Gaspar Trama, motorcycle instructor par excellence, and one of the finest humans I have ever had privilege to know, passed away Tues, July 11, 2006. He went into the hospital for abdominal pain last Saturday, they found colon cancer, operated successfully, and he died later of a heart attack. (The leading cause of death for bikers.)He taught for 40 years. Twenty years ago he taught me how to ride a motorcycle. Every single time I come home as alive and well as I left, I thank him. There's no question that without him, I would not be the woman I am today. My heart is crushed that he will not teach my daughter how to ride.
He was a highly intelligent man; patient, thoughtful, respectful, dignified and generous. I was truly blessed to have been his student, and throughout my career in the motorcycle industry, always thought of him as a mentor and dear friend.We've lost one of the best ones.Sunday, July 16, I attended the wake with my friend Christine, who owns a riding/driving school an hour and a half north of the city. We've only known each other a couple of years, but we have tons of mutual friends & acquaintances in motorcycling, including Gaspar. Heather is spending her second summer as Christine's nanny for her 5-year-old daugher and 6-month-old boy.Christine came to my place, then we rode to the wake in Long Island. It’s been ages since I rode with a buddy, kinda cool we were both on shafties: my 1970 BMW and her 2000 Kawi Indian-look-a-like. She sits a good saddle. We spent a few hours reminiscing and introducing, got to meet the new motorcycle education director for NYS, another Gaspar protegee. We headed home around sunset.
I returned to the funeral home about 8:40 this morning. About a dozen bikes were there; Jaime Cruz, Lauren Secular and other locals. There was a short prayer and they passed around flowers for us to place in the casket as we said our last goodbyes. Lots of crying.
A trike-hearse took the casket in style, and we had a police escort to the church, which was well attended. Too much priest and Catholic stuff, until Shelly Hershon gave the eulogy, with fond remembrance and a lot of respect. Very well done. Not a dry eye in the church.
After, the Trama family hosted a lunch at a nearby Italian restaurant, complete with carafes of apple martinis. There were a few toasts; a shot-and-a-half's worth socked me, as I hadn't eaten breakfast. Delicious, though. For the next hour-and-a-half, everyone was reminiscing and taking family pictures. A lot of the instructors were there too, I saw Connie who taught me to drive a car, 17 years ago when I was pregnant with Heather. She's about to retire! I got a chance to talk to Bea Trama. I was thrilled. She seemed to know so much about me and my career, though we've hardly spoken in all these years. She was smiling a lot, surrounded by her family and friends. As these days go, it couldn't have gone any better. There was a lot of love in the room.
It was a hot ride home, kinda like the way it feels with a blow dryer in your face. I was a good girl, and topped off my tank before I put it away.
Yes, and he rode with me today, Gaspar did, yes he did. And I thanked him….again.keep the rubber side down,
–Susan Buck
