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Posted by: mr914 Dec 17 2012, 03:50 PM

I feel horrible for originating this thread. mark was a true 914 enthusiast and a valued member of this community.



May he rest in peace.


I started out my day wondering where an order I had placed a couple of weeks ago.

I started this thread "Is Engman parts still around?"

The details are not important, this post edited because of the news.

I had ordered some parts and paid via PayPal.

Today, I went to the cart section of the paypal website and I get the following message:

Engman Parts....

Error Message: This recipient is currently unable to receive money.
[Return to Engman Parts]


Got a PM from a Distinguished member of our community and forwarded it to the Admins for confirmation.

Any words of wisdom?

Posted by: SirAndy Dec 17 2012, 06:21 PM

I saw your PM. If that is indeed true, that's a sad day for 914world, another one lost ...

R.I.P. Mark

Posted by: scotty b Dec 17 2012, 06:29 PM

Posted by: carr914 Dec 17 2012, 06:34 PM

Posted by: Mark Henry Dec 17 2012, 06:40 PM

damn hope this is wrong.

Posted by: Eric_Shea Dec 17 2012, 06:43 PM

Posted by: mr914 Dec 17 2012, 06:45 PM

Got a PM from a distinguished member that stated he had passed away a couple of months ago. I PM'd SirAndy to see if he knew about it.

It is/was a sad day

Posted by: SirAndy Dec 17 2012, 06:47 PM

His account states he last logged in here at '3rd December 2012 - 06:52 PM'. That's only 2 weeks ago.

Posted by: Dr Evil Dec 17 2012, 06:51 PM

Mark is a real good guy. I hope he did not pass away and hold vigil until we can confirm or refute this claim.

Posted by: Eric_Shea Dec 17 2012, 06:55 PM

Not sure if this is accurate... All I can say is, I hope it's not.

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/louisville/obituary.aspx?pid=160670649#fbLoggedOut

Site says "Not able to receive Funds" in the shopping cart section (PayPal)

Posted by: SirAndy Dec 17 2012, 06:59 PM

Ah crap, now i remember why his account says December 3rd for the last login.

His emails have been bouncing for several weeks and i logged into his account to see if he had any forum subscriptions.

Posted by: MDG Dec 17 2012, 07:03 PM

Shit. I've got tons of Mark's stuff for both cars. Terrific guy to work with.

Posted by: Gint Dec 17 2012, 07:06 PM

WTF

Edit ... my bad. Mark was cool. ....

Posted by: scotty b Dec 17 2012, 07:07 PM

Crap RIP Mark

Posted by: Elliot Cannon Dec 17 2012, 07:16 PM

Can we verify this? If this is true I am NOT happy. He made good stuff, much of which is on my car and he was a good guy as well. Another good one gone.

Posted by: PanelBilly Dec 17 2012, 07:23 PM

I'm thinking we owe his family a note or something to tell them how much he did for us all.

Posted by: scotty b Dec 17 2012, 07:25 PM

my original response was to another posting

Posted by: Gint Dec 17 2012, 07:26 PM

I know... edited/deleted. Isn't any better though.

I've got all kinds of engman stuff. Inner long kit in my /6.

Posted by: scotty b Dec 17 2012, 07:27 PM

anyone know him personally that could confirm this with an ill timed phone call ?

Posted by: Hammy Dec 17 2012, 07:29 PM

I had no idea..... Very sad.

Posted by: mr914 Dec 17 2012, 07:41 PM

I have a call and email in from earlier today

Will post if I hear anything

Posted by: Chris H. Dec 17 2012, 07:45 PM

Oh no... Hope this is all a big misunderstanding. Doesn't seem like it is though...very sad news about a great guy.

Posted by: Vacca Rabite Dec 17 2012, 07:50 PM

Anything on his facebook page?

Would be really crappy for all improvements he had made for these old cars if we missed his passing by a few months.

Posted by: Jgilliam914 Dec 17 2012, 07:55 PM

He was a great guy. I called him a few years ago with a technical question and he was more than happy to talk to me and even called a few weeks after to make sure everything went as designed!

Posted by: Dr Evil Dec 17 2012, 08:01 PM

I am surprised that someone he knew has not contacted one of our members.

