Curt Van Hooser, Harley group founder and retired Sutter Health employee, remembered as family launches fundraiser for widow
The Folsom community is grieving the sudden loss of a man remembered for his generosity, leadership, and love of riding. Family, friends, and fellow Harley-Davidson enthusiasts are mourning Curt Van Hooser, who was killed in a tragic motorcycle crash Sunday afternoon in Granite Bay.
The accident occurred just after 4 p.m. on September 21 at the intersection of Auburn Folsom and Joe Rodgers roads, according to the California Highway Patrol. Investigators said a black BMW pulled out from Joe Rodgers directly into the path of Van Hooser’s northbound motorcycle, leaving him no time to avoid a collision. Emergency crews rushed to the scene, but Van Hooser, who had recently turned 70, was pronounced dead where he fell. The crash forced the closure of Auburn Folsom Road for several hours as authorities investigated and cleared debris. CHP has said alcohol or drugs do not appear to be factors in the case, which remains under investigation.
For those who knew him, Van Hooser was far more than the victim of a traffic accident. He was a husband, father, and friend who built a life defined by community. A retired Sutter Health employee, Van Hooser was well known throughout the Folsom and Rocklin areas as the first director and founder of the Sierra Thunder Harley Owners Group, which brought together riders in a brotherhood of shared miles, mutual support, and service. His wife, Cyndee Reed Van Hooser, served as the founding secretary of the group and is also a longtime contributor to Thunder Roads NorCal Magazine, where she writes the column If You Can See What I Can See. Together, the couple was known as a source of inspiration, riding partners who were deeply in love and constantly encouraging others.
Now, those closest to Van Hooser are working to cope with his sudden loss while also rallying the community in support of his widow. His daughter Jessica created a GoFundMe campaign to help Cyndee manage both the costs of a memorial and the realities of daily living.
“He loved everyone and always gave to others,” Jessica shared. “Now we’re asking the community to help us honor him the way he deserves.”
On the family’s GoFundMe page, Jessica explained the hardship her mother now faces. “My mother, Cyndee Reed Van Hooser, is now his widow. A late in life marriage, they have separate bank accounts. He recently retired from Sutter Health. They have been living on reduced income. She is concerned about how she is going to pay for the costs of his services and memorial in addition to her own living expenses,” she wrote.
Jessica also reflected on her father’s legacy and the love story he shared with her mother. “He was the first Director and Founder of the Sierra Thunder Harley Owners Group,” she wrote. “My mother is the founding secretary and writer of If You Can See What I Can See in Thunder Roads NorCal Magazine. They were an inspiration, truly in love. Our family is heartbroken.”
A memorial service for Van Hooser will be held at Folsom Harley-Davidson, where he spent many years organizing rides and connecting with fellow bikers. The date has not yet been announced, but loved ones say it will be an opportunity for the community to gather in his memory, surrounded by the very spirit of fellowship he worked to build.
The family is inviting anyone who wishes to help to visit the GoFundMe campaign. At the time of this report, more than $3,500 has already been raised by friends and supporters. Organizers say the outpouring of donations and messages reflect the wide reach of Van Hooser’s kindness and the many lives he touched.
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