fucci

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Gear

  • Main Canopy Size
    150
  • Main Canopy Other
    PD 235 (Demo Canopy)
  • Reserve Canopy Size
    143
  • AAD
    Cypres 2

Jump Profile

  • Home DZ
    Skydive City
  • License
    D
  • License Number
    18653
  • Licensing Organization
    USPA
  • Number of Jumps
    4500
  • Years in Sport
    30
  • First Choice Discipline
    Formation Skydiving
  • Second Choice Discipline
    Freeflying

Ratings and Rigging

  • AFF
    Instructor
  • Tandem
    Instructor
  • USPA Coach
    Yes
  • Pro Rating
    Yes

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  1. COL (Ret) Kirk Knight, Ph.D., died peacefully at Tampa General Hospital on August 26th, 2022, with family by his side. There is a Kirk Knight Memorial Page on FaceBook, and his family and friends invite everyone to his Celebration of Life on October 1st, 2022, 11:30AM, at Skydive City, Zephyrhills, Florida. Some of Kirk's ashes will also be making their way over to Deland for the Jumpers Over Seventy jumps. Kirk was jumping hard just two months ago in Iceland, but came back to the U.S. with pneumonia and never left the hospital. Kirk was just short of 8,000 jumps, and we will be distributing a memento to skydivers so that Kirk can keep jumping on his journey to 8,000 and beyond. His biography follows: Kirk Knight lived an adventurous and distinguished life as a U.S. Army soldier with over 34 years on active duty in defense of the Nation. He also performed duties as a U.S. Government civilian employee with over 20 years of dedicated service as the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) liaison officer to Special Operations Command—Central (SOCCENT) and U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). He was a decorated combat veteran, with three tours as an enlisted Infantryman and an Army aviation officer in Vietnam, and combat operations in Mogadishu, Somalia as Liaison Officer during the Battle of the Black Sea, among other named operations. He served in countries around the world during his long career. A key position was his time as Commander, U.S. Army Parachute Team – the Golden Knights, where Kirk led the team to National and World Championships. He also had assignments as an Army Ranger instructor, and as the Deputy J5 for Plans and Policy with the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC). Kirk culminated his Army career in 1999 as the U.S. Army Defense Attaché at the United States Embassy, Ottawa, Canada. After military retirement, and a brief stint in the financial services sector, Kirk became a government civilian at SOCCENT and SOCOM in the aftermath of 9/11. As an additional duty in his very limited free time, Kirk was a PRO demonstrator and Accelerated Freefall (AFF) Instructor for the USSOCOM Parachute Team – the Para-Commandos. Kirk’s aerial skill, reliability, and tenacity ensured that the SOCOM Community Engagement Program reached audiences at some of the highest profile events across the United States, highlighting Special Operations Forces (SOF) missions, opportunities, and capabilities. Always the consummate professional, Kirk represented SOCOM in front of millions of spectators, and tens of millions of broadcast, print, and social media subscribers. Kirk was scheduled to retire in September 2022 after 55 years of combined military and government service to the Nation. Skydiving was Kirk’s passion, and his contributions to the sport are numerous. He is the recipient of the United States Parachute Association’s (USPA) Gold Medal for Meritorious Service, a National and International judge having served as Chief Judge of the USPA Collegiate Nationals and an international judge at the CISM championships, most recently in Austria in June 2022; a Skydivers over Sixty and Jumpers Over Seventy record participant; and an AFF Instructor Evaluator. He was a trustee of the International Skydiving Museum and Hall of Fame, generously donating to the building fund as well as contributing innumerable volunteer hours on the path to “get it built!” Kirk ended his jumping career in Iceland in July 2022, with 7,848 jumps. His journey to 8,000 jumps came up just short, but his legacy and immense contributions to skydiving will live forever! Kirk is survived by his brother, Chris and his wife, Gail; his son Chris, and his wife, Andi; and his step-son, Greg Foster, and his wife Colleen. Blue Skies, always, Kirk.
