Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/693447
68 nJuly 2016n www.thunderpress.net THUNDER PRESS by Felicia Morgan OAKDALE, CALIF., MAY 7— Every once in awhile you meet some- one who has a kind of energy about them, like a shining light, that sets them apart from the rest of the world. It's hard to fi gure out exactly what it is, but you know that individual is special and you fi nd yourself drawn to their light. That's the way it was for Johnny "Chop" Vasko. He was a shooting star whose bril- liant explosion of light disappeared into the dark- ness and left a trail of magic dust behind him. Johnny spent his time on earth living a life less common. After a serious illness in his youth that left him with a heart the size of a football, he'd undergone a heart trans- plant and was well aware that it wouldn't last for- ever. His parents helped set him up so he could spend his time cutting, welding, building and creating things that made him happy. Eventually his talent with a torch landed him on a Discovery Channel's Biker Build Off and next thing his parents knew their beloved boy was the rock star of bike building. With a motto of, "No regrets—Stay gold," he man- aged to stay true himself as he spent his time couch surfi ng, sharing life with friends as he built lean and to the point choppers that made him a stand-out in the bike building community. Those who ride his builds cherish the memories that come with owning one of his minimalist designs. For his parents and sister Suzie, every day is spent loving, and missing, their only son and brother. After Johnny died in 2006, Mark and Barbara set about gathering up their son's belongings from friends Rich and Patricia Evans. As they arrived in SoCal to collect a bike, they were told they needed to stop by another friend's place to pick up another bike. After a call to that friend, they were given another tip on where other parts were housed. And so it went. With each call they learned more about the relation- ships their son had built, and the genuine love and respect their son's friends had for him. Along the process of collecting physical parts, they began to have a deeper understanding of the emotional parts of who their son was to oth- ers. The Vaskos developed their own friendships with his peers, and a sort of healing began as they realized that others were in the same kind of pain they were. The idea of a Hawaiian PO party evolved. The Vasko version of the Hawaiian custom of holding a luau one year after a loved one has passed came together. In that tradition, the bel ief is that the departed loved one can see that those left behind will be OK and they can then leave for heaven. For 10 years anyone who knew and loved him has been wel- come to come out to the family com- pound in Oakdale to celebrate the life and times of Johnny Chop. For some of us, though we never had the honor of meeting the charismatic and charm- ing man personally, the light of the love he left behind still burns bright enough to be seen in others and draws us to the family with the big heart and ready hugs. Word of the PO goes out each spring and the family celebrates the month of his birth, rather than the month of his passing. Barbara deco- rates in her own incredibly artistic way and nothing is left unadorned. Pictures, plaques and Johnny memorabilia are displayed and friends who still own his bike builds ride out to proudly share the machines and the memories of their friend. Barbara's parents, in their 90s and just having celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary, greeted guests with handshakes and hugs and Mark manned the grill to feed the mob. It was a great evening of fun, family, and friendship but mostly it was an evening of healing. There's dancing, laughter and love. And there are tears. Barbara shared the last words her son told her before his passing on a Tuesday morning in March 10 years ago. He wasn't feeling well but was waiting for a doctor to deter- mine what to do next when he assured his upset mother that everything would be alright. "Don't get your panties in a wad, Mom," he calmly told her. Minutes later her son left to dazzle the constellations with his own bright light. And the world has never been the same. When asked why the family decided to stop the cele- bration now, Suzie shared that it takes a lot to put on a party of this scale. "Besides, it's time. Ten years is the perfect time to stop," Suzie tells us. "Of course, she says this every year, so who knows." Barbara smiles and shrugs. I suspect we'll see everyone again next year. "Stay gold." 4 JOHNNY CHOP MEMORIAL STAY GOLD 10 years of honoring a special man Family and friends gather for what was to be the last PO party for Johnny but that doesn't mean his legacy will fade away. Johnny "Chop" Vasko is never more than a warm smile away from anyone's heart. Rich Evans and his family attend the PO party each year. Rich and wife Patricia were close to Johnny and had one of his builds stored at their home when he passed. Johnny's sister Suzie (l) and his parents Mark and Barbara invited Father John Roberts to bless the party.