sangiro
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Oct 28, 2007, 5:33 AM
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Eric (Tonto) Stephenson - Goodbye my friend
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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.
(This post was edited by sangiro on Oct 28, 2007, 9:03 AM)
Oct 28, 2007, 5:55 AM
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Re: [sangiro] Eric (Tonto) Stephenson - Goodbye my friend
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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.
(This post was edited by KNewman on Oct 28, 2007, 5:57 AM)
Oct 28, 2007, 6:16 AM
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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.
(This post was edited by bozo on Oct 28, 2007, 6:32 AM)
Oct 28, 2007, 6:18 AM
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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
(This post was edited by f1freak on Oct 28, 2007, 6:27 AM)
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.
Oct 28, 2007, 7:38 AM
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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
Oct 28, 2007, 7:51 AM
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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.
ianmdrennan (D 25821)
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Oct 28, 2007, 7:51 AM
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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.
Oct 28, 2007, 7:54 AM
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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.
Oct 28, 2007, 8:03 AM
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BSBD
PhreeZone (D License)
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Oct 28, 2007, 8:11 AM
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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.
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