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| Wills
Wing - Remembrances of Rob Kells |
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Rob Kells passed away on August 9th, 2008 after battling prostate cancer for nearly two years. Rob was our friend and business partner for more than thirty years, and our sense of loss at his passing is inexpressible. For those of you who knew Rob personally, we know you will understand, and we know that you share our loss.
Add Your Remembrance · View images/slideshow of Rob |
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10/02/08
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My deepest condolences and sympathies to Rob, family, and extended family. I saw him last at Morningside back in the '90's. I'd not been in the air in a long while after a bad wilderness ditch-job in Maine, and he Peghiny and Nicolay got all over me with unbridled enthusiasm. Back in the 70's we were doing the competition circuit and would hook up occassionally. A consummate gentleman who lived for his craft.
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- Kevin Weatherbee, Maine and Virgin Islands
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09/24/08
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I looked up the Wills Wing site in early September and was stunned to hear of Rob's death. I had flown with Rob, Bob Wills, and many of the Wills' friends and employees before Bob's death. I was offered a sailmaker job starting in Sep. 1977, and worked through that uncertain period where Wills Wing finances were in the red, and their future in doubt. It was during this period that Rob's positive attitude and courage did wonders to keep Wills Wing afloat. Employees kept the faith, and dealers were encouraged to believe the company would survive. We built what seemed like hundreds of SST inventory sails in faith they would sell - and they did.
I remember Rob as an excellent boss and supervisor, along with Steve, Mike, and Linda. They were tops. Rob was around when I made some of my most memorable flights on my trusty old "California 90" SST, as he called it. But mainly I will remember Rob as a generous and helpful man, and probably the most optimistic person I've ever met.
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- Dan Johnson
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09/24/08
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It’s been a while since Rob left us behind, but only minutes have passed since I learned the news. I’m in LA on business, and decided that since I had some time free this afternoon, I’d give Rob a call a perhaps pay him a visit if he was feeling up to it. It was when I went to the Wills web site for the phone number that I learned of Rob’s passing. I am stunned.
I’ve known Rob for 29 years, back to a time when I owned Manta and Seagull wings. Then, I was working at Chandelle San Francisco as an instructor, and test-flying and tuning customer gliders. I had the opportunity to fly everything out there, from Electra-Flyer, Eipper Formance, Bennett, Sunbird, Seedwings, Hyster, Stratus, Moyes, Flight Designs …The day I demoed Rob’s Omni for the first time, I was blown away. Not just by the glider, but by the man I had met. Suffice to say that for the last 29 years, I’ve owned only Wills gliders, starting with the Raven that took me to the 1980 Nationals. That kind of customer loyally is engendered by a connection with people… not the products they produce. Rob was always amazingly supportive of those of us who shared his passion for aero and flying in general, and whether at Grouse or Telluride, Ellensville or Dunlap, when Rob was around, he made you feel like you were Wills’ most important customer-pilot.
I remember in ’81 at Grouse, the year after Rob won the Championship, I was flying my Harrier in a one-on-one match against some sky-god (Mark Bennett or Chris Bulger I think) holding my own against a superior double surface glider. After I landed, Rob paid me the biggest complement I could image: He said “I watched you work that lift back up to launch, and for a minute, I though I was looking at myself”. With that handed me a new Wills gear bag that I have kept to this day. At the ‘82 Nationals, Rob narrated a segment for a local cable station featuring Ron Young and I doing an aero demonstration between competition rounds. Rob always kept his promises, and several weeks later, I received the VHS cassette in the mail from Rob for my collection. More than I expected.
In Ellensville, at the 1980 Nat’s, after the better part of a week of sled-runs and competing against Comets in my Raven, I was in like 23rd place, and totally pissed about my position. On the final day, the weather turned on, and I was ready to blow off the race and just FLY. I told Rob of my plans, and he convinced me to stick it out, suggesting that I might regret the decision to bail after working so hard to qualify. He was right…. Dave Ledford totally waxed me, but I know I flew my best. I ran in to Rob at Wallaby a few years back, totally unprepared to fly. Before I knew it, Rob had handed me his personal harness, set me up with his vario, a glider and tow, and I didn’t even ask. What a guy!
After 38 years in the sport, I probably have one more glider left in me. For a while, I was considering a Laminar, but after visiting the shop earlier this year and spending some time with Mike, Linda, Rob and Steve, I know that it will be a T2 or whatever they’re building at the time. It’s not just about the glider… it’s about the people who build them. Thanks Rob for all the great memories. You put up one hell of a fight. You got me to have my PSA checked. May your eternal flight be downwind.
