Folks Of Interest Blackie Gejeian passed away this afternoon

RIP Blackie...

 

GOD SPEED -&- R.I.P. BLACKIE

 

Was at the GNRS in Oakland in the early 80's with a friend. We saw this cat with all these heavy dudes gathered around him and were wondering out loud who he was. We thought actor or some musician like a country star. Guy near us turns and says that Blackie Gejeian, then it all made sense. He sure had a presence.

 

RIP Blackie.....You will be missed by many.

 

Around these parts we all said jeh-jee-un. Don't know how close that is to the correct pronunciation back in the old country.

 

Obituary from Fresno Bee.

 

I met him at the old Oakland Roadster show 69 or 70, a crowd of guys around him including Tommy Hirones, Geo. Barris, Ed Roth, Joe Balon, Bruce Alexander, Joe Cruces and Speed Reilly. What a guy that Blackie !! HRIP ( hot rod in peace )

 

RIP....

 

Little late hearing the sad news...but sad news is sad whether you hear it early or not.

We are running low on originators...

 

I've read several articles & interviews with Blackie in which it is stated that the first syllable of his name was pronounced with a hard g: ga-jee-an

 

Another giant of the hobby gone.God bless ya Blackie.
Leo

 

Here's a few pics (not mine) from Blackie's "Celebration Of Life":

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Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

This morning, “the algorithm” suggested this YouTube video for me … great stuff … captures Blackie’s personality to a “T” (pun intended) … every time I got the chance to chat with him, he did most (if not all) of the talking … sure miss him!

Enjoy:

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I was fortunate enough to meet Jackie at the GNRS in 2014 or 2015. The two of us chatted for at least 1/2 hour. He made me feel as though I had known him for years.
We had a” great “ chat and I feel lucky I was able to meet him !
Wheelie Dave

 

great video of a great man....thanks for posting this one...

 

R I P

 

It looks like my memory is not quite right; I seems I was there in 2003 !!!

 

Correction ! It seems, according to a previous post, that I met Jackie in 2003 in San Mateo!!

It seems as though I may be getting older after all !!!

 

God Bless.

 

DANG he has been gone for six years. It doesn't seem that long.

I don't know if it was at the 98 show or a later one but after he got his scooter, he was at the Portland Roadster show when it was still downtown in the Convention center and Linda Vaughn walked in the building and along with a clatter of walkers you could hear the squeal of Blackie's scooter's tires as he made it over to her.

 

Who is this "Jackie" you speak of?

I assume you mean Michael "Blackie" Gejeian?

Don't you just hate the "auto-correct" feature of your "smart"phone?

 

I'm going to assume that his phone thinks it knows more about spelling someone's name than he does and leave it at that. With a lot of these phones if you try to edit your post after you post you make a bigger mess than if you left it alone until you can at least get to your computer.

 

That's it. I saw him at few events over the years never talked to him.

Hajoghutyun Blackie.

 

Had lunch with him at the Hot Rod Reunion many years ago, nice nice guy

 

Yes,I meant Blackie !

Yes, I can’t type and apparently I can’t spell either !!!

 

Going through my desk the other day I found this invitation, Blackie gave me a couple of these, time just didn't allow me to bring my car. Looking back, I wish I would have made the time. One of the last times I saw him was at LARS in 2004, didn't see him until I was leaving. He had been in an accident with is truck and trailer on the way, and he was having pain in his chest area, from hitting the steering wheel. Tough old Bird, Great guy !

 

The August & September issues of magazine included an article entitled Remembering Blackie Gejeian:

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• Click HERE for Part 1 of the article (from the August 2022 issue)
• Click HERE for Part 2 of the article (from the September 2022 issue)
  
• Click HERE for the condensed online version of the article (thanks @gnichols)

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