skydiven4fun 0 #176 June 9, 2003 Blue Skies to Roger & My condolences to the family.Still here after all these years Clayton Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
curtismelaniej 0 #177 June 9, 2003 I met Roger last year at Nationals. Despite all the things I'm sure he had to do, he spent around 2 hours talking to my teammate and me, about various things, showing us around, etc.-- he definitely made a point to get to know as many as he could, and make us all feel welcome at Skydive Chicago. The world would be a better place with more people like Roger Nelson. Spread the love! Blue Skies, Roger-- thank you for everything!!! __________________________________________________________ http://www.skydiveelsinore.com/teams/EXCEL/basic_camp.html Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gusmacker 0 #178 June 9, 2003 http://www.skydivechicago.com/forum/viewthread.php?tid=504 6-9-2003 at 11:06 AM Memorial Service for Roger Nelson Monday, June 16th, 2003 Memorial Jump at 12:00 p.m. Services at 1:00 p.m. (Outside if weather permits) Everyone is invited to attend and stay as long as you wish. Your prayers are greatly appreciated. And business has resumed. God Bless! Missy Nelson Skydive Chicago, Inc. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #179 June 9, 2003 Well...this really sucks. I had never met Roger and was looking forward to the July 4th weekend when I might finally meet "The man behind the Legend." Robbed again! BSBD Brother. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hooked 0 #180 June 9, 2003 My sincere condolences. Even though I didn't know Roger Nelson, he was truly admired and loved by all, judging by the wonderful stories being told on this forum. J -------------------------------------- Sometimes we're just being Humans.....But we're always Human Beings. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pinkskyvan 0 #181 June 9, 2003 We are very sad to hear about Roger! Missy and Rook, you are in our thoughts! All our Love, Thomas, Wuzi, Uschi, Pablo and the rest of the PINK family Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flailchick 0 #182 June 9, 2003 My heart is breaking. We'll miss you, Roger. My prayers are with Missy, Rook and the entire skydiving community. Lori Kraemer Clark FS2632 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JamesNahikian 0 #183 June 10, 2003 I've tried a bunch of times to pound out what I'm feeling and it's still a mess. I'm just going to post The Lesson of the Moth for now i was talking to a moth the other evening he was trying to break into an electric light bulb and fry himself on the wires why do you fellows pull this stunt i asked him because it is the conventional thing for moths or why if that had been an uncovered candle instead of an electric light bulb you would now be a small unsightly cinder have you no sense plenty of it he answered but at times we get tired of using it we get bored with the routine and crave beauty and excitement fire is beautiful and we know that if we get too close it will kill us but what does that matter it is better to be happy for a moment and be burned up with beauty than to live a long time and be bored all the while so we wad all our life up into one little toll and then we shoot the roll that is what life is for it is better to be part of beauty for one instant and then cease to exist than to exist forever and never be a part of beauty our attitude toward life is come easy go easy we are like human beings used to be before they became too civilized to enjoy themselves and before i could argue him out of his philosophy he went and immolated himself on a patent cigar lighter i do not agree with him myself i would rather have half the happiness and twice the longevity but at the same time i wish there was something i wanted as badly as he wanted to fry himself -by Don Marquis D. James Nahikian SKYDIVE CHICAGO Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chuteless 1 #184 June 10, 2003 I am sorry to say, I never met Roger, but from what you all are saying, I sure wish I had. May God grant his family the peace that comes when you see a formation against a sunset....peace of the sky. I can tell.........its a sad day fopr skydiving. Bill Cole Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
