Farewell to Gordie Zimmerman

 

It is with sadness that we learned of the passing of Gordon Zimmerman on November the 28th.  Gordie was a graduate of Langley Flying School, completing his Recreational Pilot training April,l 1997.  Born in 1924, Gordie always conveyed a passion for life, his family, and of course flying.  He pursued pilot training all his life, but for one reason or another, life itself got in the way.  In the end, it was his friends at Langley Airport who taught him how to fly—he just came to Langley Flying School to formalize the licence.  When he soloed for the first time on March 15th of 1996, he claims he could hear the voices of his friends—present and past—guiding him through the circuit pattern and final approach.  He was a great conversationist, a philosopher, and grounded in an awesome sense of humour and sense of adventure—a wonderful life to be celebrated. 

 

Gordie Zimmerman in his Cessna GLDO after completing his First Solo Flight on March 15, 1996. Langley Airport.

 

 

Gordie Zimmerman with his son, Rick after the completion of Gordie's Flight Test. Rick is the former Chief Pilot of Air Canada Jazz and presnet Human Factor Manager in charge of Safety Management Systems. With Rick and Gordie is Commercial Pilot graduate Helen Rivest.

 

Gordie's Reception Line after his Pilot Flight Test April 12, 1997.

 

Posted: December 2, 2010.