RIP Ionbeam - 10/7/23

[Panman]

Very sad indeed, only meet/read Alan thru the forums and liked him thru what I read. Rest in peace Mr Ionbeam!

[huron52]

All I got is Damn Damn Damn!

[Festus]

One thing comes to mind to me. His last discussion on this forum where he said how sick he had been and mentioned he was on experimental drugs and they were providing some relief. Even when he was so ill, he was trying to help others by testing out new things. I am positive that his input into that side of things will result in someone's life being saved. Even in his roughest times, he was working to help someone else. Someone else he'd never met. In my limited knowledge of him, I believe that's exactly who he was. A completely selfless person. Pretty amazing.

[BikerGeek]

Damn.

Damn damn damn damn damn.

Alan was one of the first people I met at our first EOM in 2008. He was one of the people I really wanted to meet and he was so dang kind and fun and interesting to chat with, especially when he talked about his work. I kinda knew most of the words that were coming out of his mouth but I had absolutely no idea what he was talking about most of the time.

It was always great seeing Alan and Helen at the various FJR gatherings through the years. He will be missed. This one's a gut punch.

RIP, my friend.

[wheatonFJR]

Great photo of a smiling Alan. Damn, he had SO MANY interesting stories left to tell. He IS an OG of the FJR world.

[BikerGeek]

Great photo of a smiling Alan. Damn, he had SO MANY interesting stories left to tell. He IS an OG of the FJR world.

Yep. And he was an Original NERD for sure.

[FJRoss]

Great photo of a smiling Alan. Damn, he had SO MANY interesting stories left to tell. He IS an OG of the FJR world.

Yep. And he was an Original NERD for sure.

For a little contrast, consider the following posted by Mr. Beam himself, back in 2021...
Same shit-eating grin!

[extrememarine]

I've searched for it and haven't found it posted yet. I'll check in a few days.

Cancer SUCKS!

If someone finds his obituary, please post a link.
I am not home at the moment, but when I do get home I will post photos of him and Helen from 2009 when we met in Sag Harbor, NY.

[CraigRegs]

Never had the pleasure of meeting him in person, but I’ve enjoyed and benefited from his contributions to the FJR community. Rest in peace and condolences to his family and friends.

[Powerman]

Sad news
I enjoyed our technical talks at a few meetings.

[Hppants]

I'm sorry to read this and learn of his passing. I suppose there is some consolation in the fact that he is no longer suffering, which I'm quite certain he undoubtedly was.

As Festus eludes, I"ll follow Alan's example and continue to help one another. Life is too short, man....

[fjrob]

My condolences to his family and friends.

[wheatonFJR]

I'm sorry to read this and learn of his passing. I suppose there is some consolation in the fact that he is no longer suffering, which I'm quite certain he undoubtedly was.

As Festus eludes, I"ll follow Alan's example and continue to help one another. Life is too short, man....

Almost exactly a year ago, I PMd Alan because I did not have his phone number...and was very concerned after not hearing from him on the board in almost a year prior to that. He graciously reply'd to my PM in his cordial non-chalant manner, asked about Louanne and was looking forward to riding in 2023.

The text of his PM from a year ago indicated that he had already lost 50% of his body weight...and he was not obese. To have him struggle on for another year shows that though he may have been mild mannered, he sure put up a hell of a fight. I don't pretend to be his close friend...because I'm sure he had many closer to him. But he was my friend and I am going to miss this smart smart-aleck for the ages.

...And yes, he is going to be riding in 2023, knowing him...it will also include a speed run down the dragstrip at insanely high speeds.

I'd tell him to rest in peace, but I think he is going to be twisting that throttle so hard that even an ionbeam can't catch him.

[wheatonFJR]

First time I met Alan/ionbeam. May of 2009.

Helen is to the left, and Jude (another friggin Canadian!) was off to the right.

We all were in Sag Harbor, NY paying our respects to this man...


Son of this man, Chris Haerter


Group photo in front of Jordan's bridge.

[PhilJet09]

Nerds was one of the first rides I did on my FJR and got to meet Alan early on. Sharp as can be and a real gentleman. Rest in peace brother.

[El Toro Joe]

Damn...just saw this. RIP Alan

[bigjohnsd]

I never had the pleasure of meeting Alan, he helped me figure out a problem on Gray Ghost One once. He was/is both highly thought of and an important contributer to this forum.

This group has stepped up and helped others in similar situations in the past. Is there something we can do in Alan's memory?

Is there someone with a personal relationship that might be willing to coordinate?

Standing by to contribute. RIP Alan.

[ionbeam]

Many thanks for everyone's kind words about Alan. He fought bravely for 2 years thru 4 different chemo regimens - 2 experimental - but it was an aggressive form of cancer. His only symptom was he was feeling fatigued and short of breath, so went to Urgent Care, where they discovered his hemoglobin was so low they called an ambulance.

I love the pictures - he was always so happy at these group events and on our rides thru New England with fellow NERDS.

I would like to put together an obituary if anyone would like to contribute. We met in 1975 at Bell and Howell. He was a QA inspector and secretly fixed my assembly errors - for which I had to pay him in Black Russians.

Love to all - Helen (Mrs. Ionbeam)

[wheatonFJR]

Helen,
Thanks for posting. You have been through a VERY rough go, and we feel sad about Alan...but for those of us who have met you, our hearts are also broken for you. I only knew Alan from afar...but I loved his sense of humor and wry statements. I am glad that he is not in pain and misery any longer...but I sincerely hoped for more good time with Alan...if he was healthy. I've written enough and not well...but please know I am sad for you. I wish you healing and good shared memories of yours and Alan's time together.

Mark/wheaton

[FeeJeR Fred]

Managed to recover my old password to this forum when I heard (on the other one) that Helen had posted here. Thanks, Ross, for the cross post.

As many of you know, Alan was a very big part of the New England area FJR scene, which was very active for a great number of years. From back around 2007, we’ve had lots of weekend day rides, many weekends away, and 5 or 6 NERDS rally's in Stowe, and Alan and Helen were always right in the center of it, always there on one of their 2 FJR’s with the “2 FUN” license plate.

They were the first other FJR riders that I ever met when I got my first FJR in 2006. I came up from behind them on route 107 in Deerfield, NH and they waved me by. Later, Alan sought me out on the forum, and we became good riding friends. Usually 2-up with Helen and Josie on the back. In time other couples joined in and formed a close group. We even got together at least once each NE winter for a Drive-to-eat just to catch up and make plans for following riding season.

Things had cooled off with the NE group lately. Joann and I moved up from southern NH to central Vermont back in 2020, and with the pandemic restrictions the group get-togethers ceased altogether. Most of the other couples have become busy with other things in their lives and we just haven’t had a get together since.

We knew about Alan’s cancer, but were hopeful from his email reports. It was very sad to hear the final news from Helen earler this month. He will be missed by his many local and distant forum friends alike.