Passing of Rick Hoover, restoration shop owner

[John_S_in_Penna]

I was very surprised to get a notice from one of our AACA region's

members that Rick Hoover passed on just a couple of days ago.

He has had an excellent restoration shop in Middletown, Pa.,

and he is the one that restored the bookmobile for the AACA Library.

He was just as comfortable with early cars as with later antiques.

 

Since this is the heart of antique-car territory, and close to the

AACA headquarters, many AACA members know Rick.

His son Nick has worked with him in the restoration shop for

quite a few years now, and I hope that Nick will continue it.

We hate to lose anyone, and we wouldn't want his knowledge to disappear.

 

Here is a link to the obituary:

https://obits.pennlive.com/obituaries/pennlive/obituary.aspx?n=richard-a-hoover&pid=195631487&fhid=29550

 

 

[Steve Moskowitz]

Simply put  we lost a good man and a loyal AACA member.  Tragic.

[John_S_in_Penna]

Here's a picture I took of him and his wife in their

1924 Buick on the 2007 Glidden Tour:

 

 

[Peter J.Heizmann]

1 hour ago, Steve Moskowitz said:

Simply put  we lost a good man and a loyal AACA member.  Tragic.

 

Yes, we certainly have lost a good one, Steve. 

 

[Marty Roth]

2 hours ago, John_S_in_Penna said:

Here's a picture I took of him and his wife in their

1924 Buick on the 2007 Glidden Tour:

 

 

The late Howard Scotland, Past National President had left the '24 Buick with Rick

[John348]

4 hours ago, Peter J.Heizmann said:

 

Yes, we certainly have lost a good one, Steve. 

 

 

Hello Peter

I am very sorry to hear of his passing, he was always spoken very highly of by our friend Ron.

 

John

[Ron Green]

Tragic indeed. Well respected. Great guy. The news of his passing made it clear down to Florida in a day where we are at a Amphicar meet. Spoke to Rick at Hershey where he had an old outboard boat motor for sale. I asked him if he was now switching over and vending boat parts which he said with a laugh he thought I could use it for the Amphicar so he brought it along. Also had a good sense of humor. Very sad to hear this news. Thoughts and prayers to the family.  

[John_S_in_Penna]

If it wasn't for Rick, I would not have ventured 

to get my only early car, a 1916 Locomobile.  

I had been accustomed to cars only as far back

as the 1950's, but he was almost a mentor.

He went with me to look at the car for sale (no charge);

took care of any needs the car had after purchase;

and, at no charge, taught me to drive it.

 

In this hobby of ours, we can all appreciate those

who know more than we do, and who are willing to

share their knowledge.  Here's the Loco on its first

delivery to me, with Rick driving and Bill Smith

(former AACA executive director) offering his trailer:

 

Edited March 10, 2020 by John_S_in_Penna (see edit history)

[John_S_in_Penna]

Here's a picture of Rick Hoover (centered in photo)

with his friend Doug Walters on the 2014 Hershey

show field.  They were wearing pink as a result of

some sort of gag or bet.  He didn't want me to put

this picture in our AACA newsletter!

 

[AACA Library]

I've tried several times to write something to say how awesome Rick was.  It's impossible for me to do so properly other than to say that he was great on so many levels - he was a great AACA member, great restorer, great family man & a great friend.  I will miss him tremendously.  

 

-Chris

[Terry Bond]

What a great guy and what a tragic loss to the hobby. Always willing to share his time and knowledge. He was a friend to everyone who loved old cars.

Terry