Posted by: tomeric914 Dec 17 2012, 08:12 PM

Back in July, I bought a fuse panel from Mark and on installation found out that he had installed the fuse block backwards. Easy enough to turn it around but before I did I dropped him an e-mail to make sure I wasn't doing anything wrong. He insisted on sending it back to him so he could correct it and also offered up one of his other items for free. I declined his offer, but he sent me a SS reservoir clamp for free anyways.

Truly a stand up guy. He will be missed. Rest in peace Mark.

Posted by: Dr Evil Dec 17 2012, 08:16 PM

We hung out at the Hershey when it rained the whole time. He let Noel take shelter under his easyup. He was amazed that I captured her His son was there, too. Also a good dude.

Posted by: ejm Dec 17 2012, 08:25 PM

That was 2003

Posted by: Dr Evil Dec 17 2012, 09:03 PM

Yup, that is all of us.

Posted by: FourBlades Dec 17 2012, 09:30 PM

Boy I hope he turns out to be ok.

Like most people who have been here a while I have lots of his parts.

All great stuff.

John

Posted by: rick 918-S Dec 17 2012, 09:38 PM

Wow! 54 years old I met Mark in Columbus IN. at a 914 event. We had a nice discussion about his work designing a zero steer unit for a commercial mower. Very passionate about his work. Sad to read this this way. I hope we can contact his family somehow in a caring and comassionate way.

Posted by: Trekkor Dec 17 2012, 09:55 PM

Sorry to hear this.

We never met, but I was one of the first to install his inner long kit and his rust repair sheet metal kit was based on the templates I gave him.

Sad news.


KT

Posted by: JamesM Dec 17 2012, 09:59 PM

If this is true then it is horrible news, 54 is way to young. Despite only making a handful of different parts the name Engman is recognizable by pretty much everyone in this community, I think that says a lot about what he did.

Hopefully someone is able to pick up the torch here and keep the name alive, though I hope even more that this is just some misunderstanding.

Posted by: rdauenhauer Dec 17 2012, 11:35 PM

Posted by: KaptKaos Dec 17 2012, 11:55 PM

Posted by: G e o r g e Dec 18 2012, 12:03 AM

Posted by: Maltese Falcon Dec 18 2012, 12:18 AM

Unfortunate, but I hope not true.

Posted by: euro911 Dec 18 2012, 01:37 AM

Wow

Hoping it's not true

Posted by: ruby914 Dec 18 2012, 03:22 AM

This sucks!
I have a part of him in my car.
I think of Engman, I think of quality.

Posted by: smj Dec 18 2012, 04:45 AM

I didn't know the man, but I'm sure grateful for all that he did. Just this past August he spotted a post of mine deep in a thread somewhere wishing his aluminum floorboards were still available, and he contacted me to let me know he had one tucked away if I really wanted it. From that and other interactions, he certainly seemed like a class act to me.

Posted by: Van914 Dec 18 2012, 06:37 AM

Very sad to hear of Mark's passing. I had met and bought parts from him a number of times. He was passionate about 914's. As I remember he had two in process of restoration. He will be missed.

Van914

Posted by: Garold Shaffer Dec 18 2012, 07:28 AM

RIP Mark

I too, have a few of his parts in my 914. I met Mark at a few 914 events and was asked to test his pedal boards when he first made them.

Posted by: abnrdo Dec 18 2012, 08:32 AM

sad...... the community has lost a great guy.

Posted by: JmuRiz Dec 18 2012, 08:40 AM

Very bad news, I was just about to have his parts installed on my car and was excited about telling him how much they change the car.

Posted by: ThePaintedMan Dec 18 2012, 09:55 AM

I'm not sure we have verified that he has passed, but if so, a very sad day indeed. Mark's contributions will live on in the form of the many innovations he created for these cars and the warmth that he brought to the community. Hope he and Al are enjoying a brew together somewhere.

Posted by: charlesmac Dec 18 2012, 10:01 AM

I just bought the last version of his inner long kit in October. He's definitely a talented addition to our community. This is very sudden indeed

Posted by: flippa Dec 18 2012, 12:10 PM

We should send a note to his family. It would mean alot to them at such a time.

Posted by: StratPlayer Dec 18 2012, 12:18 PM

Very sad

Posted by: d914 Dec 18 2012, 12:31 PM

Very sad and way too young... Again many of his parts in my car and always top notch!
If true he will be missed..