betzilla 56 #185 June 10, 2003 That poem is perfect James. Thanks for posting it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sgraczyk 0 #186 June 11, 2003 It took me awhile to put in words a small portion of what I felt with Roger's passing I haven't ever posted here, but I wanted to share what I just posted on Skydive Chicago's board. I am just now coming out of the haze, the shock, although the sadness still remains. As with so many others, Roger touched my life inexplicably. He was my teacher and mentor in skydiving from the beginning and he changed my life through what he taught me, along with all of you at Skydive Chicago. Ten years later, I am at a new home drop zone in my home state with a new skydive family, Skydive Dallas, but Skydive Chicago will always be my first home, and I seriously doubt that anyone can change the course of my life as much as Roger Nelson. Roger Nelson – innovative, dynamic, controversial – his passing is a loss that rips through the very seam of the skydive community worldwide. As controversial as he could be, Roger worked and fought for his beliefs and innovations to the limits and was strong enough to challenge tradition. Through his courage and audacity, he changed the way skydiving is taught and helped create what the sport is today. Roger was a visionary and he was strong and bold enough to build forward and not stop until his vision was a reality. Ten years ago in August, before Roger’s dream of a “skydiving resort” was built, I did my first tandem. Roger was my tandem master. I always wanted to skydive, but never intended to be a skydiver. I screamed and yelled through freefall and all during the canopy ride. When we landed, Roger had this huge grin on his face and turned and said, “She’s a screamer!” As most of you know, Roger truly enjoyed the excitement and energy of the first-timers and newbies. He remembered people and loved to embrace the new skydivers into the fold and teach them to fly – share a world beyond, his world. For instance, a month after my first tandem, I went back for my second. I was hooked. Friends were there with me for moral support, but we were on a weather hold. Having tasted that new thrill, I couldn’t wait. Although my friends couldn’t return with me the next day, I proceeded to Skydive Chicago by my lonesome, not knowing anyone there. My jump was paid for. I remember clearly my heart pounding faster than normal almost in my throat, the light-headedness from breathing a little to quickly, and then walking around the corner to find out what I needed to do to go on my second Tandem. This time I was getting the video! Roger was lounging in a golf cart in front of the hanger – waiting for the next load, no doubt. He saw me walking around the corner and lit up with his dynamic smile and said, “Shayne! You’re one of us, aren’t you?!?” A month had passed! He had done how many tandems and taught how many students, and yet he remembered me by name! He embraced me into the skydiving world and it became mine as well. This memory I share with you and it will always be a part of me. Roger saw potential in me and wanted me to skydive. When I was going through student status and shortly after and I got overly anxious, he would coach me and teach me and build my confidence. He was patient and taught without belittling. Unlike many of you, I wasn’t able to quickly excel in the sport due to life events and lack of time, but Roger always was there. When I got married, we threw people instead of rice. Roger gave us the demo as a wedding present. During the marriage, and when I was barely staying current in the sport, Roger always had a hug and a genuine welcome. One time, before I left the sport for nearly two years, I drove up (this is at the new facility) and Roger said to me, “Thanks for being part of the Family!” Even though I couldn’t jump like I wanted, he still considered me “one of us.” Although I wasn’t skydiving often, I watched the new drop zone being built from the ground up by the hands of skydivers. Roger, the businessman. The barterer. I was one of the lucky ones that got to jump into the new facility before it was open. I was there for the 300-way when you all set the 246-way world record. When I wasn’t skydiving, I was there in spirit and stayed abreast of the current DZ gossip and news. I can’t think about skydiving and not have a memory of Roger and Skydive Chicago. Ten years ago– thanks to Roger, I was reborn. After my divorce and after having isolated myself for a while, I went back out to Skydive Chicago just over a year ago to get recurrent and to say goodbye before moving back to Texas. Roger was off at another boogie, and the weather was cold and rainy. It was April. I moved to Texas and returned to skydiving in full force. I always intended to come back to Skydive Chicago to see Roger and let him know I was jumping again. I never got to say goodbye, but I know he’d be proud. Like all of you, old and new, I have so many memories to share. They keep flooding back into my mind. Suffice it to say that Roger Nelson will live on in our memories and in the skydiving community and he will continue to “Spread the Love.” With the tenacity gifted to few, Roger Nelson accomplished what he set out to do in this world. Although we might not understand it now, he fulfilled God’s purpose for him. He was lucky enough to see his dreams come alive and now he passes his vision and legacy to Missy, Rook, and to all of us. Spread the Love – that’s what he wanted! My love to all of you, Shayne Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tigra 0 #187 June 11, 2003 Welcome Shayne! Beautiful words! Thanks for posting them here. I've missed you, and I'm glad to hear you are jumping again and you sound happy and well! I know Roger would be pleased! Peace & Blue skies! maura (Your once upon a time neighbor in the campground...) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sgraczyk 0 #188 June 11, 2003 Maura! How are you and Gomey doing? I miss you and everyone else as well. But you know the skydiving family; it extends through out all drop zones. You would love the people at Skydive Dallas - they are fabulous! It just hurts that I never got to say goodbye. But I know Roger now knows - and like you said, he would be pleased. I was going to call Mattress and stop by because I'll be there the end of June for a wedding and a visit, I was going to pick up my old gear I was hoping he would sell. Now, I'll be stopping by more to pay my respects. It's going to be hard. I'm planning on Sunday the 29th, so if you're there, I'll be able to see you. I won't be bringing my gear, though. I wish I could be there Monday. Please give everybody my love! Blue Skies and Rainbows, Shayne Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 1,618 #189 June 12, 2003 Here's a pic I took of Roger at last year's Halloween party.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tadbad 0 #190 June 12, 2003 That is one of my favorite pictures of me and Roger. Thanks for posting it!! Spread The Love ----------------------------------------------------- When you're going to extremes...you taste adrenaline!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sunshine 2 #191 June 13, 2003 QuoteThat is one of my favorite pictures of me and Roger. Thanks for posting it!! Well then, you might like this one too. ___________________________________________ meow I get a Mike hug! I get a Mike hug! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumpwally 0 #192 June 7, 2007 Roger,,its almost that time. Thanks for all the memories, I think of them often. BSBD FB #1083smile, be nice, enjoy life FB # - 1083 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 1,618 #193 June 7, 2007 www.skydivingmovies.com/ver2/pafiledb.php?action=download&id=1264 Blue Skies, Roger.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JoeyRamone 0 #194 June 7, 2007 Great video. Always thinking of you Roger. TR Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
warpedskydiver 0 #195 June 12, 2007 I would gladly spend another birthday of mine to honor that guy. We have all lost far too many friends. I did not know him really well, but he was always nice to me. I was glad to be there with his friends and family. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JoeyRamone 0 #196 June 11, 2008 Still thinking of ya all the time Roger FB#2. Glad I was able to have you as a friend. TR Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mjosparky 3 #197 June 11, 2008 QuoteStill thinking of ya all the time Roger FB#2. Glad I was able to have you as a friend. TR It is always good to remember friends. SparkyMy idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jonstark 8 #198 June 11, 2008 QuoteQuoteStill thinking of ya all the time Roger FB#2. Glad I was able to have you as a friend. TR It is always good to remember friends. Sparky Also good to remember that debt of gratitude all them sit/free flyers owe the man who got some real momentum going for the idea of unconventional or non-belly freefall. jon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
diverdriver 5 #199 June 12, 2008 Five years. Hard to believe. Seems to be a lifetime ago now and yet when you say "5 years" it seems just yesterday.Chris Schindler www.diverdriver.com ATP/D-19012 FB #4125 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TGGodfrey 0 #200 July 5, 2008 QuoteFive years. Hard to believe. Seems to be a lifetime ago now and yet when you say "5 years" it seems just yesterday. That is so true Chris. Wow is all I can say to what i have read here. I never knew Roger, I waited 13 years to finally make my first tandem (May 2007). Everyone's stories make me wish even more that I would have came down a little earlier and had the opportunity to meet him. I give a lot of credit to Rook, Missy and the entire staff for making SDC what it is. I am sure times were very difficult in the beginning but this dropzone has become home for many of us beginners. It seems like, no matter what happens on a jump, when you land on the ground, there is someone there to help you out. Even if your looking at both your main and reserve and you off in some plowed over cornfield as Johnny Z shows up to see if your alright and in need of a ride! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
