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| March 09, 2010 News |
| Rich Vito: 1948 - 2010 |
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 | | Rich Vito |
The karting community has lost a family member. Rich Vito passed away Sunday, March 8 after a 10-month long battle against injuries sustained during a freakish accident on April 26, 2009. The kart racer from Longmont, Colorado was a longtime karting supporter and a friend to everyone in the paddock.
Vito was racing at the IMI Motorsports Complex in Dacono in early 2009 when a tire from another kart broke off and rolled into the path of Vito, striking him in the head. Rich suffered severe traumatic brain injuries and went into a coma. After two and a half months, Vito came out of his coma with conscious control of his left side. Unable to speak and move the right side of his body, Vito underwent rehab work to help the body and mind recover some of what had been lost. Recently, Vito’s body succumbed to infection and high fever, and he passed away peacefully.
Rich is a father of two sons - Brett and Colin – who along with Rich’s wife Gayle were by his side every moment they could. Vito began karting at age 51 and truly loved the competition and the camaraderie of his fellow racers. Though he was successful in the ten years he competed, he cared more about teaching the new and young racers into the sport. The karting community both in Colorado and around the country held a number of fund-raisers for the ‘Rich Vito Recovery Fund’ to help him and his family.
To leave your thoughts about the life of Rich Vito, please click to the Forum Discussion.
The following is from the last entry of Gayle’s online journal she kept while alongside her husband’s journey:
Rich has finished his journey and so there will only be a few more pages of this journal.
Brett, Colin and I spent Sunday with Rich. He was comfortable, but had a high fever. The staff at Applewood was wonderful. They watched over us all day. Many friends stopped in to say good bye and my brother and his wife came as well.
When Rich left us, it was peacefully and he looked at rest. His roommate Mark was in the room which seemed appropriate. We had our chance to let him go and tell him what was on our hearts.
The husband and Dad we loved and lived with so long really started this journey 10 months ago, he fought and we fought alongside him, but there was to be no recovery from his injuries. So the battle was long, but it was time for him to rest after these many months.
We want to thank each and everyone of you who have followed along in this journal. It has been such a source of strength for our family to know that you have shared the tears and the laughter, the good days and the bad and have now finished the course with us and with Rich. Please know that we have felt your prayers and your caring more than you can ever know. God bless each and every one of you!!
We are currently working on finalizing funeral plans, so will post when all is set
Gayle, Brett and Colin |
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