Posted by: JRust Dec 18 2012, 12:35 PM

Horrible news. I hope we can confirm it . I've got plenty of his products through the years. He's a great guy & a big loss if it's true

Posted by: billh1963 Dec 18 2012, 12:46 PM

I've got his pedal board and two of his fuse kits. Very nice products!

Posted by: no1uno Dec 18 2012, 12:54 PM

Just recently installed one of his new fuse panels. Nice stuff. I'm happy to be done with the old fuses.

Posted by: GeorgeRud Dec 18 2012, 01:23 PM

I also never met him, but bought some of his products and had some great conversations with him. Truly an enthusiast and a wonderful person in his dealings with his customers.

Maybe another vendor may be able to purchase the rights for his products and help the family out in what must be a very trying time.

Posted by: Rand Dec 18 2012, 01:55 PM

Wait. Has anyone confirmed any truth? There have been a lot of posts here suggesting sad demise. Has anyone who said things like that checked into the real story before posting???

I still see a site at http://engmanparts.com/ (such as it is)

If he is truly out of business, I'm sad. But I haven't seen anything more than conjecture so far. Did I miss something?

Posted by: euro911 Dec 18 2012, 02:00 PM

Unfortunately, the obituary Eric posted is accurate

I received the following email from a close friend of Mark's.

Hello Mark,

I'm Travis a close friend of Mark's for many years. Unfortunately I cannot deliver to you any good news. Mark Bland sustained a massive heart attack early in the morning on 10/18/2012 when his wife came and picked him up from work because he had complained of dizziness and headache. His wife Cindy performed CPR on Mark after his heart stopped. The ambulance was able to revive his heart, however, he went nearly 45 minutes without a heartbeat and his blood oxygen levels went critically low. Mark sustained catastrophic brain damage and later passed away on 10/25/2012 leaving his Wife Cindy, and 5 children, Mark, Sam, Katie, Julie, and Jennifer. I unfortunately do not have any contact information for his family which I am allowed to give out. I would advise sending any condolences to his old email address engman10@gmail.com . From what I understand his family does periodically monitor the account.

http://newsandtribune.com/obituaries/x1400201188/Mark-C-Bland - His obituary is located here.

With sincerest regret at passing along this terrible news,

Travis Rosenbarger
7100 Almeda Rd #2209
Houston, TX, 77054
Mobile: +1 812 989 3308

Posted by: Ferg Dec 18 2012, 02:06 PM

Thoughts and Prayers to his Family

Posted by: Drums66 Dec 18 2012, 02:53 PM

....God rest his soul, prayer's to his family..

Posted by: Rand Dec 18 2012, 03:08 PM

I didn't want to believe it. So sorry to all who were near him.

Posted by: yeahmag Dec 18 2012, 04:04 PM

Wow... Speechless.

RIP

Posted by: ww914 Dec 18 2012, 04:10 PM

Damn, way too young!

Posted by: Mark Henry Dec 18 2012, 04:17 PM

I agree, hits home he's only 3 years older than me

RIP

Posted by: Sleepin Dec 18 2012, 04:18 PM

Posted by: brant Dec 18 2012, 04:20 PM

RIP...

Posted by: JawjaPorsche Dec 18 2012, 04:26 PM

A tremendous loss to the 914 community. Thoughts and prayers to his family.

Terry

Posted by: boogie_man Dec 18 2012, 04:30 PM

Wow, that's horrible news, so sad. Thoughts and prayers to the family and love ones.

Posted by: Socalandy Dec 18 2012, 04:49 PM

RIP

Posted by: ConeDodger Dec 18 2012, 04:55 PM

I don't know how I missed this but this picture was posted in the comment section of the obituary. Of course now we have heard from his friend Travis which confirms it but if we had seen this picture...


Attached image(s)

Posted by: Chris H. Dec 18 2012, 04:56 PM

Well that just SUCKS. R.I.P. Mark. Great engineer, craftsman, and most of all GREAT GUY.

Posted by: KELTY360 Dec 18 2012, 05:11 PM

R.I.P.

