Hubert Becher - world's first Deaf Skydiver

[BillyVance 34]

It is my sad duty to announce that the world's first Deaf Skydiver, Hubert Becher, passed away on Monday, March 9, at the age of 80. He had surgery for cancer last December. Then he suffered a bout with pneumonia that he never recovered from.

Hubert made his first jump at Elsinore on July 10, 1964. He retired in 1980 after 220+ jumps.

33 years later at the Deaf World Record event at Perris Valley, he and his wife Judy showed up to meet all the Deaf Skydivers from around the world, including Japan and England since they lived nearby in Baldwin Park.

All of us were awestruck at the opportunity to meet our version of Tiny Broadwick, in a way. We surprised him and his wife Judy by chipping in and paying for tandem jumps for both of them. There was not a dry eye in the entire bunch when the tickets were presented to them. They made the jumps and completely enjoyed them. It was also Judy's first jump ever.

Hubert's profile can be found here: http://www.deafskydivers.org/Profiles/ProfileIndex2.htm. His name is 3rd from the top of the list on the left. You can also follow the links to his tandem jump pictures from there.

Blue Skies, Hubert, thanks for being the first, and see you on the other side.

"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban