hear that another member of our Guzzi community has passed. 

[guzziboy66]

Very sad, my condolences.  I never met him, but instantly recognized the name as poster that I liked to read.

Eric

[dilligaf]

My Dad loved anything motorcycle. He always liked to talk about being on here. All the things he did in his life he always come back to riding.    He helped get bikes on Charleston Navy Base, helped get South Carolina's helmet law we have today(always wore one but said it was your choice). My Mom asked me to post his passing. I got on earlier told her to late. Frist time today she smiled at all the love.                                                       Thank you. Matthew                             

[oldbike54]

 Thanks Matthew , stay in touch . Your dad was champion 

  Dusty

[nunzio]

Joni and I met Matt and Marion last year at the Louisiana Rally, they rode their SP1000NT from South Carolina.They were very nice and gave Joni a lot of info on the SP1000 .... she was interested in getting one.

RIP Matt

Our prayers go out to Matt and his family.

Joni and Alan Keach

[Ambogal]

I am so happy that Marion knows just how many friends Matt had and how highly we think of them.  Please keep us updated on
any info.  I was waiting on a call from Bill McGill with more updates.  He's the one that phoned me today with the terrible news. 
Please tell Marion I am sending love and strength her way during this very difficult time in her life and tell her to call me any time
day or night if she feels the need.

Nick.....I'm glad you posted that photo of Matt.  I was sitting just a few seats away from him.  He and his crew did a
wonderful job putting on that rally and I was sorry to see that it only lasted a few years.  I enjoyed all of them. 

[dilligaf]

 Dad still made plans to go to different rallies. They got a van so they could go but daily he got worse. Monday I got to be with him as we worked on the k75s by Wed. he was in the VA, out Friday back in about 3am Saturday morning, home Saturday afternoon passed in sleep that night. I will miss working on bikes, riding , our  once a week dinners.

[rodekyll]

He saw it coming and looked it in the eye.  A class guy in all respects.  Ride easy, Matt.      


Here's Matt on the famoulous Alaska ride.  I feel it was a privilege to have been a small part of that last grand adventure.

[rboe]

It was a gift that the ALS was swift. A buddy had it; took 4-5 years, too long to suffer like that. He left a great legacy and you can't ask for much more than that. RIP.

[Ronkom]

I mourn the loss of another great Guzzi guy. I enjoyed seeing him at our Va rally & attending his SC rally. We shared a site at Camp Carlo one year. I lost a Sister to ALS, the several year long, slow variety. My heart goes out to Matt's family & all who were close to him through that ordeal.
Ron Komoroski

[azguzzirep]

Real sorry to hear about another 'Guzzi Grandfather' passing from our fold. All the family and friends they leave behind makes a great void in our community.

RIP

Tom

[Zoom Zoom]

I'm sorry to hear this news. My most heartfelt condolences to Marion, Matthew, and other family members. RIP.

John Henry

[Muzz]

I too am one who never met Matt but enjoyed reading his posts.  I live on the other side of the globe but still feel as it were, part of a Guzzi family, so it is with some sadness that I learn of his passing.  My condolences to all the family.