I'm not sure how best to say this... but we at ANN, and I would imagine many others in the aviation world, are sharing (in a small way) in the grief being felt by one of sport aviation's most respected friends and leaders, John Ballantyne.

John's wife, Diane, succumbed to her battle with a long-term illness on Wednesday. I can barely imagine the pain this must bring to a person whom we have come to SO respect and admire throughout a friendship that has actually spanned decades (scary thought, that...).

John has managed to do much for we flyers... but the one thing I've learned about the most talented people that populate our world is that more often than not, their accomplishments are not a solo endeavor -- but the result of a true partnership... such as that shared by John and Diane.

For the moment, all I can think to do for them is to lend whatever emotional support I can muster, and to ask our brothers and sisters in flight to think of them fondly at this time -- and if so inclined, to offer their prayers. Each soul we lose seems to draw the world in a little closer and makes the times we have together seem all the more precious.

As I've noted before, we flyers are such a unique and close community... but one that has the most amazing way of coming together in truly positive and supportive fashions.

I hope that we'll all do that now... for Diane, and for John. God bless them....

FMI: Contributions may be made, in Diane's memory, to the National Ovarian Cancer Association, 27 Park Road, Toronto ON Canada, M4W 2N2, or call 1-877-413-7970.