Tom Low
September 24, 2008
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- Tom Low
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09/22/08
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To Rob's family and to the Wills Wing family, I send my deepest condolences for your loss. This news knocked the wind out of me. Rob was a sky god to me. I remember showing up in Elsinore in 1980 and meeting Rob for the first time in the LZ. I thought I had really made the big time to have finally met and spoken to Rob Kells. I remember writing back to my old room mates and flying friends back in Colorado to let them know I had been in the midst of a true hang gliding celebrity, a sky god. I also remember Rob being very gracious with his time. We had the beginnings of a fledgling club in Elsinore in the early 80's. I had asked Rob to come and give a presentation to the club. Not only did he give a great presentation he also brought a movie to show us. He really made the meeting one to enjoy and gave selfishlessly of his time to see that we had a good time. One last thought I've had that I thought you might enjoy. I have this vision of Rob and our Creator mulling over a new design for the Angels wings. I can just see Rob pointing out new design features and then demonstrating some new flight skills to the Creator. Well Rob the next flight I have will be in your honor. I'm sure you have your new permanent wings now... have a pair ready for me when I see you there. Smooth Lift Mate! Hang Dad
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- Loren E. Culp - Red Lodge, Montana
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09/21/08
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I met Rob in college; about a half dozen of us formed a fast friendship in our freshmen year at a small school in upstate New York. We lived in close proximity – on the same floor of a dorm. Rob and his childhood friend (Lee Geiger – aka Chili) both attended this school and by some twist of fate landed in the same dorm opposite one another. My most enduring memory of Rob is his friendship with Chili; they were inseparable.
We were children, beginning our journey to adulthood. But, all the fine qualities that the adult version of Rob used to later build a business and a larger community – were in evidence and abundantly shared - his smile, generosity, optimism and bravery. But it was his ability to connect that was central to Rob’s impact. Rob was my friend – but Chili was Rob’s best friend.
I last saw Rob and Chili during the fall/winter of 1976. They came to town for a quick visit – to lighten my day with harrowing stories about competitive trick skiing and to share a Heineken beer (or two). I knew Rob was destined for great things. Over the years I thought of Rob and this week I impulsively ‘googled’ his name, and ended up here.
I was right, Rob was destined for greatness … and my world was brighter for the short time we spent together many years ago. And that is my second-most enduring memory of Rob.
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- Bob Meade
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09/18/08
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The sport of soaring lost two Greats this summer with the passing of Rob Kells and Dick Johnson on July 23, 2008. Both shared the same love of soaring, the same understated accomplishments and the same generous outreach to all people. I had the privilege and honor of personally knowing both and many spent many hours flying with them. Both will be missed sorely by the sport. But, the sport is better off today because they were a part of it. I have no doubt that they are talking about flying right now.
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- Gerry Kiefer
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09/17/08
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It's been a long time since I flew hang gliders, but every so often I check the website to see how my old buddies at Wills Wing are doing. I was stunned and saddened to see that Rob has passed away.
I didn't know Rob as well as Mike or Steve, but I remember seeing Rob at Salt Creek in the early 80s, shortly after I had stopped flying hang gliders. He took me up for a tandem flight, which was a very memorable flight for me. Mainly because I didn't even ask, he just offered to take me up. That was Rob.
Rob will probably be remembered by most as one of the all-time great hang glider pilots. After reading these posts, he was clearly much, much more to those who knew and loved him most.
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- Bob Currie
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09/15/08
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SO HERE'S THE DEAL …
I slept in Rob Kells’ bed before I even met the man!
AND HERE'S THE EXPLANATION ...
In 1982 I was in the midst of getting involved with my hang gliding instructor, Erik Fair. Rob had just bought a new water bed and he asked Erik if we’d like to try it. We did but that’s another story.
Back to thoughts about Rob ...
In subsequent years I got to know he was a guy with great taste: in the foods he ate, the wines and beers he drank, the clothes he wore, the motorcycles and cars he drove on the road, the gliders and planes he flew in the air.
More importantly he had great taste in his career choice. Who hasn’t dreamed of combining a favorite sport with earning a living? And he used that same excellent taste in choosing his business partners.
Rob was always generous with praise (for a job well done or a great suggestion for improving efficiency) and compliments (on Linda’s most recent killer black dress). He always tried to share positive comments he received with others he felt at least partially responsible. When congratulated for Wills Wing’s success, he was quick to point to his partners; when complimented on his beautiful daughters his usual response was “it’s their mothers’ fault.”
They say you can pick your friends and Rob had many all over the world, but you can’t pick your family. So I guess it’s just the luck of the Irish that Rob landed in the middle of the Kells family. We can only assume all the traits we loved in Rob have been passed along to the next generation. So far, signs are favorable.
We’ll all miss you, Rob.
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- Maggie Rowe
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09/11/08
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Thanks Rob for making me most welcome on my trips to California in the mid to late 70s- at the factory and out at the sites. You treated me as one of the team. I treasure special memories of your flying at Grouse and your wild aerobatics. I fondly remember the outlanding we both made at the Worlds in '85 in a lush Austrian meadow having been twisted and turned in some wild air close to the Kaiser. A true gent.
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- Rob Bailey
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09/08/08
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It's September seventh. I am tandem with a student, on a Falcon. There is a red truck with racks below me. One of the few moments when everything is just right. I will never look at a red pickup without some wonderful memories.
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- Neal Harris
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