Distressing News Regarding Valerie

[silverwings]

I just received the following news from Steve Wendt and thought I would post it here since many of us knew her.

I have just learned that Valerie Rasmussen, one of our pilots who flew here occasionally , lost a battle with lung cancer and passed away .

Valerie has been flying hang gliders for probably at least 5-7 years and learned to fly using many of the instructors in the area. She flew here at Blue Sky, did alot of aerotowing at Ridgely before they closed their doors....I believe she did foot launch training with John Middleton at Silver Wings, and flew the mountains for some time before she became a flight park pilot. Valerie was just here about a month ago and did 3 truck tows one day, and she told me that was probably her last flights for the season....but I had little knowledge of her health issues, and certainly didn't know that it would her last hang gliding flights.

My condolences go out to her family and friends, and for all who knew here ... may she rest in peace.

Steve Wendt
Blue Sky

[markc]

I had known about Valerie's health problems secondhand... She wasn't the type to make it a focus, ya know? I've heard that she pursued some aggressive treatments outside the US... It sounds like she was just as aggressive about enjoying life as long as possible, given her recent flights at Blue Sky. One Valerie memory that I have : Her self-shuttle solution, in which she dropped her dirtbike/motorcycle in the High Rock LZ, then used it to get back up top after an awesome flight. And of course, she had a cool solution for loading her bike back onto a trail hitch rack, solo. I helped out one time, thinking to myself "Whoa, Valerie is hard core!". Me, never having even owned a bike

Very sad to learn that she has lost her fight.

[markc]

Oh, one other point: Valerie has been flying for many years, mountain and tow park, though I can't point to a specific year when she started... Frequently seen at flight parks, mountain sites, and fly-ins... If anyone knows of a memorial/etc, please pass that info along.!

[CraginS]

Valerie was a special lady. Dan T. and I first met her when she was in her initial training with John at Taylor Farm many years ago. We took her to dinner at the inn on the river and regaled her with how great it would be when she made it to high flying in the mountains. Valerie was definitely looking forward to those days to come, and she made it.

It was great talking with her recently at the Second Annual Karen Carra Memorial Polo Tournament. She was in great spirits and seemed as ready as ever to keep going in life.

We will all miss her.

Yes, please share any information available on memorial, services, gatherings.

[Matthew]

I just saw her 6 weeks ago. She came to Karen's Memorial Polo Tournament. And we had gone sailing together with Hugh a couple of weeks before that. She was doing so well in her battle against cancer. I am beyond grief stricken. Valerie was an amazing person.

Matthew

[mingram]

Hugh is helping Valerie Rasmussen’s family sell her HG gear:
Falcon 170 and High Energy cocoon harness, Charly Insider full-face helmet. Priced for quick sale.

Contact: Hugh McElrath, 301 980-6381, mcelrah@gmail.com

[John Dullahan]

I had the pleasure of flying with Valerie several times at the Pulpit.

Here is a link to a more complete obit showing what a capable, accomplished, and popular person she was.
http://www.fairfaxmemorialfuneralhome.c ... ia/1768242

[markc]

Thanks for that link John. My searches for an obituary drew a
complete blank, maybe I was miss-spelling her family name. This info is much appreciated!