Tragic news - NICO has lost one of its own...

[JJ240]

This is my chance to thank Paul for helping me out over the phone with random questions whenever I called. Taking time to help someone he had never met face to face. Its not easy to give your time to someone you dont know well for no reason. But he did for me on numerous occasions. I think if theres something to be learned its that we should all try to be more helpful to people, because it may take every single one of us to make up for his not being there.

[AZhitman]

^ Agreed, great point JJ.

Paul and I disagreed often on how we should treat "newbies" on the boards.

"Tell 'em to SEARCH first, ask dumb questions later!" he'd growl.

"But I want them to like it here, to find answers to their questions, to feel like NO question is too stupid to ask," I'd reply.

"Bah, they need to learn on their own, man!" he'd tell me.

Funny part is, anytime I (or anyone else) would call, email, or IM Paul with a "dumb question", they'd get the full breadth and depth of his knowledge, and a few extra unexpected pointers.

Dammit Paul, we were both right. And we're gonna keep doing it your way.

Miss you man.

[drifter_for_life06]

^^^ Let's go it his way. Hipp Hipp Hooray for Paul!

[arkman0]

http://www.legacy.com/FortWayn...77260

PAUL D. SOUDER, 24, of Gainesville, Fla., died Monday, Feb. 14, 2005, in a plane crash near Leesburg, Fla. Born May 23, 1980, in Wells County, he was the son of David P. Souder of Fort Wayne, and Jenny Souder Dietz of Winston Salem, N.C. His brothers are Michael Souder of Burbank, Calif., Jonathan Souder and Matthew Souder, both of Fort Wayne. Grandparents are John Zierten and Delores Zierten of Huntington, and Barbara Souder of Warren and the late Philip Souder. He was a 1999 graduate of Snider High School, Fort Wayne and a 2001 graduate of Vero Beach Flight Safety Academy, Vero Beach, Fla., he received his pilots license at age 16. He was a certified flight instructor and a private and commercial pilot. Memorial service is 2:30 p.m. Saturday at United Methodist Memorial Home-Applegate Chapel, 801 Huntington Ave., Warren. Visitation with the family prior to the service is from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday February 19, 2005 at the United Methodist Memorial Home - Applegate Chapel. Preferred memorials are to the Pilot Missionary Fund c/o The United Methodist Memorial Home 801 Huntington Ave., Warren, IN 46792. Arrangements by Glancy Funeral Homes-H. Brown & Son Chapel, Warren. Published in the Fort Wayne Newspapers on 2/17/2005.

[drifter_for_life06]

i really dont want to believe that he is dead....i wish this were a hoax

[Beemen550]

i just wanna say R.I.P. Paul, i never got to meet him in person but he was one of the people i looked up to when i did my sr20 swap, he recommended that i go to chip at cardinal performance, which i did and also his sticky threads in the sr forum were very informative for me, and i didnt even know until today that he went to the same high school i did, even though u sold that awesome s14 for a lexus NICO will never forget u Paul..... peace

[nametakennow]

Add me to the list that didn't know him personally, but felt his presence on the boards.

Much luck in the great beyond, Paul.

[SeanDean]

Where to start........

This is my first opportunity to post in the thread and I feel like I'm late

Paul was one of the greatest friends you could ever hope to know and was an absolute joy to hang out with. The members who mentioned his enthusiasm for life and his perpetual smile are spot-on. He came from a great family who raised him to be one of the best people I have ever met and prolly will ever meet.

Some of my fondest memories are of the 3 weeks we spent in Indiana putting the new engine in his grey coupe. I remember taking the just-finished 400+hp CA18 for it's first drive from Fort Wayne all the into Illinois and then back in the same night just to break it in, and just like when I first met Paul, he didn't hesitate to toss me the keys and let me drive his pride and joy, that was Paul. Later, feeling the boost for the first time, Paul's grin was ear-to-ear, but his smile was never far from that anyway.

