NTHRIWZ

OK, this sucks. Again. Dammit. RIP Jim Pat Swovelin

Just outside The Pearly Gates, Peter sat staring into a computer monitor when he heard the tinkling of tiny bells. Looking-up, he saw a weary traveler approaching. Now standing before him, Peter asked him for his name. "Bill Stage, SCR-5," came the reply. Peter entered the name into the computer, and while the computer clicked away, he noticed that this Bill Stage was in skydiver's attire with a leather helmet in his hand and tiny bells on his jump boots. Now gazing at the screen, Peter read some of Bill's history: Born, February 13, 1931 and applied for acceptance, today, January 30, 2010. He was an engineer by profession, a dedicated husband to his wife, Mary, a Vietnam veteran, and a skilled skydiver who was a member of the Arvin Good Guys. Standing at 5'9", he had red hair, freckles on his face, and an easy smile. He was Mr. Cool personified. Peter continued reading: Bill was active at many drop zones in Southern California starting in 1960 including Piru, Lake Elsinore, Lake Casitas, Taft, Old River, Arvin, Lost Hills, to name a few. He was particularly proud to have been a member of the Arvin Good Guy skydiving team that made the World's first 8-man star on October 17, 1965, and the world's first 10-man star on July 2, 1967. Peter leaned back in his chair looking at Bill and said, "The record shows that you led an exemplary life, Mr. Stage, please go through the gates whenever you're ready. Oh, by the way, former team members Terry Ward and Paul Gorman are waiting for you on the patio with a cold beer." Have a good one, Bill, Brian SCR-8 ---------------- And let us not forget that Bill was a major promoter of the WSCR at a time when, very sadly, women were 2nd class citizens in our sport. Yes, even though his initials were ... BS . =8^) I will never forget the Pygmy Mau-Mau meetings. Man, those were the days. If you'd like to send Mary a card e-mail me for the address. RIP Bill

As you know memorials are where you hear touching, horrifying, funny, scary and just plain ridiculous stories about the deceased and I guarantee there will be some real doozies at Gary's aerial burial at Elsinore on the 14th. If you have any story, greeting, goodbye, lie, whathaveyou you'd like me to read for you please PM me and type it like my example that follows this paragraph. Do this by Friday night (even if late) to give me time to print them Saturday morning before I leave. I will be shooting a group shot of everyone there (possibly 100+) and will have that up early in the week so you can see who was there (and kick yourself for missing it). Any instructions to me. Nothing above the separator will be read. ------------- separator ------------ Type your story exactly like you want me to read it. It can be long, short or a simple RIP Gary. Be specific and give as many details about the story as you can. Include the date, even if approximate, so people will know when it happened (I'll read them in chronological order to create a mini-timeline of Gary stories). Reread it a couple of times to make sure it's complete, then send it to me. Make sure you put "Gary Douris" someplace in the subject to make sure I know what it's about. This will be your last chance to laud/berate/thank/laugh-at/embarrass Gary publically. Go for it! Include your full name, not your DZ.com username, so people will know who you are.

For those of you who weren't able to attend Harry's memorial at the Long Beach Flying Club (where he taught) this is what you missed.[url] All of the people in the group shot (against the wall) were students of Harry. We should've recorded the mike, there were some great stories.

It is my sad duty to report that Harry Leicher is dead. Harry went in under a spinning main. He hit completely flat. Possible broken neck on opening. No movement under canopy. Only 1 person on the load saw it (he was on the backside of the open canopies relative to the DZ). It happened at about 10:30 this morning at Perris on, of all things, some "Fielding crowd and friends" formation dives (31-ways at this point in the day). RIP Harry, I'll really miss you. Pat Swovelin