rmarshall234 13 #51 October 16, 2011 "And while of course Ted would've loved to have another 15 or 20 more years with Marcie and parachuting, I'm sure he's content that it ended with a cool jump story: There he was age 75 skydiving hard at the cutting edge test jumping one of his own creations on a beautiful autumn day with young-enough-to-be-his-children/grandchildren friends and colleagues who all lived to tell lies about his last jump. Cheers, old friend. We'll miss you but you lived large, long and with a heart full of love and you can't do much better than that." ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Very well said, robinheid. Thanks for posting. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Greene 0 #52 October 16, 2011 You just wrote the best eulogy we have ever seen written. Your words describe Ted's love of life and living. Bravo to you. Ted would be very proud. Ted, you were one in 5 million! We do not know you, rmarshall, but thanks for posting this tribute. Love n hugs to his family and all his many friends, us included. Special hugs to Bill M and his family. Skies blue, Ted Strong, you will be missed. Jim and Lee West Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rmarshall234 13 #53 October 17, 2011 >>We do not know you, rmarshall, but thanks for posting this tribute. Not me, I was simply repeating Robin Heid's words from an earlier post that I felt deserved to be heard again. Clearly you agree. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flipper3 3 #54 October 17, 2011 I was shocked and saddened when I heard the news just a short while ago. I went through his rigging course in Quincy in 1971. Ran into him and jumped with him through the years, most recently some of the SOS record attempts. I bought my first new rig from him - the Stylemaster main with the center pull belly wart - $200 for both. He was a pioneer in the industry and about as good a person you could ever hope to meet. Truly a loss for everyone - but he left us doing what he loved. Blue skies Ted - hope to see you again someday! Flip Hollstein D 3115Flip Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Greene 0 #55 October 17, 2011 Sorry for the misquote attributed to you Kudos out to Robin Heid for his words! Jim and Lee West Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gjhdiver 0 #56 October 17, 2011 Ted Strong was a fucking titan. When I was the manager of Skydive City, I met him and Bill Morrisey a lot. He was the definition of a true gentleman, and this sport is what it is today precisely because of him. Without Ted Strong, there would be no tandem. I can't express how sorry I am to hear of his death. However, the best tribute we can pay to this man is to be the best tandem instructors we can be, on whatever system we are qualified in, for one thing is certain. Without Ted, there wouldn't be any of them. He broke the ground that others followed. Thanks Ted. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
groundrush87 0 #57 October 17, 2011 I was just getting my Strong rating towards the beginning of the year when I was in FL for a while. I stopped by the Strong factory to pick up a package needed for the tandem course, and while I was there I was given a tour of the whole place by the helpful staff. During the tour we stopped by the R&D or engineering department upstairs. Ted was there and I was introduced to him. I talked to him for about 10 or 15 minutes, and was very impressed and privileged to meet him. He's definitely brought the sport a very long way. I'm very sorry that he has passed... my condolences to his friends and family. Blue Skies Mr. Strong! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dks13827 3 #58 October 17, 2011 I was worried for Ted when I saw a PIA video a while back and he told about test jumping a very very small canopy.........it opened in a spinner and he was extremely lucky that he managed to cutaway from it. He almost didn't. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rrmtopo 1 #59 October 17, 2011 Wow, just made my first jump in 20 years this past Friday. Reviewing my logbook I remembered an entry from Ted on January 16, 1985 when I followed him and my twin sister out on her first tandem jump. I still have the picture from 26 years ago, tell me who was having more fun jumping with a brother and sister that day. Rest in peace Mr. Strong, you've made an entire community better just by sharing your life with us. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rahlmo 1 #60 October 17, 2011 Stood on top of an Appalachian today. Thought I saw your footprint. An old hero gone, never to forget. Waiting for new heroes to emerge. --kevin gibson Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnMitchell 16 #61 October 18, 2011 I never had the privilege of crossing paths with Ted, but I just wanted to say thanks. He was one of the most influential people in developing the gear we enjoy today. Sorry you left us too soon, Ted. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Liemberg 0 #62 October 18, 2011 Sad to hear this news. Personally, I was saved by one of his products already six times since he passed away - they worked as flawlessly as that 26ft Strong Lopo that saved me many, many years ago. BSBD Mr. Strong "Whoever in discussion adduces authority uses not intellect but memory." - Leonardo da Vinci A thousand words... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
normiss 798 #63 October 18, 2011 Orlando Sentinel article Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
