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mikek
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(8/3/04 8:24
am)
64.243.137.114
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Very sad news:
Bob Ortiz
From the MHGHA:
Bob Ortiz, well known and respected pilot,
beloved friend, succumbed to leukemia today, August 1, 2004. He
passed away in a hospital, surrounded by friends and family. He was
64 years old. Bob is survived by two sons, Michael and Daniel, and
two daughters, Ginger and Brittany. Memorial services will be held
on Sunday, August 8 at 2 pm in Madrone Grove, on Mt
Tamalpais
http://www.mchga.org/madronegrove.htm
I had
seen Bob up at Pillsbury only 6 weeks ago; he seemed to be improving
from his leukemia condition of 8 months. However, this ended up to
be his last flight as his condition had dramatically taken a turn
for the worse over the past few weeks. His friendship and "tough as
nails" character will be sorely missed.
Mike K
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MattsFlyin
Unregistered
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(8/3/04 9:34
am)
12.149.141.14
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Goodbye
Bob
I had no idea Bob was so sick. I really liked Bob. He was such a
happy person, always smiling and always ready to share the air with
anyone. I really hate this kind of stuff (who doesn't) but I will
try to be there on Sunday.
Matt
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Ernie
Camacho
Administrator
(8/3/04
9:42 am)
24.5.51.30
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Re: Goodbye
Bob
I, too, am shocked!
I second everything that Matt says. I
was always glad to run into Bob. I've known Bob for most of my
flying career, and Bob was always positive and
joyful.
Unfortunately, I'll be on my way to Santa Barbara on
Sunday, so I don't think I'll be able to attend the memorial. My
thoughts will be with him, his family, and all his flying
friends.
Here is a photo I
took of Bob in 1996, at the Hunters LZ at Lakeview OR. You could
tell that he'd just landed after an enjoyable flight.
Ernie
Edited by: Ernie
Camacho at: 8/3/04 10:12 am
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Lijian
Liu
Member
(8/3/04 10:30 am)
63.211.143.38
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Fly high,
Bob!
It's hard to believe Bob flew away from us.
I knew Bob 2
years ago when I started to fly Mt. Tamps.
He gave me lots of
site introductions. He was always smiling and postive to the
life.
I have some (30+?) of his photos. Unfortunally my web
server is down today. I will post his photos later
tonight.
Here is one Bob's landing story I saw two years
ago:
On his tandem flight landing, he flew right over 4
teenages sitting on a log at Stinson beach. These guys/gals watched
him approching them closer and closer. Suddenly they realized
something and quickly lay down on their back one after another like
domino effect 
I will
miss you, Bob!
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Lijian
Liu
Member
(8/3/04 12:03 pm)
63.211.143.38
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Re: Fly high,
Bob!
Here are all Bob's photos I have:
www.pbase.com/lijiansendmail/bob_ortiz
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Chris
McKeon
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(8/3/04 12:42
pm)
207.173.10.142
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Bob Ortiz
Even though I also knew that Bob had problems with
his health,
he did not talk about it when I spoke with him.
It was the
standard Bob Ortiz conversation, fly, fly, fly.
I to am in
shock, I thought he had turned the corner on
the way back to
better health.
No question, Bob was one of the coolest guys I
have ever met in, or out of Hang Gliding.
I will always think
of the fun Bob, Dick Girard, and I had
on our flying trip down to
Mexico a few years ago.
He gave my sister her first taste of
Hang Gliding at Mt.
Tam. They had a great flight, and landed on
their feet.
This is just the worst.
Bob you truly were
one of kind.
Chris.
.
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dievhart
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(8/3/04 1:59
pm)
216.148.66.110
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Fly on
Bob
I only just met bob about a 3 months ago, we drove up to Indian
Valley together. He didn't want to drive so I said I would, he ended
up driving anyway though, he wanted his truck. We were able to catch
up on things and he told me a little about his illness and how he
hated it and hated to bother other people with his problems. Such a
humble man, he seem to know every thing would turn out the way it
did, was kinda the feeling I got. He gave me the intro to IV and sat
there waiting for that perfect cycle that brought us(me) up to
10k....here is a pic of us waiting for it.
www.dievhart.com/images/hg/bob.jpg
I
didn't get to know him very long but I'll miss him very
much.
