I met Damian at Sam's flyin on the Southern Illinois airport. I thought it was quite impressive that he flew all the way from California to participate. Damian offered some very interesting ideas regarding Q2 construction issues. I remember his offering additional thoughts on the Q-list. I found his comments quite interesting and made it a point to read anything he wrote. I am saddened by his passing and our loss as a thoughtful contributor to Q discussions.

Joseph

britmcman@... wrote:
It is with great sorrow that I announce the passing of a fellow Q
enthusiast, Damian Gregory. Damian passed on Friday, March 16 in the care of his
family and had suffered from Esophageal Cancer. He was a Vietnam war veteran,
mechanical engineer, composites engineer, motorcycle mechanic to the Stars, and
a dreamer / inventor.

I first met Damian over a telephone conversation and I quickly surmised that
he was either a great teller of stories (Liar) or one of the most talented
people on earth. After meeting him in person and seeing some of the fruits of
his accomplishments I chose to believe the latter. He truly was a brilliant
mind, somewhat eccentric, and always engaging in conversation. I and many
others loved him as a colleague, an intellectual mentor, and a brother.

Not everybody on this Q-List has the honor of having a nick-name. Damian
was known as "Batman" to many of us, always accompanied at group events by
non-other than one of his best friends, Ron Weiss, who, through the association
was named "Robin". I spoke with Ron this evening and he consented to my
putting out this note to the List.

Damian was attempting to rebuild a Q-200 project with broken canard and very
damaged engine. He and Ron went about to the California and Nevada events
over the last few years where their combined presence was always known and
enjoyed. One thing lead to another and Damian and Ron ended up making one of
those memorable cross country road trips to pick up a great deal on a Tri-Q for
Ron. Ron will write a book on this subject and you should be able to buy it
at Barnes and Noble soon. It was one of those kinds of road trips.

Damian is survived by a daughter who is now holding the great responsibility
of settling her father's estate. Among the personal possessions aside from
his Q-200 project are Harley Davidson motorcycles and related articles, and
an array of machine tools, lathes, and related machine shop items. Lastly,
Damian came into the possession of what are represented as the Q-2 fuselage
forms. It would be fitting if someone were interested in preserving these molds.

I will be speaking with Damian's daughter on Monday, March 26 and I plan on
meeting her at Damian's place in Los Angeles, CA some time later that week.

With deepest sympathy,

Phil Lankford






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