We lost a good guy in the Corvette world
09-06-2006, 09:08 AM
#1
Safety Car
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C2 of Year Finalist (track prepared) 2019
2017 C2 of the Year Finalist
We lost a good guy in the Corvette world
It saddens me to tell you we lost a truly good guy in the Corvette restoration business, Jon Sheppard who owned The Vette Shop on Gratiot Ave in Roseville, MI for over 25 years.
Jon who was a very good friend of mine, and many others, succumed to cancer yesterday at way too young an age.
Jon was the kind of shop owner who always had time for his customers. His work was top notch and he always was always willing to go that extra mile to make things right.
When I was a struggling college student, my car was hit in the nose while parked, and I first took my car there for repairs. Jon said the color on the car was going to be very hard to match, and suggested a full repaint, that I could not afford. So, rather than just send me on my way with a mis-matched car, he gave me a part time job at the shop and taught me how to strip my own car, and allowed me to 'earn' the beautiful paint laquer paint job that the car still has today.
Jon's shop was the shop that was half filled with insurance work, half filled with restorations, and the parking lot was filled with the cars of friends waiting to 'borrow' some shop time. I can't remember all the neat stuff that was 'built there on the side': drag cars, snowmobiles, daytona kit cars, and even my 350 powered TR7.
Jon's last 3 years were spent well, he closed the shop that has since reopened, he traveled and spent lots of time with family, friends, and out on his boat. Through all the treatments and as the illness took hold, I have never seen a man with a more upbeat spirit, I often told him I admired his attitude, for had the doctors given me a '6 months to live' I would have been curled up in the fetal position in the basement for those last few months.
If you knew Jon, then you know what I mean, and if you didn't know Jon, then just take my word that this hobby lost a very good friend.
Godspeed, my friend, and here is to a life well lived well.
Jon who was a very good friend of mine, and many others, succumed to cancer yesterday at way too young an age.
Jon was the kind of shop owner who always had time for his customers. His work was top notch and he always was always willing to go that extra mile to make things right.
When I was a struggling college student, my car was hit in the nose while parked, and I first took my car there for repairs. Jon said the color on the car was going to be very hard to match, and suggested a full repaint, that I could not afford. So, rather than just send me on my way with a mis-matched car, he gave me a part time job at the shop and taught me how to strip my own car, and allowed me to 'earn' the beautiful paint laquer paint job that the car still has today.
Jon's shop was the shop that was half filled with insurance work, half filled with restorations, and the parking lot was filled with the cars of friends waiting to 'borrow' some shop time. I can't remember all the neat stuff that was 'built there on the side': drag cars, snowmobiles, daytona kit cars, and even my 350 powered TR7.
Jon's last 3 years were spent well, he closed the shop that has since reopened, he traveled and spent lots of time with family, friends, and out on his boat. Through all the treatments and as the illness took hold, I have never seen a man with a more upbeat spirit, I often told him I admired his attitude, for had the doctors given me a '6 months to live' I would have been curled up in the fetal position in the basement for those last few months.
If you knew Jon, then you know what I mean, and if you didn't know Jon, then just take my word that this hobby lost a very good friend.
Godspeed, my friend, and here is to a life well lived well.
09-06-2006, 11:41 AM
#6
Melting Slicks
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St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07
You are right Donny Brass, Jon was a good guy.
I first met Jon years ago when I had just bought my vette. I had it two weeks, and somehow the fuel button on the Trip Monitor area came off, never to be seen again. Small problem to most, huge problem to me. I called everywhere to find a replacement, no one had this little piece of a part. So now I’m frantic. I call Jon. He asked me about my vette, then said to me, “Well Little Red Corvette Girl, I have a ton of parts here, I know how important this car is to you so I’ll rummage through and see what I can find, don’t get your hopes up though, these buttons are known to pop off and it’s hard to find replacements.” He called me the next day, said he spent hours looking through stuff and found the part, come get it! I went to the shop, happy like I just won the lotto! I asked Jon, “so, how much?” He answered, “NO CHARGE”, just remember me someday if you need work on your vette.
