In remembrance of Roger Nelson

[peek 21]

In remembrance of Roger Nelson

Posted to rec.skydiving newsgroup and
dropzone.com forum "Talk Back"

I don't really know quite what to say. So many of you have already said it so much better than I can. It didn't really sink in Saturday night when I heard about the accident, and it took until this morning when I talked to someone at SDC, and read many of your messages, that it really hit me.

So I guess all I can do is tell my stories of Roger and how I knew him. I hope it makes some of you feel better.

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I think it was 1983, when they brought Mister Douglas to Archway Skydiving Center (at Sparta, IL at the time). They put me in the base of a 10 way "cup and saucer" dive for my first DC-3 jump, and I became a Freak Brother.

I was there at Skydive Sandwich, (at a Memorial Day boogie I think), when they showed the Freak Brothers movie for one of the first times in public. We all screamed in unison when the really good parts showed. No one had ever seen such a good skydiving video. For a year or so many of us tried doing some of the "freak flying" that we saw on the video, but soon gave up on it because it was so hard to do.

I remember when Roger developed the static line training tape and made it available to drop zones all over the world. For what it must have cost him to put it together I doubt he ever made much money back on it. As old as it is, it is still being used by many drop zones (at least in part), because _no one has made anything better_, (at least not as a full first jump course video).

I was at the Freak Brothers Convention in Freeport, IL with a few hundred jumps. That was back when skydivers had low pull contests and other crazy things. These two guys hummed it down so low I couldn't believe it. They must have been open at 300 feet. Roger sped away on his golf cart and managed to catch one of the guys before they hid. Roger was so mad that these guys would endanger themselves and the sport that he pulled the guy's reserve handle. That made quite an impression on me.

I was at the World Skydiving Convention in Quincy, IL when they did the 144 way world record. I was laying out in the grass and watched the whole thing. Having a C-130 to jump from was the neatest thing. We got spoiled there for a few years.

I remember the PIA Symposium just after Roger got back from his "extended vacation". I was working in the Para Publishing booth during the first exhibit hall session when Roger walked in for the first time. The smile on his face was priceless! I reached out to shake his hand and welcome him back. I swear the smile was just like in the Freak Brothers movie where he "wakes up from the dream" in the DC-3 and zips up his jumpsuit. _I can still see that smile._

When I ran for USPA Central Regional Director I flew a plane around to a few northern Illinois drop zones, and went to Skydive Chicago at the old airport. At that time Roger was still talking down the students. He didn't really know me well, and he was very busy, so he was kind of "short" with me. He figured that I would get elected, but said something about whether I would "have the balls" to speak up about certain issues once elected. I didn't know quite what he meant at the time, but I do now.

After talking down the students, they sent Roger to fly a local demo jump in the C182. The jumpers were all worried about not knowing exactly where the demo site was. I told them "Just get in the plane, Roger will show you where to get out." I think Roger got a kick out of that one.

I don't know if Roger had ever planned to run for USPA National Director before I talked to him, but I called him up one day and asked him to, because I "needed help". He not only responded, but got he elected with a substantial number of votes, and proceeded to show his leadership ability in many ways. I just wished he had run for the position again.

As Roger grew older and his children began skydiving he started refering to the people we teach skydiving to as "other people's children" and of the awesome responsibility that it is. He made me realize that I am old enough that I too, should be thinking of the people I teach to skydive are not only my future "family", but my "children" as well.

In the past few years a number of things Roger said in person and in the SDC "weekly updates" about skydiving instruction really struck a chord with me. It was as if he put into words some of the ideas about instruction that I had been wanting to express. Things that are beyond training documents and rote instruction. I felt like I was really in tune with what he was trying to say, but at the same time realized that I was simply catching up to what he has known for a while.

I'm really going to miss those moments.

Gary Peek
peek@freefall.com
FB #1375

[tigra 0]

Thank you, Gary!

maura

[sunshine 2]

Thanks for sharing your memories Gary.

___________________________________________
meow

I get a Mike hug! I get a Mike hug!

[flailchick 0]

Thank you for sharing your memories. I spent my morning PT thinking through the years, from my first Freak Brothers at Freeport, to Quincy and the C-130, my AFF cert at Sandwich and catching up with Roger at Eloy and the PIA symposiums. Wow. He is such an amazing man, has touched so many lives.

I'm so sad, yet I know my grief is for those of us that he left behind. We're the ones in pain. I'm sure he's in the good place, planning the next dive with Tom P., Bungee, Harry O. and the rest of the gang...

Hurting-
Lori Kraemer Clark
FS2632

[diverdriver 7]

Gary, thanks so much for starting this thread. It's time for the "fun" Roger stories.

