Mon, Apr 26, 2004
Aviation is populated by
no small number of "personalities" -- interesting and unique people
who bring their gifts to a community they love and share of
themselves in a most unreserved fashion. One of those unique
personalities was a guy by the name of Jerry Rooks (receiving one
of a number of awards bestowed upon him, right)... a Florida
native who circulated a simple email newsletter about Florida
aviation events and happenings, and was heavily involved in the
Southern Aviation scene. He was a big of an odd duck... an
interesting guy with his own slant on life and what mattered in the
aviation world, but he was an unselfish and aggressive participant
in our community... especially when it came to things that
introduced younger folk to the aviation world.
I got an email a few minutes ago, as I was finishing up a flight
test piece, that said that we lost Jerry after an extended illness
that saw him, at the end, giving up some of his cherished
possessions to his friends and sharing of himself yet again... in a
uniquely personal way. Jerry passed quietly, aware that his time
was short. We're going to miss his email blurbs, the occasional
comments about a news item on ANN, and the latest gossip (which
Jerry shared in abundance). The true richness of aviation is not
the planes that we fly, or even that squeaker of a landing we all
pursue with abandon... it's the amazing treasure we find in the
collective brotherhood (and sisterhood) of flyers. Jerry was a
joyous addition to that brotherhood, and his passing leaves a
silence that we're going to notice a great deal.
We are such a unique presence, we flyers. We hope
you'll take a moment and think a kind thought for a fella that
gave that community such a pleasant and valued gift... himself.
[ANN Thanks our dear friend Vern Peckham for the great photo of
Jerry...]
Fair winds and blue skies, Jerry...
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