Posted by: A&PGirl Dec 18 2012, 05:28 PM

RIP

Posted by: rfuerst911sc Dec 18 2012, 05:49 PM

RIP.......very sad news for his family and the 914 family. I have many of his 914 items in my GT clone. Never met him but sounds like he was a great guy.

Posted by: 7275914911 Dec 18 2012, 06:05 PM

Very sad indeed...RIP, Mark

His work carries on in Wilma from Longs to Pedal Boards to Fuse Panel...

Posted by: shoguneagle Dec 18 2012, 06:59 PM

May he RIP. Developed many parts and was one of the most helpful individuals I have ever met. Like a lot of us, we have used his parts to make our cars better. The quality and advice he offerred was done from the heart. He even had he solution to my 911 emergency brake problem which he gave advice willingly and without any reservation.

He has touched all of us, Whether we knew him, purchased parts, or whatever, Mark was always giving and developing parts to help others in making their cars better.

I did not know him except through the different emails and part orders which did make my car a much beter and endearing project. I will miss him very much as others have indicated.

Steve N Sandy Hurt

Posted by: 914Sixer Dec 18 2012, 07:05 PM

WOW, RIP !

Posted by: Dr Evil Dec 18 2012, 07:05 PM

He was a very busy guy. We were trying to develop a fuse panel for the bus just like his 914 ones. A very stand up person and he is missed. I cant believe we lost Al Garcia and Mark Bland in the same month.

Posted by: Jgilliam914 Dec 18 2012, 07:08 PM

If you want to leave condolences? I suggest going to the webpage that his obit has listed. Unfortunately I know too well that close friends and family read these many times over and over. Anything good said is special to read when you lose someone close.

Posted by: ChrisNPDrider Dec 18 2012, 08:43 PM

ENGMAN 4ever
His bad-ass pedal board will out-live my 914
RIP
You have touched the lives of many

Posted by: Steve Dec 18 2012, 08:52 PM

I will also be 55 in three years. Way to young for this to happen. I also bought allot of his products. His products and customer service was always the best. He will be totally missed.
RIP

Posted by: FourBlades Dec 18 2012, 09:11 PM

Very sorry to hear this confirmed.

I have his inner long kits, pedal boards, fuse box kits, and more.

I think we will all remember him for a long time to come.

Whatever you want to accomplish in life, do it now because there are no guarantees.

John

Posted by: carr914 Dec 18 2012, 09:14 PM

R.I.P. I'm sure he was as Great a Person as his Productswere for our cars

Posted by: dpires914 Dec 18 2012, 09:16 PM

Here is the link to the guestbook.

http://www.legacy.com/guestbooks/louisville/guestbook.aspx?n=mark-bland&pid=160670649&cid=full

Posted by: Black22 Dec 18 2012, 09:20 PM

Posted by: r_towle Dec 18 2012, 09:39 PM

R. I.P.

He will be missed as a quality person who touched many people.

Rich

Posted by: timothy_nd28 Dec 18 2012, 09:49 PM

He did make quality parts. I feel awful for the 5 kids. What about starting up some type of Christmas fund for his family?

Posted by: campbellcj Dec 19 2012, 01:05 AM

Wow, I just saw this and what sad news. I never met him in person but I too have his stuff in my car and was always very pleased with his quality and service.

Posted by: lagunero Dec 19 2012, 01:10 AM

RIP

Posted by: Series9 Dec 19 2012, 06:54 AM

Posted by: 396 Dec 19 2012, 07:35 AM

RIP

Posted by: Cairo94507 Dec 19 2012, 07:37 AM

Very sad news and WAY to young to die. Condolences to his family and friends.

Posted by: nsr-jamie Dec 19 2012, 08:43 AM

Very sad and shocked to hear this..........

Posted by: MoveQik Dec 19 2012, 08:56 AM

Way too young...

Posted by: infraredcalvin Dec 19 2012, 09:06 AM

Have some of his parts for my car, he'll live on in spirit. RIP.

Posted by: sean_v8_914 Dec 19 2012, 09:09 AM

2012 has been rough

Posted by: 914dave Dec 19 2012, 01:37 PM

RIP. Very sad news. Great guy to do business with. Kindred spirit. He will be sorely missed.

