South Jersey Kite Flyers November 2008 Number 77 The newsletter of the South Jersey Kite Flyers Volume #6 2008 Even towards the end, he wouldn’t tell you much about his An Empty Place in the Sky - Scott E illness. However, you could just look at him and know that Spencer 07/02/1959 – 11/18/2008 he wasn’t doing well and dealing with pain. Scott gave a by Mike Dallmer workshop at the AKA Convention on Mini Banners and in- sisted that he be the Auctioneer at SJKF’s Anniversary Bash. I know these must have been exhausting for him, because Hello Fellow Kite Flyers, it is with at the Bash, Scott had to take a few naps and slept all the heavy heart that I announce the pass- way home. At this year’s AKA Convention, if you bumped ing of Scott E. Spencer of Collings- into Scott, you most likely walked away with a temporary wood, NJ. In his too short of a life, he tattoo of the AKA logo, which he made himself. touched many. Scott succumbed to cirrhosis of the Liver. He is survived Scott held many positions in the Kiting World, he was an by 2 sisters, Ellen and Tracey. Scott AKA Regional Director. He was also at one time or the was a dear and trusted friend, not other, President, Vice President and Director at Large dur- only to me but to Kiting as a whole; ! ing SJKF’s Existence. This year, Scott was nomi- he was also an innovator and a teacher of the hobby. nated for The Steve Edeiken Memorial Kiteflier of Scott was opinionated and wasn’t afraid of telling you the Year Award and came in second. He had two what he thought. separate nominations. Scott had been getting more ill recently. On Sunday, Early on, at SJKF parties, Scott always liked to 11/16/08 he was supposed to go to a SJKF meeting cook. He then found his nitch organizing the with Cel and I. We stopped to pick him up at 11:30 clean up after the parties. He hardly ever missed but he said he wasn’t feeling well enough to go. I a SJKF meeting and had this uncanny knack of tried calling him on Monday and left a message for knowing what was going on behind the scenes in him to call me back. On Tuesday, 11/18/08, I called the AKA. him more aggressively but still no response. Cel, Mike Jr. and I, along with Pete Dolphin went to his Scott gave many workshops to the AKA, SJKF and house and had police go in to look for even on Kite Builder.com. If I or anyone had a him. They found him in bed. ! question about a kite, Scott would always have an answer, sometimes even improving on the original way of doing Scott was born on 7/2/1959, but had a things. rough past couple of years with the loss of Betty Hirschmann, the love of his life Scott was a Boy Scout and traveled the world with them? and partner. She was taken from him on He did service work in Bogotá, Columbia for the poor August 7th, 2005. Both his parents, Ed and kids. Nancy Spencer passed away and then his own health issues to deal with. Scott touched many lives with his creativ- ity and artistry. He came up with many unique and interesting designs: the Facet Kite,! Transition Tail, Weaving, Mini Banner, SJKF Personal Banner, SJKF Mother Banner and Kite. He was a founding member of SJKF and a long time member of the AKA. As a matter of fact, this year’s Convention was the 24th that Scott attended. He may have upset you at times with his views, but he was always looking at the big picture and representing what he thought was good for whatever organization he was speaking of. Scott was a long time supporter of the Drachen Foundation and the World Kite Museum. ! Page 1 South Jersey Kite Flyers November 2008 Personal Stuff: Scott was a true and trusted friend of Cel and Scott’s arrangements were a private family affair. With that mine. Sometimes, Scott would do something weird and peo- said, anyone wishing to send cards or the like, please send ple would ask us what was wrong with Scott. Cel and I would them to me and I will get them to the family. both respond, “It just Scott, being Scott”. The year Cel and I Scott E. Spencer Family, c/o Mike Dallmer, 7204 Oakley St won the Edeiken award, Scott made sure that we got the Phila., Pa 19111 award presented to us from Erin Edeiken. WOW, what an honor! He was always worried about Cel and I, that we were doing too much behind the scenes, and missing stuff in the kiting community. The strange thing is he was right there besides us most of the time. In loving memory David Davies Your friend over the pond, Con Engels May he finally rest peace because when all was said and done, he was such a gentle soul. Go fly a kite for Scott; I On Tuesday morning at 11:00 am on November 11th, David know he would want you to. Davies passed away. Present when David passed was his beloved wife Sue and family members at his home. I came to know David in January 1997, when I attended the Kite Trade Show in Clearwater Beach, Florida. Walking down the beach that fateful January day, I saw a kite from a distance that instantly drew my attention… it was a Sky- dancer Black Rainbow quad line kite, with long flowing 45’ matching tube tails. The way the kite flew, and interacted with the flier’s input and control was truly amazing. As many in fliers gathered around David Davies to talk with him about this new flying machine, they anxiously waited to have a go at flying it. When I finally had my turn at the con- trols of the Skydancer, it was nothing like I had ever flown before. I fell in love with the kite, and needless to say, I left Clearwater Beach with my very own Skydancer. While visiting David and his wife Sue at their home in August of 2003, I had the chance to see a different side of David, as I had the chance to meet family members … One of a loving Husband, Father, and Grandfather. I also came to know that David had served in World War II, as a Glider Pi- lot. David was also an accomplished professional commer- cial photographer, which was his lifetime career before re- tiring. In the early ‘90s, David found a new love, and that was of kite flying, and making his Inter Active Kites, such as the SkyHawk, SkyEagle, Spectra, Enigma, Fijet, Bat, Ghost, Swift, his most famous Skydancer and many more. To see more photos of Scott go to: David Davies was a http://picasaweb.google.com/MikeDallmer/PhotosOfScottE dear friend and I SpencerAndHisWorks# will miss him very much, along with the To see what other people have written about Scott go to: many who have had http://www.kitebuilder.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=7196 the pleasure to get to know him www.aka.kite.org throughout the Kite Talk Forum In the public section. Open Forum years. My sincerest Sad News -- Scott Spencer sympathy goes out to his wife Sue, and to all of David’s family members. Al- A memorial fly by SJKF is tentatively scheduled for February though David is no longer here on Earth with us, I know that 14, 2009 at Cooper River Park on Goose Island, more infor- David will live on through his kites, and in the hearts of mation will follow. many. Page 2 South Jersey Kite Flyers November 2008 came in second to John Barresi on the voting for The Steve Presidential Ponderings, Edeiken Memorial Kiteflier of the Year Award, way to go What and Bear Dropping Scott!!! WindWriters, your bi-monthly newsletter of SJKF needs By Mike Dallmer your help. We need articles and you are just the person to write them!!! When I started this job as President many, Hello fellow South Jersey Kite Flyers, I hope many moons ago, I hated writing, now look at me, agendas, everyone is well and ready for the Holiday Sea- Presidential Columns and of course at least one other arti- son. I’d like to wish everyone health and Hap- cle per issue. If I can do it so can you, why not try. As we piness throughout and may you enjoy every- have said often, it doesn’t only have to deal with kiting, look thing that life gives you. at the beginning of this report… This has been a very interesting year for me Finally, I like to remind you all about checking the status of and SJKF, as all of you know by now, I lost my ! your membership, if you got a membership card recently Mom but with that we are in the process of moving into her you should be OK, if not contact me and I’ll let you know house. It will be a grand occasion when we finally have her how much you owe, we wouldn’t want to loose you and in house up to our standards but in the mean time work con- this economy the cost of membership is reality inexpensive. tinues. Moving for us will be a nice im- provement, as those that have been at our Good Winds home on Oakley St will know the house is Up With Kites, Down With Bears rather small, 732 sq.