Mary Gebhart

I just got off the phone with Bob Hazle. His wife, Mary Gebhart died last night, the 24th, at 9:40 pm of cancer. She had entered the hospital on Monday, January 22, for treatment of pneumonia. After the doctors examined her, they found out that she was in the advanced stages of cancer. There was nothing that the hospital could do.

Mary was one of the original editors of Sixplus Stunt News, and was a many time local, nats, and team trials judge.

She loved animals, and was responsible for many people, me included, in becoming involved with pet adoption agencies.

She was a friend of mine, and I will miss her.

This is so sad. All my sympathy for Bob. Mary was one of the best.

I had many very nice conversations with her at VSC. A very sad day indeed.

This is very sad news, I also counted Mary as a friend, she will be missed a lot. My thoughts go out to Bob.

Walter [photo not recovered: cry.gif]

Mary, Bob and many friends spent many hours together in hot, windy contest conditions and lots of dinners together after contests. She will be missed.

Allen

Mary had a place in all of our hearts! She will be missed by many! And to Bob: WORDS CANNOT EASE THE PAIN, HOPEFULLY TIME WILL!
God Speed Bob!
Tom Lay

So sorry to hear that. I always counted Bob and Mary as good friends. My thoughts are with you, Bob.

I'm very sorry to hear about Mary.
My condolences, Bob.
Chris...

Sad and shocking news, to be sure. I haven't seen Mary or Bob in quite a while and was wondering where they had been. Was Mary the first or one of the first winners of the Gialdini Sportsmanship Award at VSC?
Our thoughts and prayers are with Mary's family and friends.
Dan McEntee

Mary was one of the really nice people. I will miss her. Bob Whitely

Ree and will miss Mary greatly. Ree spent many good hours at VSC visiting with Mary. We considered her one of our best friends.
Bob has our deep felt condolences
Marvin Denny and Ree Denny aka Bigiron and Texas Red

Mary was an integral part of the VSC, the Nats and many others. For some time in the '90s she and Bob ran PAMPA Products. A very nice, down-to-earth person, she will be missed.

Mike Keville

What a shock, and it was so fast.

Our hearts go out to Bob. Mary was quite a person. I always remember the wonderful conversations that I had with her. God bless her.

Oh, my. I just hate this sort of thing.

David Fitz called Shareen and me with the news late last night. It was a shock and a very sad moment to learn of Mary's passing. She and Bob were and are great friends of all of us in northern California as they were to modelers wherever they lived and participated. I can't imagine how difficult this must be for Bob. They were such a great couple who clearly enjoyed their lives' together and shared their love with all who fly control line.

Mary was, indeed, the second ever recipient of the Gialdini Sportsmanship award at VSC. She was probably the most popular ever selection for the award and I can still see the entire room coming gradually to their feet when they realized who the recipient was.

That might sound a little funny but the reason it took a period of time for the crowd to recognize and react to her selection was simple. Many -- likely most -- knew her solely as "Mary" and others as "Mary Hazle" (because of her relationship with Bob). When the name Mary Gebhart was announced it didn't initially register with many of the several hundred in the audience.

For that matter, it took Mary herself a while to react to the announcement. It was one of the more poignant moments in my "stunt life" to watch the expression on her face as she realized that not only did all these people know and care for her but that they were thrilled to be able to applaud the recognition of her value to the event and the people who enjoyed it. Oh, my, how they recognized it and how they all will miss her.

She was, indeed, a special person and part of a wonderful modeling "team". Like her many other friends, Shareen and I will miss her very, very much.

Ted and Shareen Fancher

My condolences to Bob.
Mary was a joy to be around and really good to talk with.
My boys thought alot of her.

She will be missed.

De,

Thanks for doing the thankless job...

I may have met Mary and Bob in the midwest in the mid-1970's, and enjoyed every occasion we happened to be at the same place and time ever since.

She was totally unprepared for being named Keeper of the Flame, and it wasn't all that long ago. She just did what she felt right, with little fuss, and always commendably well. Difficult efforts many of us shy away from, regrettably.

It is hard to believe she won't add to the rich experiences that she's been part of with us, but she'll always be part of us.

With Bob, I guess we can take some small early comfort that it was fast. I've lost too many, lately, who suffered long and tragically. Time blunts pain, but some pains never completely leave us. The good memories Mary will remind us there won't be more of them, but we'll still have the Mary we knew, in our hearts.

Very nicely stated.

Walter

I did not have the good fortune to have met Mary, but my heart-felt condolences go out to Bob and to all those who knew her and will miss her.

George

I'm greatly saddened to hear this; Bob and Mary worked very hard for years taking care of PAMPA Products and were always friendly and enthusiastic about Stunt.

God bless Mary, my deepest sympathies to Bob.

Mary will be greatly missed.

L.

I'm very saddened to hear this. Bob and Mary were a great couple. My heart felt condolences go out to Bob, and all who had the pleasure of knowing this good lady. She is already missed.

John Miller

Our condolances.
Mary was a great person who did a lot for this sport. She will be missed.

Regards,
Dave Cook

This is indeed very saddening news.

Mary was a very sweet lady and a "very bright spot" at VSC always.

I and the entire Stunt community will miss her very much.

My sincere condolences to Bob.

Mary always had a smile and a kind word for me. Her presence made the world a better place. I am saddened to hear of her passing and will miss her. Sincere condolences to Bob.

Jim Hoffman

Our condolences to Bob and Mary's family. It has been many years since Mary and Bob have been here in the midwest, they are still remembered.

James Gifford and the Gifford family.

Anyone who knows me will realize that I have a hard and fast policy of not commenting on any forum. There; however, comes a time when an event is so important that personal and company policy must be disregarded.

The untimely passing of Mary Gebhart is ceretainly one of those times.

I first met Mary when she was judging Intermediate Stunt at the Golden State Championships in Gilroy, CA. She was one of the toughest judges I had ever flown in front of. Once the contest was over she was very approachable, gracious to a new contestant and more than ready to assist by pointing out where I had made glaring errors in my pattern. Over the years I had many occasions where Mary judged me and "found me wanting". In every case it was a pure joy to see her, have my flying efforts judged toughly but extremely fairly. I came to look forward to traveling to a contest in N. Calif. because I knew that she would be judging and that I would have the oportunity to see if my flying had actually improved over the past year.

Although her judging activities were the place most of us saw Mary she was not just a judge! Mary Gebhart was one of the nicest people I have every had the honor of knowing! She was a quiet lady with a pleasent nature and a kind word for everyone. I don't think that in over 20 years I have ever met anyone who did not like Mary. It was an absolute joy to see she and Bob at the VSC and to be one of the many who were standing and clapping for her at the banquet when she received her award. To observe the look of surprise on her face when she finally realized who the person they were talking about was a moment of joy that I will hold in my heart forever! It just explains how very special this lady was.

Bob, my heart goes out to you in your loss.

Sincerely
Eric Rule

I've been hearing and reading about Mary Gebhart since Russ and I were married ten years go. Mary was a legend in stunt. It's stunning to hear she has died and how quickly it happened.

Bob, our condolences go out to you on the loss of a fine lady. There's an empty place on the circle now.

Randi and Russ