Another night: Nearly getting arrested for 'wreckless driving' while doing slides in the parking lot by SR436 and University. Lucky for Paul his Maxima had nearly overheated so he was standing next to it while I was sliding Torry's Sentra in a nice display for the orange county Sheriff (the one I didn't realize was watching me) Mr. Sherriff wasn't inpressed...

Paul wasn't always lucky though, and he deserved a lot better than he often got in life, giving a thousand times more than he received, but always doing so with a smile . It can't be repeated enough how happy Paul was to help anyone at any time for any reason. We would all do well to spread more of the Paul Souder spirit and joy for living, no matter what life throws our way.

There is also hardly a person I trusted more at the wheel of a car or at the stick of a plane than Paul, and even though I'm not exactly fond of flying, especially small planes, when I was Paul's roomate in Kissimmee, I logged numerous hours flying with him, the best of instructors.

I remember the drawings he showed me from when he was in grade school and wanted to be a pilot, they were all airplanes, airports and pilots in their suits. Man it rips me apart to think how close he was to his dream career.

Paul will not be forgotten by those who knew him and we are all better for having been touched by such a great character and I know that Paul appreciated everyone who was his 'family' away from home. I think it is best that Paul died doing what he loved most in this world, even more than cars. My thoughts go out to Paul's mother Jenny, his father David and his 3 younger brothers who looked up to Paul more than anyone. As Shawn mentioned, Erik credits Paul for saving his life and the life of Marty as well, and I think this is the best example of the type of person Paul was: absolutely selfless, making sure he had put forth every effort, never giving up.

It was an honor to have known you Paul, Godspeed and may you keep flying high.

-Sean Love

[skydragoness]

We would be truely honored.

Then it's done. Screw work. Paul kept hassling about when i would visit him in Florida. I owe him this much. My boyfriend who never got to meet him last summer like we hoped (he was driving through DE to get to Rhode Island) is going to accompany me. We would very much like to pay our respects..

547-240sx----I may need to stay at your place.

[neurovish_too]

Jason ( http://www.jasonsiu.net ... took some of the great pictures in this thread ) asked me to post up this article for him:

http://www.tunerzine.com/artic....html

He's got a bunch of pics up, including wallpaper size jpegs of the picture of Paul driving along the water.

[skydragoness]

Jason ( http://www.jasonsiu.net ... took some of the great pictures in this thread ) asked me to post up this article for him:

http://www.tunerzine.com/artic....html

He's got a bunch of pics up, including wallpaper size jpegs of the picture of Paul driving along the water.

Wow. Those are phenomonal photos, simply beautiful. Some of the ones underneath the parking lot lamp... w/ the rainbowish beams of lights. Awesome.

[Enjuku Racing]

I have known Paul for almost 5 years now. He was one of the greatest men i have had the privlege of knowing. It all started with his first CA swap in my garage. That sparked my interest and changed my life forever. That was the very beginning of Enjuku Racing, Paul helped in so many ways. Seeing him work was so fun, no matter how bad it was or got he figured a way to make it work. Paul was an awesome addition to our team, always willing to lend a hand and pulling all nighters to get the cars running. He was always around the shop hanging out, always making us laugh. Working on cars, Hangin at the house, flying in his plane........ I dont think i ever saw that man without a smile on his face. I am having a very difficult time with this, i miss him so much!!!!

The one picture i saw that sums him up was of him standing in his empty engine bay with his arms spread. Flying in a car!!!! The 2 things he loved the most.

Paul, if you can read this i hope you know how many lives you have touched and forever changed. We miss you SO MUCH!!! Save a spot for me in the garage up there!

Ken Harrison

PS : Dont forget to check out http://www.tunerzine.com/artic....html

Jason did a great Job.

[BuudWeizErr]

Damn. I am late to this thread.

OG NICO. From back in the day. No good man.. Damn shame.I never really talked directly to him.. but I'm the same way as what is said below.. probably why I respected what he had to say so much.

I am a man of few words when it comes to circumstances like this, but it's still sad to hear something like this. peace bro..

