Ricky Hustler

[howardwhite 6]

The inside back cover of the April Parachutist is a tribute to Rik Hustler.

We lose many skydivers every year; not every one inspires his friends to such a tribute. For the many who didn't know him, here's what you might want to know.

Richard Lee Hustler jumped for three decades at drop zones in his home state of Vermont and in Western Massachusetts and eastern New York.

Rik died of natural causes April 16, 2005, after a day of fun jumping at Jumptown, Orange, MA.

As Dave Bryce says in his tribute:

"He sat down, laid back to rest a moment and probably never even felt a thing.
He didn’t even have to pack his rig.
Now that’s what I call a fitting ending."

For Rik, every jump was a fun jump. I never saw him upset about a bad jump or about a bad person. He was always smiling, always wisecracking, but never used his wit to diminish another person.

A "Ricky Rocket Playground" for kids is under construction at the new Jumptown site, and a memorial event of some sort is planned for this month.

Vermont Skydiving Adventures paid tribute to Rik last summer; see;

http://www.vtskydiving.com/ash.html

I'm attaching the full text of Dave Bryce's moving appreciation of Rik's life.

Blue skies, Ricky

HW

[krkeenan 0]

Howard,

Thanks for sharing the good words about Ricky. And pass along a thank you to Dave for his.

We should all be so lucky as to have our friends feel this way when we reach that clearing at theend of the path.

Kevin

======================
Seasons don't fear the Reaper,
nor do the Wind, the Sun, or the Rain...

[ntacfreefly 0]

Katie and I were privileged to know Ricky during our time at Jumptown. Glad to see his memory lives on so strongly.

Blues,
Ian

To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders. ~ Lao-Tzu

It's all good, they're my brothers ~ Mariann Kramer

[tbrown 26]

I once knew Rick back in '78 and still remember his birthday party when he reached that ancient and decrepit age of 30. It was not the best year of my life and I was having a few problems with some bad habits, but he was just a wonderful a friend to me. And across all the years and miles I miss him and can only wish the best to Hattie, with a lot of love.

Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !