Tom Niebuhr called me on Sunday evening with the devastating news of the passing of Bob. It took me a couple of days just to process that information and fully realize that we now live in a world without Bob Gieseke.
Bob was a constant in many of our lives. He set standards which many of us would strive and struggle to achieve. And, those standards were not just for perfection of model airplane flight, but rather for the whole package. Bob was first and foremost a gentleman's gentleman. He set standards for courtesy, helpfulness, decency, fairness and humility.
As a flier he set standards for work ethic, style, diligence, poise, grit, and longevity in a sport that often favors the next "new thing." Bob's "act" rarely changed, and it played well for more than four decades. My impression of his flying the first time I watched him go through the pattern until the last time I saw him fly remains the same - professional. No one had a more distinctive flying style than did Bob.
Bob set standards for insuring the future of the event by helping anyone and everyone who would but ask. The flying sessions I had with Bob over the years at the Nats, and at the World Championships we attended as fellow team members, were like advanced classes in stunt flying. He never forced his opinion on me; he always asked if I wanted to hear what he had to say about something in my pattern before offering advice. I always accepted! And, his advice was always spot on. I learned a lot from Bob about presentation, pace and flow of the pattern. In recent years Bob was delighted that one of his proteges, Doug Moon, attained the mantle of National Champion. I think he was more proud of that than of his own five Nats wins. I saw the absolute joy in his eyes when Doug was presented the Walker Trophy in 2012.
And, I remember Bob standing right next to me for more than an hour during the last round of the World Championships in Woodvale, England. He was not in contention for the win, but I was leading and there were a couple of fliers who had a mathematical chance to beat me. Bob knew they really didn't have that chance, and wanted to be the first to congratulate me. I told him that it would have to wait until the last score was in. He stayed glued to my side until the last score was tallied and posted and then gave me a huge "Bear" hug.
Bob would watch everyone's patterns. When he saw a good one, he always would go over to the pilot who flew it and praise the flight. When he didn't like the pattern, and was asked about it by the pilot, he would be equally honest about its quality... Bob's praise was genuine when given.
Back when I was producing video programs I called and asked Bob if he would agree to me stopping by and shooting a segment with him. In true Bob Gieseke manner he questioned if anyone would be interested in watching that. He really didn't think he had anything to offer... It was a wonderful segment that was shot with harsh light (my bad) on his living room couch. Once I got him talking about his favorite subject, stunt, the information and the great stories just flowed out of him. I plan on watching that segment again just as soon as I post this.
Bob was never political. He disdained any discord within the event. However, when asked in private about his thoughts he was not shy to show his displeasure with something that annoyed him. He just never acted on those feelings in public. He had tremendous reverence for the sport and never wanted to disrupt the harmony.
One of the most pleasurable things for me in remembering Bob is the close friendship that he and my son, Robby, had together. Robby eventually started calling Bob his "second father." I think Bob thought of Robby as a third son...
Truly, if this event were ever to have a single icon to represent all the values it encompasses, it would in my mind be the image of Bob Gieseke.
And, in my opinion, the word "Champion" could well have been invented just to describe this gentle and amazing man.
Godspeed my old and dear friend; I will miss you constantly, but I now choose not to mourn you, but rather celebrate your life and your life's accomplishments. You were, and always will be Stunt.
Bob Hunt