  2. Good luck with the jump -- wish I could be there with Roger, Bill, et al, to say good-bye to our dear friend. As with many others, I will be there in spirit! What a wonderful lady in every sense. Loved jumping with her and the West Point club in the mid 90s, and then having the opportunity to reconnect at various times and places over the years! Miss you, Queen . . . BSBD
  3. Never gets easier saying good-bye to great friends. I was shocked and saddened to hear the news, but fortunate to have done many, many big-ways with Burt while he was with us in this life. Rest easy, brother.
  4. My condolences to the family, and my thanks to Loy for helping build the sport that we have today. It was always good to talk with him and have a few beverages when we were in Tucson. A round in his honor during our next trip in January is absolutely in order! Blue Skies, Loy . . .
  5. Passion . . . energy . . . love . . . life! Ron had them all (in abundance) and shared them freely with all of us that were fortunate enough to know him. Mike and Patty Woods gave us the sad news at ZHills yesterday. But, there was work to do and a tandem student ready to jump. She could see the pause that I took after hearing the news, but the jump was great, and afterwards, while not fully appreciating the gravity of our loss, went to the fridge, grabbed a beer, and toasted Ron who she knew flew with us. Even from "up there" Ron's spirit is still positively impacting us! Patty is making plans for a ZHills (and I think Deland too) ash jump, and in true Ron fashion, I can only imagine the party! In fact, probably need to start cleansing/purging the liver now! We'll miss you, brother! Blue Skies to all of our friends you've joined on the ultimate Big Way!
  6. What horrible, sad news. A gentle soul who raised a wonderful skydiving family, and man, getting some of Rose's fried chicken at a Nationals or 300-way was one of life's true pleasures! The entire U.S. Special Operations Command parachute team sends our deepest condolences. Kirk Knight, Keith Walter, Andy Serrano, and I offer our support in any way needed. We hope Chris is in town or able to get back to say good bye to his Mom. Cris Fucci
  7. not too many weeks go by when we don't tell a raff story! for the folks that didn't know him, it usually starts with, "man, you should've known paul rafferty . . . he was amazing." sure the crew will toast him a few times over the coming weeks in az. we miss him, but we know his spirit is always flying with us.
  8. Good-bye brothers. Thank you for your service to your country and for your dedication and commitment to our sport. You both positively touched so many people, leaving a legacy that will endure your passing. I will miss you both deeply, but rest well knowing that every memory I have of Bob was that he was HAPPY! Retirement surely agreed with him! Danny was, well, Danny! Very different men in many respects, but both LIVED life to the fullest. Several of us will attend the ceremonies on Friday, but for the SOF community that can't join us, I know they send their deepest sympathies. The senior USAF CCT/PJ community is well-aware and monitoring the updates. Blue Skies, Cris Fucci LTC, USA USSOCOM Parachute Team
  9. Thank you! I completely understand Mike's "priorities" and in fact, am immediately quitting my job and joining him for some dedicated attention to this group! When I talked to him the other day, he mentioned that he landed a "2-stack" on the beach in Puerto Rico -- and I thought he was talking about some kind of parachute deal . . . Blue Skies! Cris
  10. Trying to contact Mike to schedule a CRW seminar at Z-Hills in the next few weeks. We need to know his seminar fees and availability. If someone can please post good contact info, or have him e-mail me his data at [email protected], we'd greatly appreciate it. Blue Skies, Cris Fucci
  11. Johnny Gates LIVED life, and brought Blue Skies to all of us that were fortunate enough to know and love him. He was a rare, beautiful, and genuine soul that graced this earth with his presence. In the midst of sorrow, we can only smile knowing that when the call comes for your final break-off, Johnny's last formation set the example. HEY ASSHOLE -- we'll miss you, but you'll ALWAYS be #1 (with the middle digit extended!) with me! Van Break has left the building, but now can fly on for eternity! Just think of the skydivers he's joined and the amazing flying they're doing with smiles all around . . . Good-bye, my friend. Cris Fucci MB-803