Peace be with you, fly on
diev
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John
B
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(8/3/04 2:10 pm)
65.214.144.188
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Farewell old
friend
I first met Bob on a hang gliding trip to Mexico in the early
1990s. He was the kind of guy that everyone liked immediately, even
"hard to please" me!
It was always a pleasure flying and
talking to him. Part of him will always be in my heart.
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Dick
Girard
Member
(8/3/04 5:12 pm)
24.6.237.200
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Bob Ortiz
Oh man. That is really sad news. I had heard that he had something
or other, but Bob never spoke about it.
I even gave him an
chance to talk about it about a month ago at Mission Ridge by saying
"Hey Bob, you sure lost a lot of weight. Is that some special diet
you're on?" He said "Yeah, eating lots of *****" as he walked away.
[If you can't guess what that is, ask me later.] He had me rolling.
That was Bob. What a character. I will miss him too.
I'd like
to share a little story that happened when Bob, Chris McKeon, Dave
Beerman, and me went to Valle de Bravo in Feb. 2000. We were in a
restaurant ready to order food, but they only spoke Spanish. So we
all look at Bob. He says "Don't look at me! I can't speak a word of
Spanish!" We were in shock, because everyone seemed to think he was
Mexican or from South America somewhere. It was Chris McKeon who had
started rapping in Spanish, translating for us (including for Bob).
I thought that was so funny.
I asked Bob where he was from.
He said Hawaii. Huh? I was lost. He explained that he was of Puerto
Rican descent, but was born and raised in Hawaii, so he doesn't
speak of word of Spanish. He said he speaks a little Pidgeon
English, but not much.
Bob, I hope you are soaring with the
Angels and hope you can keep eating all the ***** you want so you
can stay nice and thin.
Farewell Bob, I'll miss you
...
Dick Girard
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paulgazis
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(8/3/04 6:14
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209.86.255.69
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Bob Oritz
"They told me, Heraclitus, they told me you were dead;
They
brought me bitter news to hear and bitter tears to shed;
I wept,
as I remembered, how often you and I
Had tired the sun with
talking, and sent him down the sky.
"And now that thou art
lying, my dear old Carian guest,
A handful of grey ashes, long,
long ago at rest,
Still are thy pleasant voices, thy
nightingales, awake;
For Death, he taketh all away, but them he
cannot take."
-- William Johnson
Cory (1823–1892)
I knew Bob. I remember him showing up at a
site, bursting out of his truck, charging everyone with his
enthusiasm. I remember the way he would laugh after good flights,
and also after flights that were utterly dreadful. What a great guy!
It's hard to imagine the world without him. I'm glad I had the
chance to share the air with him, and his spirit will live in my
memory.
Paul
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Charlie
Nelson
Member
(8/3/04 9:18 pm)
68.166.188.132
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Bob Ortiz
Bob was a very gentle man who usually had a big grin on his face .
He was soft spoken, only raised his voice when he had to.
and did he ever love to be in the air.
I'm glad he could
still soar almost to the end of his time here on thermal
planet.
A dusty thrashed his glider in Indian V this spring. The
next day I saw him at the LZ there. Still sporting that same grin ,
remaining cheerful , way up in Indian Valley with no glider to
fly.
Amazing.
I'm glad I knew Bob. I will miss him.
