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RIP James Lupo/jimschopshop

bigwalton

bigwalton

Alaskan Postal nutjob
FORUM MANAGER
SOA Member
City
Dexter
State
MI
I hate to post this... we lost a great father, husband and AMC/Jeep guy yesterday: James Lupo/Jims Chop Shop

As happens with this place, you make friends with people you've never actually met that can be closer than some folks you know in person. While he hadn't been on here much recently, I know a ton of folks knew him and considered him a friend. Borrowing some photos from @gr8dain and @John N on FB.

I'd like to offer that we remember him by sharing our best memory, in person or virtual...

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Just saw this, first in FB. Shocked and saddened. He was a great guy- I never met him in person but we talked several times on the phone. My heart breaks for his family and many friends.
 
I count myself fortunate in that I had a chance to meet Jim in person many times. My favorite memory is from the SOA National in KY when he showed up with the BEAUTIFUL Golden Eagle Scrambler that he'd just finished. It was SO pretty and SO nice and he was SO worried about messing it up or scratching it. I was in charge of the Scenic rides and he decided to do that instead of taking a chance on any kind of body damage. He made a mistake :rotfl: I had a route "planned" that used one of the many mining roads on the maps, but I hadn't been able to pre-run all of it. Turned out that we ended up on a completely overgrown road that hadn't been cleared in years (like the branches on both sides were touching in the middle.) I went on the radio and asked if folks wanted to turn around, mainly thinking about Lupo and his super pretty paint. Everyone, including him wanted to keep going, so we did. He had trail pinstripes on it when we were done, and he loved it.

Jim never forgot to thank me for "that first scratch" and would retell that story. It freed him up to enjoy the Jeep more and quit worrying about it. The smile he had at the end of that day and that he got when he talked about that is what I'll always remember.

(I'll also miss sending each other mouthwatering meat/cheese/egg reels on IG... it was how we "checked in" on each other weekly.)

Going to miss you something fierce, my man. RIP
 
I don't know what to say... I just sent him something on IG this morning and then I saw the news on FB.
He always would send some weird stuff, or we would comment on things because I think we saw things differently and just clicked.
I had a great time drinking in the rain under the tarp at Johns get together a year ago... I think our odd/dry sense of humors just clicked.
He just sent me something on Friday about the work he was doing on the commando...

"Ugly" is never going to be seen the same in the same light to me.

Rest easy.

cb
 
I just saw this on James (amcjeepman) insta and am going to copy what I posted there.

He was the first jeep guy I met when we moved to NoVa from NC. He helped me early on with my 360 swap and then set me up with a local FSJ guy who's further assisted me with my 360 swap. I am totally shocked by this. He was always very helpful and friendly to me.
 
My condolences to his friends and family. Such a great guy, always so friendly and helpful, great guy to be around. I spent some time with/around him at a few of the National events and some of the larger parts swap meets, not enough time. Great guy who will be greatly missed :(
 
The news hit me hard. Still not sure I am fully processing it. From the first part I bought from him right after buying my Scrambler, I knew he was a true friend. We chatted on phone or text constantly. I learned a lot about my Jeep as well as myself through James. I miss him so much already.

So much of my Jeep is made up of parts from him. It is now a rolling tribute.
 
Lupo was a goofball, which is probably why I liked him so much. His jokes about buying his wife rusted out Jeeps every birthday/anniversary/Christmas were always shown to my wife, and Lupo's jokes got the same exasperated sigh and eyeroll that my jokes do.
He messaged me here a couple of years ago when one of our guys was going through some stuff and went dark. Lupo sends me a pm here that says "Yo Arkansas, call me".
Talked to him for an hour or more that day. His class clown front covered a very caring heart, and we called and texted each other for a bit, mostly him checking on another Jeeper who is local-ish to me because Lupo was worried about him.
The CJ community lost a great one. Rest in peace buddy. I hope there was a factory Golden Eagle Scrambler waiting for you just inside the gates.
 
gr8dain said:
The news hit me hard. Still not sure I am fully processing it. From the first part I bought from him right after buying my Scrambler, I knew he was a true friend. We chatted on phone or text constantly. I learned a lot about my Jeep as well as myself through James. I miss him so much already.

So much of my Jeep is made up of parts from him. It is now a rolling tribute.
Click to expand...
I know what you mean, I had a hard time making myself make this post. One of the guys I wish I lived close to so I could see him more often.
 
Like the rest have said easy guy to talk to on the phone or text, tho the phone conversation was always better! He had stories on top of stories and before you knew it an hour had passed.
Proud to say and be one that has “Chop Shop” parts on my 8.
Rest easy my man.
 
I’m a long ways away from most of you guys. Lupe would shoot me messages on the gram, we’d back and forth, our kids are the same ages. My heart is broken for those kids. And for Lori. I never got the chance to wheel with him like I planned. I really need to double down and make a meet up with as many of you as is possible. Life’s short. And friends are worth their weight in gold. I miss him already. He’d shot me a message Thursday, and I was going to get back to him. And now I can’t. Rest easy my friend. You are missed.
 
Jim was great. I never got to meet him in person; but we texted and message often on the apps. He was so friendly and fun and helpful. I can't believe he's gone... I'll miss his interactions. We chatted several times on the phone about jeep parts and options. He sent small parts I couldn't find locally and wouldn't take anything for them. I'm gonna miss him. I feel for his family.
 
Lupo was the best. He was one of the first people to reach out and offer help after I bought my scrambler. We chatted and texted for many years until we were finally able to get together last year at the Wheelin 4 Hope event at Oak Ridge Estates. We shared many good laughs that weekend, especially when he fell asleep in his trailer with the light on and was covered up with mosquitos lol. My jeep broke that weekend and I rode the rest of the weekend with James. We had such a good time.

I just talked to him on friday and we talked about the holidays, his commando 3 link and what wheeling trips we were going to try and do this year. I was in complete shock yesterday morning when I pulled up Facebook while drinking my coffee. I spent yesterday reflecting, crying and smiling while in my garage turning wrenches on my scrambler and thinking about the good times/conversations we had.

I'm happy to have had James as a friend. I'm really going to miss him.
 
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