Local MC Journalist Dies:

ABM is very sad to hear of the passing of "Monk".

56 years is not enough time for a man with so much to live for. We'd heard Monk hadn't been feeling well, but never guessed it was the c. The family requested motorcycles only for the funeral, and that bikers rev their engines as the casket was lowered into the ground.

ABM has been on the road this week, expecting to spot the couple at one of the magazine's many Leesburg related events until a biker we interviewed told us of the tragedy, and yesterday's funeral.

Monk had a storied life. A retired Army Gulf War vet, past writer for EasyRider magazine, he never forgot how p-o'ed he was at having to judge a "ride in" bike show where bikes were being delivered in trailers. We'd laugh, and wonder what so upset him, it was just a contest, but that's the kind of straight up dude Monk was, he told it like it is, and didn't have much time for plastic.

To his wife, Tammy, better known as "Boots", their children, and the grand kids Monk so loved to spoil, our sympathy.