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Mike
K
Unregistered User
(8/4/04 5:52 am)
24.5.24.164
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memorial service
details
www.mchga.org/madronegrove.htm
Pilots
are encouraged to participate in a flight in honor of Bob. Thaks to
Dave Beerman for the information. Mike K
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Shannon
Unregistered
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(8/4/04 8:28
am)
66.81.141.59
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Bob
Bob will be greatly be missed ! for years Bob would come and fly
with all of us at Lake Mcclure he would always bring a Friend and
that White Trooper of his.The first thing you would see was his
smile,and then hang talk always! It seemed every where I went to fly
Bob was there, He loved to fly,fly ,fly. My thoughts go out to his
family for they have lost a great man ,but his life lives in all of
us that knew him,and had the privilege to fly with him. My tears
seem to hurt more as I get older and oh how I wish I could have seen
Bob again. Thanks Bob for the great times.(To Bobs family ) From all
of the Mother Lode Sky Riders are thoughts and prayers.
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Hangfly
Member
(8/4/04 10:28
am)
12.149.141.14
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Re: Very sad
news: Bob Ortiz
There was no better company to ride in a car with than Bob. The
world won’t be the same without him. Although we shared lift many
times, I remember one particular time Bob and I went round and round
together at Hull. We were both stuck below the ridge to the right of
Lower Launch we went round and round on opposite sides of the same
thermal for about 15 minutes. Eventually we were able to climb out
and fly our separate ways. Afterwards in the LZ, we laughed about
it. Bob with his infectious laugh and talked about it in his happy,
gravely voice. I have to wonder what was his time of death. The dust
devil on launch was at 1:11 pm; maybe it was Bob lifting off one
last time.
Hangfly the teary-eyed Airhead
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Dan
Brown
Unregistered
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(8/6/04 10:29
am)
198.81.26.46
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Bob Ortiz
I forwarded the BB comments to Bob's daughter Ginger. She has
authorized me to post her response.
Ginger may be contacting
the club about pictures. Her e-mail address is:
gingerflowers@aol.com.
Dan Brown
"Dear
Dan,
Thank you so much for sharing this with me!! Wow!!! I'm
still really choked up the tears still glistening in my eyes. I
started to ball when I opened the first photo link. That's a
fabulous shot of him! A Quintessential Bob shot. I'll try and get it
into the paper tomorrow. I'd also hoped to find some really good
shots of him to use in the program or on the collage boards we're
setting up.....so it was perfect timing.
I'm absolutely and
thouroughly moved to hear from all his friends that I haven't yet
met. I really appreciate everyone's outpouring of love and touching
stories. I hope to hear and see more stories and
pictures.
With Love and Appreciation,
Ginger Ortiz"
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CarmelaM
Member
(8/6/04 11:24
am)
65.218.208.2
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Re: Bob
Ortiz
I am sadden by the fact Bob won't just be showing up at any
given site. He truly was a full of life.
I am already missing
you, BUD BOB!
Fly on dude!
I am glad I got to talk to you!
Even knowing the end was near he was very positive.
I know I
have some photos of Bob I will make sure I scan them
in.
Carmela
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Eric
Hinrichs
Member
(8/6/04 12:56 pm)
4.246.234.24
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Bob Ortiz
It's so hard to believe
I won't be seeing Bob Ortiz
On the
hill
Above the hill
or in the LZ
I'd see him at
Tam,
Mission, Hull, Slide,
Ed Levin, Indian Valley,
or
wherever I happened to be
It's so hard to believe
I'll
only see his smile in a picture
only hear his laugh in a
recording
or thermal with him in my memory
Bob is flying
to me
The kind of person I would like to be
The joy we shared
in taking flight
Makes us brothers for
eternity
Eric
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Ernie
Camacho
Administrator
(8/7/04
7:35 am)
24.5.51.30
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Re: Bob
Ortiz
For those of you who will not be able to attend Bob's memorial
service, his daughter, Ginger, has provided me with a copy of the
handout that attendee's will receive.
The handout is in
Adobe Acrobat format, so you'll need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader
installed on your computer in order to read it. If you don't have it
(and you really should have it 'cause .pdf files are everywhere),
you can download it free from many places on the web. Just do a
search.
Once you click on this
link, and
the handout is displayed, you'll want to rotate it. On my computer
(I have version 6 of the reader), on the left side of the menu, I
see a pink-ish text box with an ad (ie:"Easily share digital
photos"). Just to the left of that is an icon that will rotate the
image counterclockwise. Click on that.
