Memories of My Wonderful Friend Jack Nix
by
Dave Rounsaville
My first exposure to the 'mouth that roared' was at
the 1/2A timer line at the 1969 Navy Nats at Willow Grove! I don't know who
was louder, Carl Taylor, the California 'Canard man 'from thousand Oaks hollering
at his son Eddie or Jack Nix from Smithtown, Long Island. Jack, in true fashion
was 'riding herd' on his boys, John, Jeff & (maybe) Brian. Those boys always
had great model flying success. They used to fly Bounty Hunters alot and held
many records. Jack's 'whip' probably had a lot to do with that?
But I really got to know John Nix when I joined the Sky-Scrapers club in 1970
and made many long journeys out to Long Island after work on Fridays, typically
returning home at all hours of the morning (sometimes even watching the sun
rise)! I don't know how to sum up all our time together flying and sharing family
stuff but I'll try. The late '60's saw Jack flying his Bilgri designed Raider
to some success culminating in a trip to the Albuquerque finals in 1969 with
the Scrapers support crew. Tom Kerr recently showed me a Sky-Scraper group photo
with Tom, Jack and the Scrapers...Really Cool!.SO Young!
The early Seventies saw us flying at Galeville, a former training base with
concrete runways between Newburg & New Paltz,NY Very Nice! I well remember
those Semi Finals & FAI contests with Jim Kutkuhn, Don Crus and the Magnificent
cigar toting Ed Luparelli! Ed made some beautiful Rossi engine pans which made
their way on both Jack's & my FAI Power ships. We flew at Galeville through
the late '80's & early '90's I think. Jack rarely missed a contest except
when he had to go to Saudi Arabia in the mid 70's missing our 40th Club contest.
We flew together often in ALL kinds of weather. Lots of cherished photo memories!
Jeff's HS graduation in Smithtown. Brian's wedding was a Good Time too!
1994 was a tough year. Jack's oldest son John had a rare medicine reaction after
a Fayette, NY contest and his health deteriorated to where he needed a liver
transplant. John never got it and passed away at age 45. A terrible blow. Jack
was never the same after that and who could blame him. I will never forget Jack's
phone call when John passed away. I understood even more so when my kid brother
Tim was taken from us at age 45 in 2003.
Jack started his own battle with prostate cancer sometime after that. He fought
the good fight for a long time. One of my best Nats memories was to take Jack
out for his July 24th Birthday dinner most every year. Typically at the Muncie
LoneStar steakhouse. Even Nats camping one year with Jack, Maureen & Max
the dog. I last talked to Jack in April this year. It was "Hi Jack"
(never to be used at airports we used to kid) or "Hi Dahling" (our
pet names for each other) It was a good talk and I sent him some recent photos.
Next thing was the news at the recent Wawayanda Challenge that he had passed
away. I was numb then and probably still am. I guess the lesson is to always
stay close to the ones you love no matter where they are. "You never know
the hour"
I couldn't possibly tell you all this man meant to me. We laughed & cried
together. He was a Very Dear Friend of Mine and I will always try to carry a
little bit of Jack with me...God Speed Dear Friend! Let's do a mass launch now!
Ready, GO!
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