Posted by: pilothyer Dec 19 2012, 01:51 PM

Mark was a super guy, and will be missed by many. My prayers go up for the family. Rest In Peace Mark

Posted by: montoya 73 2.0 Dec 19 2012, 02:11 PM

Like everyone, I too have his products in and on my car.

• Rear Trunk cable release
• Third brake light
• Fuse panel

Rest in peace Mark and may your memory live on through our cars and all the time and passion that you had put in to your products! You will be missed sir, God speed!



Can the admins get some kind of "In remembrance" page? We have had several friends pass in the last few years and it would be nice to post stories, pictures and such.

Posted by: jsayre914 Dec 19 2012, 02:19 PM

RIP

Posted by: mr914 Dec 19 2012, 03:29 PM

I agree, a "passed members rememberance" forum would be appropriate.

Admins, do you agree?

Posted by: ottox914 Dec 19 2012, 04:17 PM

Sad news. He will be missed by many.

Posted by: andys Dec 19 2012, 04:20 PM

Sad news indeed. RIP

Posted by: Andyrew Dec 19 2012, 06:18 PM

RIP

Posted by: kg6dxn Dec 19 2012, 06:20 PM

Posted by: Tom Dec 19 2012, 07:48 PM

RIP Mark.
Really sorry to hear this.
Tom

Posted by: seanery Dec 19 2012, 08:04 PM

Mark was a great dude. I had the privilege of spending quite a bit of time with him in the early days of 914Club and with the Fall Foliage events.

This sucks.

Posted by: cary Dec 20 2012, 12:47 AM

Posted by: VegasRacer Dec 20 2012, 12:53 AM

Have some of his parts for my car, he'll live on in spirit. RIP.

Posted by: 9146986 Dec 20 2012, 09:27 AM

Anyone know how we could set up a fund for the family?

Posted by: championgt1 Dec 20 2012, 10:24 AM

RIP Mark

Posted by: mr914 Jan 2 2013, 12:33 PM

ENGMANPARTS.COM is now down

RIP Mark

Posted by: Jen21121 Feb 26 2013, 10:46 PM

I hate to bump up an old thread, but I wanted to be sure to reach as many of you as possible.

I am Engman (Mark Bland)'s daughter Jennifer Robinson (maiden Bland). I am also his oldest child (32) and the oldest of his five kids. My dad passed away on 10/25 after a completely unexpected heart attack on 10/18. Travis has been a friend of the family and his details are correct. While I know details aren't necessary, I think it's important to help others understand how it's been for us, his family, during this time. My mother, and Mark's wife for over 35 years, just is not the same person. My brother Mark (about to be 30) was the one who went with him to the Hershey, PA event those years ago and many of you met him. He now lives in MI with his wife and newborn son.

Us kids didn't get the 914 bug like my Dad did. Sadly, we know next to nothing about the parts he still had to sell to you folks. I know that my mom and my youngest sibling (Sam, he's in his freshman year of college) are willing to go through those parts and get them into some good homes. It would be a useful source of income for them; my dad was 75% of the income in their home and Sam had just started college that now looks a bit uncertain money-wise. There has been a memorial fund set up for him by my brother Mark. The info he has told me to give out is the following: "There is a memorial fund set up in my father's name if anyone was interested about donations. It is at PNC Bank and an individual would just need to mention the "Mark Bland Memorial Fund" to place money into the account." He said you could do this via your own bank if you wanted. The bank is located in New Albany, IN (47150) if this helps.

If you would like to contact me further about anything Engman-related, I can do my best to help you without you guys having to feel like you were bothering my mother. I do not live in New Albany and would have a hard time helping you with specific part requests. We are hoping to have Sam get that off the ground for you guys during his summer break. But any other questions, messages, or the like are ones that we can still view either on his obituary (thank you so much for the kind words already left there!) or you can send things my way at the following email: jen.ohtc@gmail.com

I loved my father very much. I'm glad that there was this community that saw him for the wonderful man that he was. The world is a lot less without him. He was an amazing father, grandfather to my two daughters, husband, engineer, and friend to many people.

Posted by: Eric_Shea Feb 26 2013, 10:53 PM

Thanks Jen.

Our condolences.

Posted by: hot_shoe914 Feb 27 2013, 12:19 AM

Thank you for filling us in Jen. It was a tragic loss to the people in his life and to the 914 community as well. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family and we will always be here for you guys.