Ernie
Edited by: Ernie
Camacho at: 8/7/04 7:45 am
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scot
huber
Unregistered
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(8/7/04 4:43
pm)
66.52.156.38
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Bob Ortiz
Bob was a one of a kind. A gentle soul with a passion for flying.
I'll miss him. I'm driving down to the memorial from Santa Rosa
tomorrow. Call me for a ride down. Also I'll be doing retrieval for
any pilots wishing to fly at Tam.
Scot 707 694 9445
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FRED
CLEMENT
Unregistered
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(8/7/04 10:04
pm)
67.164.18.42
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REMEMBERING BOB
ORTIZ
I KNEW BOB from flying MT. Tam. In fact John Lord and myself flew
at Tam in april and there was Bob breaking down his glider in the
alley. Always a pleasure to run into Bob with his big smile. I had
no idea that Bob was ill, he looked the same old Bob. The best thing
about hanggliding is you get to meet greatest people at some of the
most beautiful places on this planet. Thank you BOB for the
memories. Life is short no matter how long we are here. See you on
the other side Bob. 
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jasonboehm
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(8/8/04 8:58
pm)
68.126.212.86
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Bob
I learned of Bob's passing yesterday, and attended the memorial
today. I learned more about Bob today that I ever would have
expected. And hearing the speaches its true, seems like everytime I
went to Hull, he just happened to be there.
The one memory
that sticks out in my mind was he and Gunther at Hull, smoking,
telling us how they together had discovered the meaning of life, but
they forgot it. Hearing what I heard today, I think he always knew
it.
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Leo
Jones
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(8/9/04 4:40
pm)
66.52.165.188
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Bob Ortiz
Seems like a dream - can it really be true that I won't see Bob
again? Only just a few weeks ago he was flying with us at St John,
and did his first XC from there. I had no idea he was ill - he was
just the same grinning, happy ol' Bob.
I didn't know Bob
well, but I always really enjoyed his company. He was just such a
mellow guy. I'm sure that last thermal was a good one, Bob.
I
wanted to offer some great inspirational quote here, or a few lines
of thought provoking verse. But I found this instead, and I know Bob
would like it.
"Is there anything more beautiful than a
beautiful, beautiful flamingo, flying across in front of a beautiful
sunset? And he's carrying a beautiful rose in his beak, and also
he's carrying a very beautiful painting with his feet. And also,
you're drunk."
Soar high for us Bob.
Leo
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Donna
Matthias
Administrator
(8/9/04
7:16 pm)
69.105.1.73
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Bob Ortiz's
Memorial Service
Bob’s memorial service was held Sunday, Aug. 8, 2004 at the Madrone
Grove on top of Mt. Tam. What a beautiful place to hold a memorial
service. No wonder Bob loved to fly Mt. Tam. Ashley, Scot and myself
went from Santa Rosa. There were a lot of pilots there from all
over. To many for me to name or even remember and I don’t want to
forget anyone. When we got there they had Hawaiian music playing and
the grove was decorated with prayer flags and other colorful flags.
His family had a memorial set up honoring Bob with items from the
past and present. They also had a collage of pictures. It was great.
I did get some pictures and hopefully with help I can get them on
the BB soon. His family spoke telling stories from when he was just
a kid to adult stories. Then pilots, co-workers and friends started
telling their stories – we all went from a subtle laugh to quiet
tears. I didn’t know Bob real well but I have to say this…. that
smile of his was his trademark. The weather didn’t cooperate so
there was no Memorial Flight in Bob’s honor. We were told that it’s
now scheduled for October 3rd, Bob’s birthday. Needless to say there
was plenty of food, drink and good people. I’m glad I
went.
~Donna
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William
Wood
Member
(8/10/04 12:05 pm)
67.118.235.178
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Re: Bob
I met Bob a few times at the Hull LZ, in fact, every time I've been
there. He was always very friendly, generous and always had
something good to say. I'll truly miss him.
Bill Wood
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