fruce 0 #1 February 13, 2002 I was hoping that it would not be me… that I would not be the one to write this. Yet, I want all of you to know. Over this past weekend we lost one of our family, Chris Wittgartner. Chris went in on Saturday during the Puerto Rico Boogie. When Chris first showed up at CK, he had that look of a newbie, not knowing the who, the where etc. I introduced myself to him and asked him about his flying skills, number of jumps, all of the usual stuff. He was a big guy in stature, yet he was a little kid in attitude (just like me) and wanted to get better at sit flying. So, I told him that I would be happy to take him up and video some of his jumps so that he could see how he was doing (I am not a coach). Chris improved quickly, and really wanted to learn everything and do everything, he even started BASE jumping. He had gotten back from Idaho and had great video of his BASE jumps from the bridge. We were all just down in Sebastian over the holidays and had a fun dinner together in our condo… sort of CK expatriates all together in Sebastian (of course all we did was watch each others videos!)I had planned on going to Puerto Rico, (with about 20 others from CK), yet I had to cancel at the last minute to come out to Elsinore. The weekend before everyone left was the Freeze Fest Boogie at CK. On that Saturday Chris and I had a long conversation about life, about what was important, about how wonderful it was that we shared something special, something that had changed us forever, something that we both loved and something we just had to simply smile about. Chris, when I think about you…….. I will smile buddy. See ya on the next sunset. frucehttp://www.fruce.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 273 #2 February 13, 2002 Bummer....Blue skies forever Chris.pull and flare,lisa--What would Scooby Doo? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skreamer 1 #3 February 13, 2002 I'm sorry about your friend, fruce. From what you wrote he seemed like a really nice guy and I am sure you and everybody else at CK will miss him a lot.My condolences.Will Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Slappie 9 #4 February 13, 2002 I'm so sorry to hear of your loss... Blues may be with him forever now....My New Website with 24hr Chat Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 20 #5 February 13, 2002 Blue Skies forever to Chris and his family and friends....Political Correctness - At least one person at any one time will be offended by something Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkyDekker 1,465 #6 February 13, 2002 I am so sorry to hear this news.My heart goes out to his family and friends, both in and out of skydiving.....Blue Skies Forever.....SkyDekker"We cannot do great things, only small things with great love" Mother Theresa Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kelly 0 #7 February 13, 2002 Im sorry fruce, I didnt know how to announce this. I, like you, was just hoping that somebody else would take care of it (preferably not a xkeys friend). Fruce couldnt be more right about Chris. I think about him and every memory is of him smiling. Whether it was battles near my locker (Get the hell out of my way :) !! :), sitting on the hangar floor watching videos of his skydives, talking to him about how well his H.D. coach jumps were going... or those quite nights, after the last load has landed, when everyone is wandering around, drinking a beer and reluctantly packing... Chris was always smiling. Chris, like the rest of us, LIVED his life to its fullest. He had found something that made him ultimately happy and it was evident everytime you looked at him. Everybody here has taken off from the dz in a hurry, just run off yelling "goodbye!"'s. I'm so happy I didnt do that recently. I got my chance to get wrapped up in those big arms, pulled in real tight and sqeezed real hard. I got my chance to say goodbye, even if i added "ill see you in a couple of weekends..." I didnt even fathom a different outcome....Blue Skies Chris. You're still here with us in spirit, memory, and now each and every skydive. ~kelMy little corner of the web. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
3fLiEr 0 #8 February 13, 2002 ...................Eternal Blue skies to ya dude...........................Peace"In a world where we are slaves to gravity I am pleased to be a freedom fighter" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jfields 0 #9 February 13, 2002 My sympathies to both his family and his extended Cross Keys family.Does anyone have a happy picture of Chris from earlier that they could post?Blue Skies.Justin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheMarshMan1 0 #10 February 13, 2002 So sorry to hear that...my thoughts and condolences are with his family and friends. Blue skies always....-Marshall Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pammi 0 #11 February 13, 2002 My condolenses to friends and family. You honor his memory, Fruce and Kelly, with your kind words about him.Closing pin jewelry Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fruce 0 #12 February 13, 2002 __________________________Does anyone have a happy picture of Chris from earlier that they could post?_________________________I am going to pull some pics from video I have of himfrucehttp://www.fruce.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JDBoston 0 #13 February 13, 2002 Very sorry to hear that. I got my license at X-Keys last spring, so perhaps I have met Chris before. We'll see, when the pictures get posted. My condolences to everyone who knew him better - though it sounds like knowing him was a reward in itself.Blue skies,Joe Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zennie 0 #14 February 13, 2002 My condolences to his family & friends.Blues forever Chris.BSBD"Zero Tolerance: the politically correct term for zero thought, zero common sense." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rgoper 0 #15 February 13, 2002 blue skies eternally bruce, sorry to hear of the loss.Richard Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #16 February 13, 2002 Eternal Blue Skies Chris."Alright, at 4500 lets break it, turn 360 and track away..." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hisgoofyness 0 #17 February 13, 2002 BLUE SKIEShisgoofynessits a bird, its a plane, no wait, its one goofy s.o.b. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sebazz1 2 #18 February 13, 2002 Peace........Blue Skies........With big white puffies..........Seb Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skymama 37 #19 February 13, 2002 That is so sad, Bruce. At least you and Kelly described Chris as a guy who was living life to its fullest. AndreaThe brave may not live forever, but the timid may not live at all. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DENGOPHER 0 #20 February 13, 2002 sorry to hear of your loss.. my heart goes out to the family and friends...just jump!!!!Dennis Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
spinmaster 0 #21 February 13, 2002 Sorry to hear about Chris....Blue Skies...Dan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lummy 4 #22 February 13, 2002 Tis a sad day....Blue skiesStill a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fruce 0 #23 February 13, 2002 Sorry, I don't have a lot of my tapes with me, here are some pics of Chrishttp://www.fruce.com./chris_wittgartner.htm frucehttp://www.fruce.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jessica 0 #24 February 13, 2002 Ahhhh, great shots. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites SkyDekker 1,465 #25 February 13, 2002 It is great to see a big big smile on those pictures....Looks like he truely loved what he was doing......Blue Skies Forever......SkyDekker"We cannot do great things, only small things with great love" Mother Theresa Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Prev 1 2 Next Page 1 of 2 Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. Paste as plain text instead Only 75 emoji are allowed. × Your link has been automatically embedded. Display as a link instead × Your previous content has been restored. Clear editor × You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL. Insert image from URL × Desktop Tablet Phone Submit Reply 0
SkyDekker 1,465 #25 February 13, 2002 It is great to see a big big smile on those pictures....Looks like he truely loved what he was doing......Blue Skies Forever......SkyDekker"We cannot do great things, only small things with great love" Mother Theresa Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