Paul and I disagreed often on how we should treat "newbies" on the boards."Tell 'em to SEARCH first, ask dumb questions later!" he'd growl."But I want them to like it here, to find answers to their questions, to feel like NO question is too stupid to ask," I'd reply."Bah, they need to learn on their own, man!" he'd tell me.Funny part is, anytime I (or anyone else) would call, email, or IM Paul with a "dumb question", they'd get the full breadth and depth of his knowledge, and a few extra unexpected pointers.

btw... keep this mentality on the nico boards wherever you go paul. hahah. werd.gonna go pound one for him.

[C-Kwik]

I am just finding out about this. I am truly saddenned. It sounds like he was doing something that makes him happy. If we are to go, we should all be that lucky. Just a reminder of how short life truly is. My condolances go out to his family and friends. We have truly lost someone great. He will be missed.

[MainEvent212]

i made this a while back when i was creating NICO handout cards...i figure this is a good place to post it

this sucks

[NIGHTfall_240sx]

[jramospma]

I am so sorry

R.I.P

[boost_boy]

Sean/Guys,This is very shocking news to me. Paul will truly be missed by myself and many others that had dealt with him in one way or another. As a fellow CA18 owner, he was one of the more knowledgeable individuals of our group and his knowledge has helped many a CA18 owner on this forum as well.

He had earned my respect and I'm pretty sure he'd earned the respect of most others that have crossed paths with him. I was always smiling at the sig with him being x-amount of miles above us and being inverted (Truly Daring). I guess he lost his earthly life doing something that set him free and in a sense, I believe that he is just that now "Free". So Paul my friend, wherever you are, you can really look down on us now and see that your dedication and contributions to people you don't even know have not gone in vain.

Thank you very much for being an enthusiast that have inspired many nissan car enthusiasts. You have motivated me to better than I need to be by setting the bar of knowledge of the CA series motors high, but not impossible to reach. I personally want you know that you will be truly missed and that is from the top and bottom of my sincere heart and mind.

Sincerely,

D'Angelo L. Eiland

From me to you:

You were once limited by the skyAnd you probably wondered why?An angel such as you, could not achieve all that you knew you could do.But now that you've paid your duesand done life's funnest things, our lordhas embraced you and have given youyour golden wings.And with these wings you are limited nomore, you are free to do whatever from the heavens to shore.

Rest In Peace Paul

[skydragoness]

Im crashing at the La Quinta, in Warren Ind. Found on expedia

I'm sorry Shawn, I won't be able to make it as planned, not by car at least. My bf and I don't have $400 at our disposal for the flight. I have sent flowers already. I'm pissed I decided to go to the funeral too late.

I found this quote today in a friendship greeting card:

" I'd like to be the sort of friend that you have been to me, I'd like to be the help that you've been always glad to be, I'd like to mean as much to you each minute of the day, as you have meant, old friend of mine, to me along the way."

Edgar A. Guest

[crewchief264]

Paul Souder has been a friend since 1997. I had my first car an 1989 Nissan Maxima SE and He had his first car--A 305 Lingenfelter Firebird--Of course we always raced and he always won. Then he decided that he wanted an SHO So he got a 90. That car later cought on fire in Florida and he was on to 240s from there and finnally on to his last and trageically final car-a Lexus.

I haven't been as close since he went to florida, but we have spoke and kept in touch. Last time I had seen was last year about this time when we took ride In my car down to Indy for a BW3s meet with fellow NICO members (I spend most my time on maxima.org); however the guys there were great and they all knew Paul.

Paul was a great friend, and a great person to hang out with he always had agreat story, and the more he told them the better they got. In high school he was always driving like a maniac, of course I think almost everybody inhigh school does ans that is where our common ground was. We were always talking cars, and what are plans were and trying to figure out how to mod our cars; of course on our limited funds we didn't really get past putting in octane booster! He spent most of money on his private pilots liscence and matter of fact I was ablt to go for a ride with Paul a couple of times.