Shoe

Posted by: rick 918-S Feb 27 2013, 01:07 AM

I can only imagine how hard it was to come here and share with us. Your father lives in all of you. He was a good man. I was lucky to have met him and had a chance to spend some time talking with him. He was passionate about engineering and talked about a mower project he was involved in.

Posted by: Vacca Rabite Feb 27 2013, 05:16 AM

Jen, thank you.
Your dad meant a lot to this community and many of us have some of his work on our cars. Our very best to your family. Thanks again for letting us know.

Zach

Posted by: Lou W Feb 27 2013, 06:30 AM

I just saw this thread, I am so sorry as many other people here are to hear of this. I too had purchased parts from Mark on my old project and was really impressed with his work, he was a great guy too. To Marks family and friends it's important to cherish the memories. Rest in Peace Mark.

Posted by: Mark Henry Feb 27 2013, 06:49 AM

Hopefully some local club members could step up to the plate and help young Sam get Engman parts back up and running?
Plus give him a quick 914 tutorial.

It most likely would be a great source of much needed part-time income for him and the family. Something he should be able to handle as he continues his studies.

Posted by: 76-914 Feb 27 2013, 08:28 AM

I totally agree with Mark.

Posted by: aircooledboy Feb 27 2013, 10:05 AM

Damn.

I have been MIA for the most part of the last several months here. To log on and see this first is very sad.

I too have many Engman parts, and recall fondly the couple conversations I had in person with Mark. In fact, I was a minor player in the very conversation Rick mentioned in Indiana all those years ago at the Fall Foliage. I learned a lot about zero turn lawn mowers and the fact that some people actually care that a tight turn can leave marks in your lawn. The funny thing was that by the end, I understood the cam that Mark had designed to solve this scourge of much nicer neighborhoods than mine. That is what I remember about Mark. His amazing ability to relate complex engineering concepts to a dolt like me in a way that not only didn't make me feel like a dolt, but in a way that actually allowed me to understand. A rare gift indeed. He will be missed. If his son picks up the mantle of the parts biz, I'll buy parts I don't even need.

Posted by: zymurgist Feb 27 2013, 10:24 AM

RIP Mark. I have a few boxes of his parts that haven't gone onto my car yet.

Posted by: NS914 Feb 27 2013, 10:53 AM

Hi Everyone, what a loss to our community. I am from Nova Scotia Canada and you realize there are people from all over the world in this forum messing with thier 914's. Marks expertise, talent, and good nature touched alot of people me included.

As it turns out I am just having my long kit installed today. We finished installing the new front floor section and of course while you are in there ya may as well....

I had been waiting for my next batch of work re electrical and one of Marks Fuse Panels but sadly I will likely have to go another route.

Mark was a great guy and like many of you have indicated...more than willing to talk 914's and help his customers through the installation of parts. A really nice guy for sure.

Much thanks to his daughter, Jennifer, for filling us in. If it turns out that his son is able to start up a small part of the business again, I would be more than happy to jump in and buy parts as well...whether i need them or not.

I read one of the posts re Memorial or Members Memorials....don't know the best expression but it would help to not lose this thread and any updates from Sam etc. It would be really nice if we could help the family given that Mark was so good to many of us.

Regards, Grant

Posted by: Chris H. Feb 27 2013, 03:19 PM

Totally agree...given the demand for Engman products it seems like someone just needs to help Sam do an inventory of the parts he has on hand and post what is available for starters. He gets orders, ships them..repeat...! I think Mark even standardized a set of USPS boxes for easy shipping (typical engineering guy... )Then hopefully figure out a way to get the production line going again for a more permanent revenue stream for his family...

Appreciate the alternatives out there but as long as we're not bothering Mark's family I want REAL Engman parts!

Posted by: dwillouby Feb 28 2013, 08:01 AM

So very sorry to hear this. I only had the pleasure to speak with Mark a couple of times. He will be sadly missed.

If you need any help with the parts or anything I am in Louisville and would be honered to help.

David

Posted by: billh1963 Feb 28 2013, 08:14 AM

Sam has a great opportunity to continue a business that is already established and has eager customers. If managed properly, Sam can use the profits to pay for college and step into a ongoing business once he graduates. Few have such an opportunity...I hope it is recognized.