DSE 5 #1 September 14, 2009 Wes Rich passed away today, from a heart attack. He single-handedly changed skydiving photography with his talents. As a craftsman, no one built a better helmet. He was a good guy. He'll be tremendously missed. I appreciate your willingness to teach, share, and help answer so many questions for me, Wes. Thanks for the time we spent together, albeit rare and brief. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ltdiver 3 #2 September 14, 2009 Wow. Just Wow. Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bomb420 1 #3 September 14, 2009 WTF?!! That is so very sad. I never met Wes in person but we shared numerous very long winded emails about various camera helmet topics. Sounds like he was always striving for perfection and his camera helmets show it. We lost an innovator today and I'm extremely sorry to hear about his passing.HYPOXIC Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lewmonst 0 #4 September 14, 2009 Oh No.... This breaks my heart! I was fortunate enough to travel to Deland in April and have Wes mold my head for one of his amazing helmets. I just received the completed helmet a few weeks ago. It is truly a masterpiece. If you didn't know Wes, you'd never guess from seeing him just how talented an artisan he was. He had a gift. No one in the world made helmets like Wes... And no one ever will... Wow. I don't think he'd jumped in a while, but he loved to tell old skydiving stories. In my brief meeting with him and a plethora of emails, I learned a lot from Wes. He will truly be missed. This helmet already meant a lot too me. Now, I will cherish it that much more... Thank you for everything Wes... Blue Skies... Karen Lewishttp://www.exitshot.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lewmonst 0 #5 September 14, 2009 His recent masterpiece... my treasure.http://www.exitshot.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DSE 5 #6 September 15, 2009 it's entirely likely you have the last completed helmet Wes did.Like all his helmets, it's beautiful. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
avenfoto 0 #7 September 15, 2009 aw man. total bummer. that guy was the best. i visied his shop in deland a few times and was just blown away at the volumes of information he held in his head, the ancient amazing pictures on the walls, and the absolute perfection, and clean lines in his work. so long, legend. -b Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lewmonst 0 #8 September 15, 2009 Quote it's entirely likely you have the last completed helmet Wes did.Like all his helmets, it's beautiful. ...(sigh).... Yes, it is beautiful. I feel so lucky I got one, and just devastated to think he won't be around to share this gift with other cameraflyers anymore...http://www.exitshot.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WesDingo 0 #9 September 15, 2009 Attached (I hope) is a picture of Wes. Life is short. People matter. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nakedfool 0 #10 September 18, 2009 can you please share an image of your helmet? im very interested in seeing his work... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lewmonst 0 #11 September 18, 2009 I need to take a better photo of just the helmet completed by itself, but here's me in it. His website: http://home.earthlink.net/~rimworld/id3.htmlhttp://www.exitshot.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
2Rich 0 #12 September 19, 2009 I would like to thank you and all the others here who have said such wonderful things about Wes. These posts and comments have giving me new insights into his life that I didn't have before. I will always be proud to call him DAD. For any one interested there is a memorial being planned at Skydive Deland on Halloween for Wes. I will be glad to give additional information on the memorial as it becomes available. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
