Good Bye to one of the good ones. Marc is a man that new his craft and was proud and generous to share his knowledge and insite to all that asked. He would explain things to me and if thought I wasn't getting he would draw me a picture. Marc wrote the book on Porsche customer service.

He is missed.

Our deepest condolences to John and Clare and all the Boulanger family. Marc will be remembered.

From the Puskas Family , Sylvan Lake.

This is a rather long story so bear with me.

I have known Marc for as long as I can remember. We grew up together and always shared a keen interest in cars. Not a day would go by where we would not share thoughts on what we read in Car and Driver, Road & Track or even Hot Rod magazine.

When we were in high school we both decided our future was in engineering and we both enrolled in Mechanical Engineering at U of Calgary. We figured once we graduated we would get jobs at a Ford or Chevrolet or somewhere where we could show them all how cars should be built.

During that time I managed to save up enough money from summer jobs to buy a car. With encouragement from Marc I bought a 1973 Ford Capri 2600 and the next summer we set apart rebuilding the engine to race spec. I have no idea what it cost me but we had the block magnafluxed and bored. The crank turned and balanced, all the pistons, con rods, etc were to race spec and balanced. The heads were ported and polished and larger valves installed with double valve springs. The list goes on.

Once the engine was built and installed with a heavy duty clutch and a nice set of Ansa dual exhaust we did the proper break in. Then, it was time to give it some real throttle. So, Marc was driving at the time and decided the right thing to do was to floor it. We had no idea how much power this thing had yet and, wow, the rear end broke loose and the engine just screamed.

That sounded like a LOT of revs so I looked over at the tach and to my amazement I saw the needle sweep down past 2000, to 1000 then 0. Across the blank space at the bottom of the tach and then past 8000, 7000, and down to idle.

We looked at each other. By all rights that engine should have exploded, but it was still running. A few bent pushrods later it was back on the road.

One thing we learned that day was, by god, Marc can build an engine and I think it was one of the major events in his life that took him from a future as an engineer to someone much happier building engines than designing them.

Marc, you were my best friend growing up and we shared so much together. I will miss you terribly but I am glad I have these memories to look back on.

Rest in peace until we meet again.

Gerry Rohling

I’ve know Marc since 2004. I couldn’t find a cooling leak on a new car and my friend said we should take it to Alpine. Mark put it on his hoist on Saturday morning (his shop was supposed to be closed) shined a light on the leak and didn’t say a word. His silence and dry sense of humour were golden. A great fellow with a really sharp mind…I’ll miss him a lot.

My sincere condolences to the entire Boulanger family on the loss of Marc.

Marc and Mike offered to put on a Tech Evening for Wild Rose Region Porsche group this past summer. Even though they were extremely busy in the shop, they took time to learn a new technology (Zoom) and put on a great session for our club members. I really enjoyed our discussions during the practice session and the actual event. It was obvious how much passion and knowledge Marc had about cars and Porsches in particular.

I know that I speak for all Wild Rose Region members in expressing our condolences to the Boulanger family and the staff at Alpine Autowerks. Marc will be truly missed.

My sincere condolences to the Boulanger family for your loss with Marc's passing; we have lost a very special individual. I have known Marc since the early 80's when he started his automotive career with John Cattle's Autotech Porsche / Audi / VW Service Centre. When he moved to Cooke Motors and became a Porsche Certified Master Tech and later to opening his own Porsche Service Shop, Alpine Autowerks, he was the "Porsche-go-to-guy" in Calgary. He smile and quiet demeanor was his strength and treated all his clients in a fair and respectful way; if didn't know the solution, he would figure it out and he always did.

Sorry to see you leave us so soon...you will be missed !!

Patrick

Melissa, Michael, Matt and Family.

Steph and I would like to send you our deepest condolences. We’re very sorry for your loss, our heart’s are truly with you all.

Marc, Heart of gold…my best friend and mentor for the last 11 years. After reading the other messages, we are all so blessed to have shared the same experiences. I met Marc in 2010, and had the opportunity to work with Marc and the Alpine Team fixing and mechanically restoring 15 Porsche 944’s together. Marc daily drove 944s raced 944’s and had a real soft spot for the Porsche 944. I owe it all to Marc - he literally taught me everything I know about these amazing cars. Thanks for sharing this passion with me, thanks for your patience and all your kind generous ways. The fire will burn stronger now then ever - you’ll never be forgot, and will always be missed. Marc, We love you and will see you on the other side my friend.

Stay Golden Marc,

Love Mike & Steph

The Maddison family extends its deepest condolences. I was privileged to know Marc for the last several years, sharing our mutual passion for cars and other things technical. Marc was always there to help and made himself available after hours or at the track many times. I spent countless hours at the shop chatting about cars, making plans for the next project, looking at various exotic car projects in progress and on Fridays sharing a single malt whisky. Marc and I kept a continuous correspondence about car stuff, which Marc often extended to his active interest in other technical subjects, sometimes politics and often items he thought were humorous. Marc had a wickedly dry sense of humour and more than once I had to get him to explain the punch line. A story that was typical of Marc: I had my Porsche in to repair faulty electronic switches, at which time Marc took the opportunity to install a pit speed limiter switch. Marc, you will be missed.

