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Roger Jacquith by Kitty Schroht
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| Have you longed for the days of the old neighborhood bar like "Cheers" where everyone knows your name? In the industrial area of West Melbourne off Dow road was such a place, called TBR. (TBR was not a popular bar it was a bike shop that specialized in high performance racing motors). The initials had meaning "Tuned By Roger". An ace bike mechanic is called a tuner. TBR started out in Roger Jaquith's carport in Union Park. The first racers that he helped listed him as an official sponsor of their individual race teams at the track. In the early days Roger would purchase a few tools with every paycheck with the intention of opening his own bike shop and running his own place on his terms. His dream became a reality, when he scraped together a little capital and a lifetime of tools. TBR was not just a business it was a place that customers became friends with Roger and the other racers. In a typical bike shop like ACS (Atlantic Cycle Service) John France the master mechanic works behind the customer service department. At TBR Roger was it! The customers were not segregated from the owners, manager, parts department, showroom and the mechanicís garage. Everyone had the opportunity to see Roger work his magic on another race bike. He was capable of making a "stock" bike that could go 100mph go even faster at the racetrack. I traveled with my husband Jon, Roger and the local racers to tracks in the southeast. They would set up huge tents for an outdoor shop. Roger guided his racers with patience greater than a preschool teacher. The racers were an impatient lot with the need for more and more speed. His first tip was to tell his racers to learn how to ride the bike and to think about what they are doing. The adrenalin rush of going more than 100 mph caused many racers to lose focus. Although I was not thrilled with my husbandís choice of hobbies, I trusted that Roger kept him and the bike safe. Roger could be blunt by telling you the truth and not flattering you about your performance. Roger had numerous friends that would stop by to hang out. He loved his work and the cross section of people that it brought to him. On a typical Saturday you would see a LS 400 Lexus parked next to Bobís indiscernible beater mobile. Racers came to him with their bikes and to seek words of wisdom about the bigger picture- life. Very few of us fulfill our dreams by having our own business. In addition to seeing TBR become a reality many years ago, Roger was also a major part in helping numerous racers win championships at Daytona. To set the record straight I am talking about the"real" Daytona track where the NASCAR stars like Jeff Gordon race. Your heart stops when you are at the infield and see the racers on the high-banked turns and dragging a knee in the chicane (you lean the bike over to the point of touching the track with your knee). I never remember Roger having a cold or flu. He had some back pain more than a year ago and made the decision that he might need to see a doctor for muscle strain. Roger entered the hospital to have his spleen out. I took Roger to the doctor to have the staples removed from an incision that was more than a foot long. I told Roger that they would give him a topical anesthetic or shot to numb the area. It is no big deal it is not like natural childbirth. When Roger came out of the office, I asked him how it went. He replied in his deliberate and very calm manner "well, the doc said hold on and pulled out each staple with a pliers and NO anesthetic". I was close to being hysterical thinking about the pain that he endured from this procedure and numerous others. About a month later he returned to the hospital with complications, had surgery and was given his last rites. We were shocked! A healthy and happy person like Roger could not have a serious illness. When the local doctors were at a loss to diagnose his condition, he was transferred to Shands Teaching Hospital in Gainesville. Very few of his customers/friends actually knew how sick he was. He was determined to reopen his shop and do what he loved. In September he returned to the hospital for a "tune up". He had to face the reality of closing his shop and moving back to DC to be with his family. We knew that Roger would be moving soon. At the end of September Roger entered the hospital for his last battle with a rare blood disease for which there is no cure. After 14 days in the hospital, Roger lost his battle. Shock is the only word that can describe the loss that we felt. His memorial service was a true celebration of life with numerous friends and his family. Many racers told tales of track victories and how Roger touched their lives. I wanted to share a side of Roger that the TBR gang did not see. I wanted to tell everyone that Roger was one of the few people that my daughter had an instant rapport with. When most friends would come to the house Brittney would hide behind the couch. When Roger would visit she would bring him her toys and share her beloved books. At the end of the evening Roger would have a couch full of toys with Brittney and Shannon vying for his attention. Rogers mother said that when he packed his hospital bag for the last time he had a framed photo of two little blondes that looked like twins. I knew that she was referring to my girls. We feel blessed that Roger considered my family as a part of his extended family in Florida. Roger we love you and miss you more that you will ever know. |