And that I did. The following year, my nose got backed into, 2 weeks before the GM Tech Center show. Again, I’m frantic!! I called Jon and even though he was not feeling his best, he managed to get the car done for me in time for the show. He took pictures of the whole process, he knew this was my pride and joy. Let me stop by and see how things were progressing, and each time I did, we’d talk vettes, vettes and more vettes.
He was a good man, a generous man, told tons of interesting stories, full of knowledge, and always willing to share what he knew.
I am saddened by this. This entire year seems to be continuous tragedy and loss.
Rest In Peace Jon Sheppard
I first met Jon years ago when I had just bought my vette. I had it two weeks, and somehow the fuel button on the Trip Monitor area came off, never to be seen again. Small problem to most, huge problem to me. I called everywhere to find a replacement, no one had this little piece of a part. So now I’m frantic. I call Jon. He asked me about my vette, then said to me, “Well Little Red Corvette Girl, I have a ton of parts here, I know how important this car is to you so I’ll rummage through and see what I can find, don’t get your hopes up though, these buttons are known to pop off and it’s hard to find replacements.” He called me the next day, said he spent hours looking through stuff and found the part, come get it! I went to the shop, happy like I just won the lotto! I asked Jon, “so, how much?” He answered, “NO CHARGE”, just remember me someday if you need work on your vette.
And that I did. The following year, my nose got backed into, 2 weeks before the GM Tech Center show. Again, I’m frantic!! I called Jon and even though he was not feeling his best, he managed to get the car done for me in time for the show. He took pictures of the whole process, he knew this was my pride and joy. Let me stop by and see how things were progressing, and each time I did, we’d talk vettes, vettes and more vettes.
He was a good man, a generous man, told tons of interesting stories, full of knowledge, and always willing to share what he knew.
I am saddened by this. This entire year seems to be continuous tragedy and loss.
Rest In Peace Jon Sheppard
09-06-2006, 11:37 PM
#11
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St. Jude Donor '03
Good post...It's never good to hear about the loss of a fellow enthusiast, but thanks to those like you who take the time to note that their prominence and passion of our common interest should not go unnoticed.
I didn't know Jon, but may he rest in peace.
I didn't know Jon, but may he rest in peace.
09-07-2006, 02:36 PM
#12
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OMG!! When I had my 82 I started going to see Jon at the Vette Shop up on Gratiot. I was probably one of his best customers. He ate very well off of me. But he did the best work in the area and always got to "understand " his customers needs and expectations. When I got my 01 and sold the 82 I stopped going there and then he closed the gratiot shop.....
I think the last time I talked to him was probably about 2 years ago and at that time he had been going to kemo but I thought he had beaten it when he opened up shop again. Very sad. Terrible loss. This year has definately been a bad one
RIP
I think the last time I talked to him was probably about 2 years ago and at that time he had been going to kemo but I thought he had beaten it when he opened up shop again. Very sad. Terrible loss. This year has definately been a bad one
RIP
09-07-2006, 03:58 PM
#14
Race Director
from reading the responses here, I can tell it's people like him that make the Corvette world and family what it is today.My thoughts and condolences for his family and friends
09-07-2006, 06:04 PM
#16
Melting Slicks
From what i have read in this post he sounds like a man i wish i could have met. Its sad to hear of a corvette enthusiast passing away. my thoughts go out to his family and friends
RIP Jon
RIP Jon
09-07-2006, 10:35 PM
#17
Racer
Wow!!! I'm turly saddened to hear this. I meet Jon one day at Merrolis looking for parts for my 74. Naturally they didn't have them so Jon told them to order new ones for him at his cost and told me to just stop at the shop and pick up the ones he had in stock, so I could get my car back on the road. He will be missed by all that knew him. RIP Jon