Marc came to me about 6 years ago, as he wanted to relocate his shop Alpine Autowerks right next door to my now closed shop Haute AG. He was gracious enough to ask my permission first. I was immediately on the defensive as I thought there is no way two competing shops could work so closely together. After more conversations with Marc, I discovered how we could work together and strive for success in each of our businesses. I am so grateful I was open to this idea of Marc relocating Alpine Autowerks next to my shop at the time Haute AG. Over the 5 years of working next door to him, Marc and his family became close friends and Marc in particular became a mentor and confidant. We shared many days and evenings not only discussing cars and work, but also family and life. I cherish those moments with him, Marc was a very honest and genuine person who was always willing to drop everything just to help. I learned a lot from him, and I am grateful he was a part of my life.

My sincerest condolences to Barb, Mike, Matt, Melissa, and the rest of the family.

So very sad to hear the news of Marc's passing. Such a kind and helpful gentleman as Marc is hard to find these days.. I have been taking my cars to him for 15+ years now and would never consider going to anyone else. He was so knowledgeable and ready to help anytime. He will be greatly missed. My condolences to the family and the team at Alpine Autowerks!

I have been taking my cars to Marc for over 14 years. He was alway's a very professional and caring person. Loved chatiing with him and could always tell how much he loved his passion for cars and racing. He will be sorely missed. Condolences to the family, and all the men in the back that worked with him. Nick DeMare

Very sad to learn of Marc's passing. We lived as neighbors for 23 years and our deepest condolences go to Barb, their children and all of his family and friends. Sending strength at this very difficult time.

On behalf of the Calgary Exotic Auto Guild I’d like to extend our condolences to Marcs family and his many friends. Marc’s presence in the car community was massive. Marc was always there, always available and always able. His mechanical ability was unmatched and his wit immeasurable.

Some people come into our lives and make our life better, Marc was that guy. We’re all better because Marc was part of our lives. There’s no doubt that his memory will live with all of us forever.

The CEAG has made donation on the GoFundMe page.

Such sad news. My deepest condolences to Barb, Mike, Matt, Melissa, John, Clare and all other family members. And, of course, to Marc's hundreds of friends and clients.

Marc lived to be helpful and kind to others; he genuinely enjoyed coming to their aid. If, while driving at the racetrack, there was ever an issue with someone's car, he'd immediately give up his driving time to help. Most of the time the owner wasn't a customer but Marc didn't care. He'd make sure that the guy got rolling again. I can't count how many times over the years he dropped what he was doing to help me with a car problem. He wouldn't have it any other way.

He was a genius savant with a rapier wit. He could fix anything and everything, and every time I was at Alpine he'd also offer up a quip or amusing comment... some of which I wasn't smart enough to "get" until I was half way home. Then I'd burst into laughter. A few weeks ago I dropped a car off that had an issue. Marc sent me a text a day or two later to let me know that he'd figured out the problem. He said it had the German symbol for accelerated decreptitude on all the parts and he sent me a photo of its hood badge. He found humour everywhere.

Of course, there's always 6-12 Porsches being expertly attended to at Alpine. From early Speedsters to the latest GT3's and GT4's and everything in between. His knowledge of racecraft was second to none, so his lot was "home" for many track-prepared cars. But he took in orphans too... stuff that other shops would shun. I've seen everything from Citroen 2CV's to a Ferrari F40 to a Big Block Vette to a '68 Thunderbird with suicide doors and a blown 429 at Alpine. Once in a while I'd spot a Bentley, McLaren, Rolls Royce or Austin Mini in for service. Marc worked on vehicles from every continent and no problem was too tough for him. He didn't need a manual or even the internet; he'd just figure it out.

I have so many fond memories of Marc, but here's a small one that perfectly captures his essence. I was a passenger in a GT3 on our way to dinner in Edmonton. There was a collision ahead and traffic slowed to a snails pace. Idling away, the GT3 suddenly threw a check engine light. The owner became really concerned because the next day was a track day and all the shops had already closed. Three lanes of traffic had to merge into one lane and I recognized a car that moved into position in front of us. I said to my friend: "Well, you have incredible luck; the best Porsche tech in Western Canada is 3 meters ahead of us. I called Marc and despite the fact that he was almost certainly late for dinner somewhere he pulled right over, walked up to the GT3 with a scanner in his hand, diagnosed the problem, cleared the codes and assured my friend that he'd be fine to track it the next day. Before he drove away I told Marc what I had said to my friend about his luck and Marc instantly quipped: "Just WESTERN Canada? Really Doug?"

That was Marc. He jumped at the chance to help, he fixed the problem, then left us laughing as he walked away.

Marc, I'll really, really miss you.

To Mike, Matt, Melissa and Barb,

The world has lost a very special person and for that you all have my deepest condolences. When I heard of Marc passing I went through all the old text messages and photos I had of him. They were nothing but extraordinary and hilarious. The last text your dad/husband sent me was a meme making fun of car sales people. That’s what I loved about him, he could be involved in a hugely stressfully situation and come up with hilarious stories and jokes to lighten the mood. He would call me up to discuss a massive bill I would be faced with because one of my useless cars broke down but then end the conversation with me laughing. I will always cherish the times we spent together at the shop, at the track and and car meets. I will never forget him and I’m very proud to have called him my friend.