pontefract

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  1. I didn't know Dwain as you all did. I knew him as Dwain, the software engineer. He worked for us at Boom Vang for over two years. As a small company of 8-12 people, our family suffered a great loss over the weekend. Even though he left us this summer to move to Southern California, it nonetheless rocked our world when we learned about what happened. It took us a while to learn about his passion for jumping off high things. Once he learned we were an accepting bunch, we learned all sorts of things about BASE. My business partner and I were fascinated -- he even helped Chad with his first parachuting jump (I was happy to stay home firmly affixed to the couch). Due to my background, Dwain would always come talk to me asking advice on how to rehab an injury. And his injuries were always the result of training for his sport -- a sprained ankle here, and trampoline injury there. I came to realize that he was a competitive athlete looking for an edge -- he trained with diving instructors at the pool to work on his aerial acrobatics. As a mechanical engineer, I also had long conversations with him about the mechanics of flight. He knew more about aerodynamics and fluid mechanics than most of my fellow students in college. I remember when he got the wing suit. We talked about drag, lift, and vertical versus horizontal velocity. When Dwain was here, I must admit that every Monday was a relief -- we heard too many stories about Dwain's experiences. We got tidbits of news here and there, but I think he was trying to downplay what he was going through. He didn't want his coworkers to be afraid. But it showed when he lost Nik. I'm not sure he ever got over that. But even then, he still was the same old Dwain. The funniest story I ever heard him tell was describing the tribute jump to Nik. Nik wanted his ashes spread during a BASE jump and Dwain did the honors. It didn't quite go as expected (for Dwain, or for that matter, for Nik). Dwain said Nik would have thought it the funniest thing that could have happened. So maybe that is the way Nik would have wanted it.... We'll miss you, Dwain. _______________ John Pontefract Boom Vang Portland, OR