sangiro 25 #1 October 28, 2007 Folks - this breaks my heart... Eric (Tonto) Stephenson died earlier to day from multiple trauma injuries after a swooping incident at JSC. Tonto was moderator on Dropzone.com and a good friend. I don't have words at this time. He'll be missed on so many levels. Thank you! Thanks Tonto. Good bye my friend. To his family, friends and especially Taya, my thoughts and prayers.Safe swoops Sangiro Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bigway 4 #2 October 28, 2007 wow. no words .Karnage Krew Gear Store . Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Maxx 1 #4 October 28, 2007 I can't believe this is true. Goodbye Tonto. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KNewman 0 #5 October 28, 2007 Blue Skies my brother in the sky. I thank you for your kind words and the advice you gave me as I started out in this wonderful sport. Your knowledge and advice will be truly missed. I can't type any more, my eyes are tearing up. Blue Skies and Stand-up Landings!!!!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kbordson 8 #6 October 28, 2007 (silence and sadness) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bozo 0 #7 October 28, 2007 Oh dammit.....this breaks my heart also. I didnt know Eric in person but he and I have shared many pms and emails over the years. I would have never thought this would happen to him. Go easy brother. bozo Pain is fleeting. Glory lasts forever. Chicks dig scars. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
f1freak 0 #8 October 28, 2007 always makes the heart skip a little when you see a new incident.... damnit... "...For once you have tasted flight, you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you long to return..." - Leonardo Da Vinci Fly free forever HAVE FUN... ...JUST DONT DIE Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
normiss 800 #9 October 28, 2007 man...this sucks. While I never met you in person, I enjoyed our messages and friendly banter here. blues my friend. truly sad to hear this. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Squeak 17 #10 October 28, 2007 oh no blues skies t, this is so sad You are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky) My Life ROCKS! How's yours doing? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 273 #11 October 28, 2007 Quote Words fail me. Yeah. Me too. BSBD... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sartre 0 #12 October 28, 2007 Just went back and had another look at a couple of conversations we had. The bastard was too smart and too often right. It's a sad day. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RALFFERS 0 #13 October 28, 2007 This Tonto?!?!?! This I can't believe... I didn't know Eric personally, but by reading a lot of his posts on here I could tell he was a great guy. He was full of information and always willing to share and teach others. He seemed so safety conscious it wasn't funny; I can't believe this happened to him. He will be missed by a multitude of people; my sincere condolences to his family and friends. Blue Skies Tonto....fly free Dialogue/commentary between Divot, Twardo & myself - "from your first Oshkosh when the three of us were riding to or from one of Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
saly 0 #14 October 28, 2007 Fly free my friend, Thanks for all you have done for our sport, sorry it ended this way. My deepest sympathy to Taya. --------------------------------------------- If you don't have wings you will never fly Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skymama 37 #15 October 28, 2007 Another one of the good guys. She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man, because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeatlast 0 #16 October 28, 2007 Fly Free ...BSBD ... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jenfly00 0 #17 October 28, 2007 Goodby, my brother. I never met you but you captured my heart with your posts in this thread. http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=2965527;#2965527----------------------- "O brave new world that has such people in it". Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mik 2 #18 October 28, 2007 Tonto was one of my AFF instructors - I was a very nervous student and he had a massive calming influence on me. I wanted to do more jumps with him as a student but he refused saying that I did not need him there and I would be wasting my money. A great guy who I kept in contact with from the UK, especially if I needed advice from a trusted mentor, and someone I loved catching up with when visiting South Africa RIP mate Mick Smith *********************************************** I'm NOT totally useless... I can be used as a bad example Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gawain 0 #19 October 28, 2007 Blue Skies, Black Death Tonto. I don't think I ever met you in person, but you will be missed here I know that. I know you will be missed dearly by those that knew you well.So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright 'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life Make light! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ianmdrennan 2 #20 October 28, 2007 Wow. First Beezy, now Tonto. This has not been a good weekend. While I never had the pleasure of meeting Eric face to face, I spoke with him often about canopy flight. Always eager to learn, and seemingly on the right path, I'm at a loss over this. I'm going to miss our chats. Fly free my friend. Eternal swoops, IanPerformance Designs Factory Team Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lisamariewillbe 1 #21 October 28, 2007 Wow, such a sad weekend, never met him but we talked parenting in regards to being a skydiver often enough to where I admired him. He displayed integrity as a man, and a father and that all to often is lost these days.Sudsy Fist: i don't think i'd ever say this Sudsy Fist: but you're looking damn sudsydoable in this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
alanab 0 #22 October 28, 2007 my goodness. this is so sad. he was an awesome guy. i met him in eloy in 2004 and he was so sweet. taya, i love you sister... my thoughts and prayers are with you sweetie. tonto, fly free with the angels... see you when i get there man.*edited to add a pic i took of tonto and taya in eloy 04 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 20 #24 October 28, 2007 Tonto has touched numerous people via the forums both in his chats and his advice he offered so freely. He has helped many people out with canopy questions and proved he was humble enough to seek out advice to further himself too. I always laugh when you would post you just were not sure you were committed enough to the sport get a skydiving tattoo yet you've been jumping for years and had over 4000 jumps. You also recently showed me another side when you told us about the child you and Taya have been helping in South Africa. You have touched that childs life more then you have touched anyone out side of your familys probally. Thank you for all the help you have provided to the skydiving community and Taya and your family are in my thoughts.Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
udder 0 #25 October 28, 2007 Blue skies Tonto. Condolences to everyone at JSC."In one way or the other, I'm a bad brother. Word to the motherf**ker." Eazy-E Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
