One of the things you can’t take with you when you pass on is your story. Like earthly possessions, it can define who you are. But a story does much more than that. It remains behind to show all the differences you’ve made in other people’s lives.
Roger Grago’s story did just that for two well-known California hot rod communities. Roger was president of the Volkswagen car club Der Kleiner Panzers (DKP II), which he helped resurrect in the 1970s. He also led the early Porsche 911 club R Gruppe in Southern California during its formative years in the 2000s.
In 2011, the R Gruppe Treffen in Monterey was named in honor of Roger. And in 2012, he received the GT award, the club’s highest honor for an R Gruppe car. Roger’s character exemplified the qualities most important to the club. Genuine, compassionate and honest, he placed the greater good above himself. If wealth can be measured in generosity, Roger was a very rich man. Sadly, he lost his four-year battle with brain cancer on December 21, 2014 at the age of 61.
None of us will take our possessions with us when we pass, but it’s good to know our story will make a difference in the lives of those we leave behind. The film below attempts to provide some of the ways that Roger touched so many. I’m truly humbled by the reception this film has received. With every view it brings Roger back to life for me. He was truly a great person.
Rogers Ride from Niccolo Roveda on Vimeo.