I am really going to miss Paul, and I wish that in the last few years I had been able to live closer to him. Funny thing is is that I am in the Indiana Air National Guard (work there full time) and had just started college full time again and we had trip down to tyndall afb. I was like man that would be great opportunity to come down and visit. However, with taking night classes and all I wasn't really able to go what really sux is that our unit was there from jan 30 to feb 19 and I that was my last chance to see him.

Paul, I know your in Heaven and I am sure enjoying those new found wings, of yours, and it's probably a safe bet that your working on your first Mod to make them just little faster. You and your family will be in my Prayers I miss you Man!

your friend dan

[JESTER]

I had no idea. Been on vacation for two weeks, and get back on line to see this about MV. My prayers are with his family.

I really hate to hear this. Stuff like this only happens to the good ones.

[PSGAL05]

Z31T, who are you, this is Lauren, Pauls girlfriend, I cried when I read this post, I cried when I read all these posts, to know how many people he reached out to and touch makes me so happy. I would love to talk with you and anyone who knew Paul. We only knew each other for a short time but things were just so perfect..he was my dream guy. It is hard to understand this but I know there is a reason for this, he was sent to me to make me a strong person, a better person, and to never settle. I know how much you all meant to him and that means so much to me. I look forward to meeting you all in Orlando. Any friend of Pauls is a friend of mine. We shared a passion for flying and I was learning so much about cars from him, we had all these plans to work on mine, so anyone who would like to step in I would love it!! I would love to talk to you all, my email is [email protected] com and my AOL is lmeredithcorey, feel free to talk anytime, it helps me to hear all these great stories about my guy...

Paul, I love you!! Forever my Wingman!!!

Lauren

[Z31T]

Lauren,

I'm the guy that pulled up in the scion with the wheels chatted with paul and then had to leave and come right back. when i came back.. you guys were gone :'( you had your RSX-type-S?

-Mike

[AZhitman]

Lauren - Welcome to NICO, wish it could have been under happier circumstances.

You always have a home here.

We miss Paul terribly, please let me know if there's anything you need.

We have a pretty neat "award" we'll be awarding at this year's National event, honoring Paul and his contributions to the Nissan community.

[PSGAL05]

AZhirman

Would love to talk with you...email me [email protected], IM me lmeredithcorey, or call me 706-835-5490, would love to talk with you about my guy...thanks for the open arms, I need it so much now!!

[Spectre]

Wow...I can't believe this. I can't say I personally knew Paul, but I always enjoyed reading his posts. It's strange how one can feel attached to people they've never met in person (i.e. any online community). I don't know about anyone else here, but this community is like living in a second city; all the interactions are merely digital instead of physical.

Hearing news like this is a strong reminder of one's own mortality. I'm only 22 and like most people around my age, death just isn't something I even think would happen to me. It just makes me think back to a couple of close calls I've had. I won't go into detail, but it is amazing just how fragile life can be. Don't put off til tomorrow what you could accomplish today.

I give my deepest sympathies to the friends and family of Mr. Souder, rest assured he is feeling quite comfortable now.

[Gold Digger]

Holy cow. I bought an exhaust off of him in 99 when I still had my 240. He is the one that introduced me to Enjuku racing when it first got started. Talked to him a few times on the phone and a lot on MSN back in the day. I don't know what to say. RIP Paul.

[huntin5L]

Very very sad...I have read many of his posts before, he was a great guy and a pleasure to be around. He is truly the reason why many of us are here today. My condolences go out to his family and g/f Lauren.

[240_Keyy]

OMFG! I just heard about this through a lexus forum, I can't believe it Paul helped me A TON while I was going through the build process on my 240. I can't believe he is gone. We lost a great member and an even better person

Rest in peace man

[DriftFactory]

I really don't know what to say. I haven't been on in a while and today I see this! I had the opportunity to hang out a couple of times with Paul when I was living in FL before moving to LA and he was a really great guy. He was fun and he was one of the most technically knowledgeable people I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. I’m just really in shock over this. My heart goes out to his family and may they know that he will be sorely missed.