klingeme 1 #64 October 18, 2011 Here's a picture of Bill and Ted in the early days of Tandem Development. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ikenever 1 #65 October 19, 2011 Thank you Ted for what you've done. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Skyper 0 #66 October 19, 2011 Blue skies Ted and thank you for everything. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skymama 37 #67 October 19, 2011 Ted's Obituary.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
3331 137 #68 October 20, 2011 John Sherman has changed the front page of his Website in tribute to Ted Strong. http://jumpshack.com/I Jumped with the guys who invented Skydiving. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
masterrigger1 2 #69 October 20, 2011 Quote John Sherman has changed the front page of his Website in tribute to Ted Strong. Thanks John in a very big way for doing that! Blue Skies Ted! MELSkyworks Parachute Service, LLC www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
feuergnom 28 #70 October 22, 2011 what can I say? Never met him in person, just loads of stories. still feel sad and like I have lost something important...The universal aptitude for ineptitude makes any human accomplishment an incredible miracle dudeist skydiver # 666 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
manchuso 3 #71 October 23, 2011 ...the man was a prince! I met him in Ecuador for the C130 Boogie and I´m grateful I can relate to what DSE, Robin Heid and John Sherman put in to their eulogies. Blue skies Ted... rafael Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pchapman 279 #72 October 23, 2011 Quote they worked as flawlessly as that 26ft Strong Lopo that saved me many, many years ago. And one of his old 26' LoPo's saved me just a month ago. I hope he had a chuckle when the photos got passed around Strong Enterprises. Blue Skies. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
efs4ever 3 #73 October 24, 2011 QuoteFor as long as I can remember, Ted has always been there. I bought my first "real" rig from Ted. When I made my first very own rig, I bought the para-pack, webbing and hardware from Ted. Anytime I had a question about gear or jumping, Ted was always ready to help, although he must have hated selling me everything one yard at a time. Because has has always been there for me, I thought he always would. Was that the jump with NO LATERAL ATTACHMENTS? I swiped a photo of the photo of that from your office! This is a truly sad day. We were competitors, but we were friends first. My favorite memory of Ted is from the early days of tandem when Ted and I were practically the only people in the world doing tandem. We knew we had something special, but we didn't yet know if it would be a safe and practical. Up till this point we had been working separately, but on this day we decided to work together. So we exited a 182 over DeLand with two experience female jumpers, and did the world's first tandem RW..a two-by-four if you wish. There were no drogues yet, and those first tandem parachutes tended to destroy themselves (and the jumpers) every other jump or so if you took them to terminal, even with a light passenger. So I guess were were both lucky that day as everything went perfectly. We landing laughing out loud, shared a round of beer with girls, and the rest is history. I think we can all agree that tandem jumping has worked out very well indeed. THANK YOU TED!Russell M. Webb D 7014 Attorney at Law 713 385 5676 https://www.tdcparole.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
zephyrzone 0 #74 October 25, 2011 I've only been in the sport since June, but I had 2 tandems, both on Dual Hawks, before committing to AFF. I bought a Quasar II which I both love and evangelize to everyone who asks. I now have my A license and have no intentions of ever giving up my container. It's such a solid piece of work. While I may not be qualified to speak on Mr. Strong's untimely death, I can say...WITHOUT A DOUBT...his innovations introduced me, and kept me in the sport. BS Ted. I wish I had the honor of knowing you personally. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pookieland 0 #75 October 25, 2011 Hi there, my name is James and I saw your post on Ted. I also have a custom made Quasar II made by Ted Strong. He invited me to his factory here in Florida and had his people tape measure me and do all the things they needed to do in order to make my adventure is skydiving the best it could be. I am 1 of 4 wheelchair skydivers in the world. There’s only 2 of us in the US. What caught my attention even more about your post is your location. I am from Dover Delaware, I grew up in Dover and I have been to that dropzone there in Laurl about ‘98 or ’99 and it was not a good place to jump. But in the past few yrs I have been hearing good things about it and I will be back to visit in Feb or March. Not to jump just to visit. My Dad and brother still live there. Anyway, Ted was a great guy and I was fortunate enough to meet him and work with him on my skydiving adventure. And I know that he would have appreciated your words about him. I go by the name of Pookie and I have been in this sport since ’06 and things just seem to be getting better and better about this sport and I just wanted to say Blue Skys to you from SkyDive City down here in Zephyr Hills, FL. If you have face book you can find my skydiving page under Team DumbAss, yes it’s a real team. There is a picture of me and the DZO hanging out of a plane doing my last Tandem Jump. OK, that’s all LATER…………. James Morning aka PookieStop Touching Me!!! Muff Brother# 4466 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
