2020 GEC Rendezvous - August 7th and 8th

Duper said:
Off topic, but just getting this off my chest.

My older brother and I went to the rendezvous back in 2018. We had just the greatest time spending a few days together reminiscing and enjoying Titusville. Street party, nice meals in family restaurants, the oil well museum and the GEC factory tour. He liked the small car rally and small town hospitality.

I had been trying to talk him into going again this year if things improved. I had our room booked.

Yesterday morning he left home in the AM for the family stable to let the horses out and suffered a massive heart attack. Dead when he hit the ground. Our 88 year old dad found him outside the stable doors just a few minutes later on the ground face up, looking like he had just decided to take a nap. Still had the horse leads in his hand. He had just turned 64 less than two weeks back. No known health issues. We spoke regularly but lived three hours drive apart and our jobs made it hard to connect. The Rendezvous was really a special time.

Last night I opened my Instagram account before bed and the first photo that appeared was of a GEC brass 44 with the bullet shield. That was the knife we saw being produced on the tour. My brother was so impressed and he is not a “knife guy” like us. Once you see the skills involved to produce those beautiful final products it is impressive. I was so glad he enjoyed it.

One last special time together. Man this sucks!

,,,Mike in Canada
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My sincere condolences on your loss Mike. I’m glad he enjoyed the Rendezvous. You will always have the memories of that 44 and the great times you and your brother shared in Titusville.
 
D Duper - so sorry to hear about this. Thoughts and good vibes to you and your family. I hope that all the memories of the good times (just like the time you shared at Rendezvous) provide comfort to you now as well as in the days to come.
 
Duper said:
Off topic, but just getting this off my chest.

My older brother and I went to the rendezvous back in 2018. We had just the greatest time spending a few days together reminiscing and enjoying Titusville. Street party, nice meals in family restaurants, the oil well museum and the GEC factory tour. He liked the small car rally and small town hospitality.

I had been trying to talk him into going again this year if things improved. I had our room booked.

Yesterday morning he left home in the AM for the family stable to let the horses out and suffered a massive heart attack. Dead when he hit the ground. Our 88 year old dad found him outside the stable doors just a few minutes later on the ground face up, looking like he had just decided to take a nap. Still had the horse leads in his hand. He had just turned 64 less than two weeks back. No known health issues. We spoke regularly but lived three hours drive apart and our jobs made it hard to connect. The Rendezvous was really a special time.

Last night I opened my Instagram account before bed and the first photo that appeared was of a GEC brass 44 with the bullet shield. That was the knife we saw being produced on the tour. My brother was so impressed and he is not a “knife guy” like us. Once you see the skills involved to produce those beautiful final products it is impressive. I was so glad he enjoyed it.

One last special time together. Man this sucks!

,,,Mike in Canada
Click to expand...

My heartfelt condolences, Mike. I can't imagine what you and your family are going through right now. I haven't heard from my brother Dave in a week or so. I'll definitely reach out to him today.
 
Duper said:
Off topic, but just getting this off my chest.

My older brother and I went to the rendezvous back in 2018. We had just the greatest time spending a few days together reminiscing and enjoying Titusville. Street party, nice meals in family restaurants, the oil well museum and the GEC factory tour. He liked the small car rally and small town hospitality.

I had been trying to talk him into going again this year if things improved. I had our room booked.

Yesterday morning he left home in the AM for the family stable to let the horses out and suffered a massive heart attack. Dead when he hit the ground. Our 88 year old dad found him outside the stable doors just a few minutes later on the ground face up, looking like he had just decided to take a nap. Still had the horse leads in his hand. He had just turned 64 less than two weeks back. No known health issues. We spoke regularly but lived three hours drive apart and our jobs made it hard to connect. The Rendezvous was really a special time.

Last night I opened my Instagram account before bed and the first photo that appeared was of a GEC brass 44 with the bullet shield. That was the knife we saw being produced on the tour. My brother was so impressed and he is not a “knife guy” like us. Once you see the skills involved to produce those beautiful final products it is impressive. I was so glad he enjoyed it.

One last special time together. Man this sucks!

,,,Mike in Canada
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Very sorry for you and your families loss of your brother Mike .

Harry
 
Thanks guys for all the good thoughts.

I think I will be placing an order for a 44 soon. Thankfully they can still be found at a number of dealers. That Instagram picture may have been a sign.

I hope to see you all again someday in person in Titusville.

,,,Mike in Canada
 
Oh man.... Mike Im sorry matey. That’s terrible- I feel for your father finding him as well - I’m so sorry.
It’s been 30 years since I lost my only Brother in a horrible Tragedy.
Time as it passes by brings you more acceptance, I’m glad your Brother didn’t suffer Mike- that’s something to take from this sad time.
 
So very sorry for your loss. Glad to hear you had some treasured times to remember him by. Hope you're all doing as well as can be expected under the circumstances
 
Sorry to hear this Mike, condolences to you and your family.
 
Old Engineer said:
This thread needs a little bump now that GEC says that the Rendezvous is still on .

Harry
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It's very heartening that they posted more info!

When I called last week they said they didn't know if it would still be on (which I think is very reasonable with the state of things, although I sure hope it will be held) but that it won't be moved to a different date.

It seems to me that it could still happen and be safe enough, but I'm not a doctor.

I have a room reserved at the Cross Creek (my first time staying there in 7 years of going to the Rendezvous. I always just stayed at my dad's house in nearby Franklin, but the Cross Creek seems like the place to be and it'd be much easier staying there than driving after staying up all night) and a table booked!
 
L.H.S said:
It's very heartening that they posted more info!

When I called last week they said they didn't know if it would still be on (which I think is very reasonable with the state of things, although I sure hope it will be held) but that it won't be moved to a different date.

It seems to me that it could still happen and be safe enough, but I'm not a doctor.

I have a room reserved at the Cross Creek (my first time staying there in 7 years of going to the Rendezvous. I always just stayed at my dad's house in nearby Franklin, but the Cross Creek seems like the place to be and it'd be much easier staying there than driving after staying up all night) and a table booked!
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Usually a fun gathering there after the festivities! Did you call the cross creek resort or GEC?
 
L.H.S said:
Well, both technically haha but Joan Mae said they won't be rescheduling due to blade show, but they have to see what the status is at the time for whether the Rendezvous can be held or not. She said they'll update a month or so out.
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I was concerned about booking a spot as well, since so many things have cancelled. My coworker was supposed to be getting married and go on her honeymoon during the rendezvous week before covid cancelled everything, which meant I wouldnt have been able to attend the rendezvous. However things are still in flux that I didnt want to book yet.
 
Just cancelled my hotel reservation I made in February. The Canada US border crossing restrictions are still in place and I expect I would be declined entry for any tourism.

When I spoke to the front desk they were even unsure if the usual Oil weekend celebrations were even still scheduled to go ahead. I have enjoyed the street party and extra festivities in the past.

,,,Mike in Canada
 
Our local county fair for Meadville/Titusville is cancelled this year. As are most of the local smaller town festivals. I would expect the Oil Festival will be cancelled this year as well.
 
I’m no epidemiologist, but I sure think it’d be silly for them to have to cancel.

It’s not a large gathering. Maybe 50 people at a time tops I’d say. They could require masks, which isn’t a big deal, and only let 1 person in the store at a time. Maybe adjust tours to run on a regular schedule with reduced numbers of people in each tour, or not at all.

Everyone can decide for themselves if it’s worth the risk.

The only area of concern I see is for the employees, who might not want to be exposed to a group unnecessarily. But as someone from the area, I think many or most people are living their lives close to as normal but with masks.
 
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