One thing I remember about Roger is the WGN interview about the 300-way attempts where the 246 was set. Roger can be like Yogi Bera (sp?) with "Rogerisms". LOL. They had the close up on him and he said quite excited "The 300 way is huge! It's about 300 feet across in circumfrence!" Bwahahahahhaha.....I put that tape in now and again and I just crack up. He was so enthusiastic about what he was doing that he might not technically say things right. But we knew what he meant.

I heard about that low pull contest thing at Freeport. I heard he went up to the guy and said "So you having a good time?" The guy responded with "Oh sure" and that's when Roger grabbed the guy's reserve handle. Good on him.

Roger loved producing videos and his video to his son Rook for his 21st birthday was great. I especially love the clip of Rook as a toddler climbing over the railing of his crib to get out which quickly cut to Rook climbing over a bridge railing for a BASE jump. Great stuff. He is so proud of both his children.

I know as the week goes on I will be able to focus on the fun things about Roger and will post more stories that I have. I hope others join in here and post their funny stories about Roger.

[sunshine 2]

I'm not sure i have any right to post my stories. I've only known roger for 3 years. I do remember one night when we were getting ready to start a bonfire, Roger decided to help by throwing a bucket of kerosene on the wood. Turns out the bucket was really full of water. He had just soaked the wood pile. So we get on a golf cart and drive over to fill the bucket with some gasoline. The drive back to the bonfire pit with a 5 gallon bucket full of gasoline was interesting. He threw the gas on the wood pile and when the fire got lit you could see and hear a big "woosh."

First time i ever rode co-pilot in the otter was when roger was flying. It was so awesome and roger just kept smiling at my excitement. He talked to me through the headset and answered all my questions about what the instruments in the plane do.

And maybe not a fun story, but still something i would like to share. I was at SDC once and had just broken up with my boyfreind. Roger could tell i was upset about something and asked what was wrong. I poured my heart out to him and he hugged me and let me cry on his shoulder. He cared so much about all of us. He truly was (is) a kind hearted man.

I don't know how many people are aware the Roger is a rodriguez brother. I'm proud to be his RB mom. He became one when he did an awesome FF jump with me back in March. I asked him in the plane if he wanted to become one. He asked what it was and what he had to do. I gave him a quick summary and he said sure why not.

___________________________________________
meow

I get a Mike hug! I get a Mike hug!

[jodi23 0]

I think anyone who's life was touched by Roger has a right to post their stories...

In all honesty, if anyone should have "no right" it should be me because I don't skydive and I signed up with an account here because I just HAD TO speak up right now. I didn't want to interfere in a community I'm not directly a part of, but I think you might understand my reason for being here...

Roger Nelson touched my life and that of my family in a way I would never have expected.

I am the younger sister of Johnny Cangelosi. For those of you who don't know who he is, he had a very bad "low turn injury" on April 12th in Hinckley, IL which appeared in your forum at the time. I'm not going to take up "Roger's Space" with an update on that, but for those who might know Johnny, I'd like to at least mention that my brother is recovering quite well. Slowly...but surely.

Anyhow, Roger comes in at this point because not too long after this happened to my brother, he took the time to write about it in SDC's forum even though the incident didn't happen at SDC, and Roger ALSO set up an account in my brother's name for donations and put out the word about that. I couldn't believe the heart this guy had!

So I emailed Roger to thank him for his prayers, thoughts, etc. and for putting the word out about my brother's incident so others who might know Johnny (or even those who didn't but were inclined to follow Roger's example) would be aware that he was in need of some prayers.

I'm so glad I contacted him. He sent me an email back that was very comforting during that difficult time in our lives. It's good to know people like Roger exist and I'm very greatful to have had the opportunity to know at least a little part of who he was. Reading the posts from those of you who DID know him well makes me feel even better about having "met" Roger, as briefly as it was, because I know he lives on in all of you.

Jodi Cangelosi


TO THE FAMILY OF ROGER NELSON:

On behalf of the family of Johnny "Love" Cangelosi, I want to convey our deepest condolences and most heartfelt wishes for peace in this difficult time. Even though we have never met, my family is very touched by what Roger did for Johnny and we now send our prayers out to you.

[tigra 0]

Thank you for posting, Jodi.

I think its fair to say that Roger considered Johnny a part of the SDC family. He has a lot of friends there. I'm glad to hear he's recovering.

Stories about Roger, well I guess I have a few. But what really struck me was how much he was enjoying himself this year. He was stepping back a bit from the day to day operation of the business and just enjoying what he built. Proud of his children, proud of his DZ, the ultimate skydiving resort! Making lots of jumps with everybody, walking through the hangar and making sure everyone had someone to jump with. I haven't been able to spend as much time at the dz this year as I usually do, but I really did enjoy seeing Roger this year having such a great time. His spirit and energy were contagious, and I hope that will live on.

maura