RE: IML: The loss of a member and friend

["Tom Woodcock" <tom@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Patrick,

Thanks so much for the update.  I am glad you got to talk to
Christopher's mother. Sounds like the apple didn't fall far from the
tree. 

As for the Thunderbird, last time I had talked to Christopher, he said
to me that it was in Atlanta. He had never brought it down to West Palm.
I looked at all my e-mails from him (tearfully) and he didn't mention
selling it in any of them. I know Henry mentioned something about a
storage locker somewhere. I think it is still out there somewhere. 


Tall Tom
Palm Springs, CA 
1978 NYB Salon 

-----Original Message-----
From: mailing-list-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:mailing-list-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
pnkmoore@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Wednesday, August 30, 2006 1:52 PM
To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: IML: The loss of a member and friend

Dear IML Friends:

I tracked down Nancy Wise, Christopher Rhinehart's mother, this
afternoon and had a long and enjoyable talk with her on the telephone.
She is a very, very nice lady, and quite sharp.  She was grateful to
know that we had heard about her son's death as she knew he belonged to
various car clubs and had friends throughout, but she had no way of
contacting anyone when he died.

I offered condolences, of course, and took the liberty of expressing
those on behalf Chris's IML friends.  I also explained the secondary
purpose of my call: to see if she needed any assistance in dispensing
with Chris's cars.  It turns out she sold all of the Chryslers to a
single collector who approached her shortly after Christopher died.  She
was worried, I could tell, about whether she got the right price, etc.
I did not press her about any details in that regard, but indicated how
glad I was to know that someone who appreciated them had purchased them,
that they stayed together, etc.  Apparently this fellow bought them and
immediately stored them.  I can only assume he got a good buy!  She was
aware that his cars were featured in a magazine this month, and that he
had greater hope for the coverage than what actually came out.

She talked about Chris's deep interest in Chryslers and other cars
starting from an early age, and laughed about Chris's purchase of her
uncle's car for $500, Chris's first vehicle, and the trouble he had with
it when he drove it to college.  I think it was a '69 Pontiac, and Chris
complained to his parents when he came home for his first break from
school that he felt like a cab driver: that everyone bummed rides
because he had a huge car, but no one offered to pay for gas!  I think
we've all been there.


She had one concern:  Christopher's '62 Thurnderbird.  She had located
the title and other papers on the car among his things, but wonders what
became of the vehicle itself.  She is left to assume that he sold it,
but really doesn't know.  If anyone happens to know if Christopher sold
the Thunderbird, which I believe he used as a daily driver, please drop
me a note off line and I'll call or write her and  let her know.
(pnkmoore@xxxxxxxxxxxxx)

I did not ask her about the cause of death, but she said it was very
sudden and made mention that he developed blood clots and that one
"dislodged."   I assume a heart attack or stroke resulted.  I hope it
was quick.

I told her that I would write the IML and let anyone acquainted with
Christopher know that she and I had spoken.   Though she didn't express
this precisely, I could tell she wanted everyone to know that she was
grateful to his friends.

Like I said, she was very nice and I'm glad I had the opportunity to
speak with her.

Sincerely:

Patrick Moore
Covington, LA
'58 Southampton project



-----------------  http://www.imperialclub.com  -----------------
This message was sent to you by the Imperial Mailing List. Please 
reply to mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx and your response will be 
shared with everyone. Private messages (and attachments) for the
Administrators should be sent to webmaster@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
To UN-SUBSCRIBE, go to http://imperialclub.com/unsubscribe.htm



-----------------  http://www.imperialclub.com  -----------------
This message was sent to you by the Imperial Mailing List. Please
reply to mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx and your response will be
shared with everyone. Private messages (and attachments) for the
Administrators should be sent to webmaster@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
To UN-SUBSCRIBE, go to http://imperialclub.com/unsubscribe.htm