I did a couple of coach jumps with Tom about a month ago. At about 5,000 feet up he turned to me and asked what I should be doing then. "Turn 180 and track away from you," I replied with a exasperated look. That was jump 31 for me, I knew what I was doing. 7,000 feet ... 'relax' hand signal. At 9,000 feet, I looked around to see if I could spot anyone's chest strap routed incorrectly. "Don't be afraid of pointing out to someone if their chest strap looks weird," he'd said on the ground. "Some girls are going to think you're checking them out but if there is something wrong, you'll end up saving their life." Sound words of wisdom, that I'd stowed away for later. 10,000 feet ... yet another 'relax' hand signal. 11,000 feet he signaled for me to put on my helmet and goggles. 12,000 feet, I watched him check his 3 rings, 3 harnesses and 3 handle. There was a precise, methodical, and serene way in which he ran thorough his routine. Felling inspired, I fumbled around and touched my 3 handles. "Yup, everything still there". At 13,000 feet and change, he motioned me to slide open the door. I looked around, for aircraft and all was clear. "There are 6 groups getting off so we should climb out right on top of the maintenance hangar", he'd advised while we were climbing in. I looked down and ... "ummmm which one is the maintainence hangar, is it the big one or the little one?", I wondered. In my infinite wisdom I had decided to that we'd climb out over the midpoint of the two. Luckily he was there to make sure we did no such thing. 14,000 He climbed out and I clumsily dived out right after him. I only knew Tom for a short time but a couple of seconds into that first sky dive, I knew that he was the kind of skydiver I wanted to emulate. R.I.P. Tom. It was great flying with you.
