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PJ Grady Inc.
12-07-2014, 01:54 PM
It is with the utmost regret and sadness that I must inform the group of the untimely death of Jeremy VanBemmelen...good friend and former employee of my company. Some of you may know him from the three years he worked with me here or from talking with him at the Gettysburg DCS in 2009.

I think his automotive career began at fifteen years of age when an acquantance gave him his first ride in a Jaguar XKE. He never looked back... embarking on a journey that for the next half of his (all too brief) life would find him achieving many things in the automotive world that would elude people twice his age. He was the ultimate car guy emmersing himself in buying ,selling, restoring, repairing almost any type of collector, sports car, and motorcycle that you could name and many that you couldn't. He achieved a body of knowledge and experience far beyond anyone else I've ever seen at a similiar age. His last employer was an exotic car dealership where he diagnosed and repaired all of the earlier exotic's that his cohorts could not fix with their laptops and tablets.

Beyond that he was an incredible person who combined the vitality of a boy with the wisdom of an "old soul". True to form he was delivering a car to a friend only 15 minutes from his house when tragedy struck. As he began unloading the vehicle it became untethered...killing him almost instantly. At thirty years of age Jeremy leaves behind April his beautiful wife and a young daughter with another baby due in about two weeks. I'm sure no one regrets this more than him.

April was holding up remarkably well when I saw her yesterday at a memorial service at her parents house where I saw strong men shed tears. My heart goes out to her, both families and his many, many friends. I count myself lucky to have been one of them.

The funeral service is today. God bless you Jeremy. You will never be forgotten.
Rob Grady

Ras12
12-07-2014, 02:06 PM
I had the pleasure of speaking and meeting Jeremy. He is a great person and truly had a passion for automobiles.

My condolences and prayers go out to his family.

JAS

Domi
12-07-2014, 03:45 PM
Sorry to read such a sad news.
My condolences to his family.

spedlot
12-07-2014, 05:18 PM
My condolences to the family as well. Such a tragedy. A friend of mine died in a similar manner being crushed by his own vehicle. RIP Jeremy.

Delorean02378
12-07-2014, 05:40 PM
Rob,

I'm sorry to hear this, Jeremy was a very kind person. He always had time for a conversation when I came by the shop. He also worked on my Mustang while I was living on Long Island. I still have his cell # in my phone. Tragic loss of a great mechanic and kind sole. He will be missed by many.

tommyrich
12-07-2014, 06:08 PM
I was stunned and saddened when I heard the the news. He was a very kind person and a friend. My sincerest condolences to his family. Rob did an excellent (and I am sure difficult) job of describing Jeremy. He was a very special person.
Tom

acaciolo
12-07-2014, 08:05 PM
Rob,

That is terrible news. I didn't know him, but if he is a friend of yours, I am sure he was an amazing person.

Do you know if anyone set up any type of donation site for the family? I can't imagine what they must be going through. If you do know of anything, please post it. I am sure some of the members would be happy to add to the fund.


tony c

Patrick C
12-07-2014, 08:05 PM
So sorry to read this. My condolences.

skill
12-07-2014, 11:56 PM
I'm sorry to hear about his passing. Here's a page set up by Erica June: http://www.gofundme.com/JeremVanBemmelen Very sorry Rob and anyone who knew and worked with him.

PJ Grady Inc.
12-08-2014, 11:06 AM
I'm sorry to hear about his passing. Here's a page set up by Erica June: http://www.gofundme.com/JeremVanBemmelen Very sorry Rob and anyone who knew and worked with him.
Thank you for posting that. I'm sure that donations would be helpful and appreciated under these circumstances. I've attached a picture of Jeremy and his daughter Olivia at a car show last June. April and Olivia and the baby to come could certainly use a helping hand.
Rob Grady

acaciolo
12-08-2014, 11:23 AM
They've almost reached their goal of $10k, so if anyone is thinking about making a donation, do it fast as I think it will close out in the next day or so.

Denverdelorean
12-08-2014, 01:15 PM
My Condolences. SO young to be taken by such a tragedy. Prayers for his Wife and daughter and the rest of his family and friends.

Alegria
12-08-2014, 03:59 PM
My condolences! Terrible news...

Delorean02378
12-08-2014, 07:05 PM
The goal was reached however the site is still accepting donations. Quick story about Jeremy..

I stopped by Rob's for an oil filter and stopped to talk to Jeremy, it was only the second time I ever spoke to him. I had just gotten vin# 1924 and it still had the original oil drain plug. I didn't have the socket to remove it. Jeremy gave me his Snap-On socket and said please bring it back as soon as you're done. I didn't ask to borrow it but he trusted me to use it and bring it back which is exactly what I did. That's just the kind of guy he was, a truly kind and trusting soul.

delorean3268
12-08-2014, 09:52 PM
Rob,
I'm So sorry to hear about Jeremy. My condolences go out to his family.

Tamir A.
12-09-2014, 02:12 AM
Very sorry for your loss. Condolences to his family.

T.

DMC3165
12-09-2014, 09:38 AM
This is just terrible news. Rob and I just had a conversation about Jeremy last time I was at the shop. What a tragic loss and a hell of a nice guy. The first time he worked on my car I bought him lunch and he showed me his house boat. Ironically we had a conversation about the untimely death of my sister in law at the young age of 20. I'm just blown away by reading this. Please express my deepest sympathies to his family.

GR8SCOTT
02-26-2015, 11:18 PM
Terrible news. So sorry for your loss. My heart goes out to his wife & children.