Mailing List Archive

Mailing List: cavers

Banner Advert

Message Display

From: <WSkiles@ao*.co*>
Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2000 17:23:59 EDT
Subject: Cave Diving Founder Rory Dickens Memorial Service 6/15 Jax, Fl
To: cavers@cavers.com
The cave diving community has lost one of its greatest innovators, teachers,=
=20
and friends. Roderick (Rory)  Dickens, a naval fighter pilot, school teacher=
,=20
and cave diving instructor passed away this week in Jacksonville, Fl. He was=
=20
67.

Rory was a fixture within the Cave Diving community during the early=20
seventies throughout the eighties. He made countless contributions in the=20
engineering and development of cave diving equipment through its early years=
..=20
He also authored many important articles and books that defined the sport of=
=20
cave diving. His book, The Physics and Engineering of Diving, explained the=20
laws and rules of physics that control our sport to this date. Based on his=20
amazing understanding of physics and engineering he predicted and drew=20
diagrams of what cave diving equipment would ultimately become some thirty=20
years later. He was Hogarthian long before anyone knew there was such a=20
thing. The design of canister lights, wings, backplates, reels, manifolds an=
d=20
scooters were either conceived by our improved by his involvement in the=20
sport of cave diving.=20

Rory served the US NAVY for eight years as a jet fighter pilot who flew off=20
aircraft carriers. He was stationed at Cecil Field in Jacksonville, Florida=20
and reached the rank of commander. After serving two tours in the Navy, Rory=
=20
pursued a MA degree in physics from Purdue University. Upon completion he=20
returned to Jacksonville, Florida where he became a teacher at Forrest High=20
School. For the next thirty seven years Rory passed along his love for math=20
and physics to thousands of appreciative students. He retired from teaching=20
in 1996, but continued to teach limited classes at Forrest through 2000.=20
During  his teaching career he won multiple awards including state teacher o=
f=20
the year and a teachers most prestigious honor the =93USA Presidential Award=
=20
for Teaching Excellence=94, for his superb skills in science teaching. He wa=
s=20
inducted into the Florida =93Teachers Hall of Fame=94 in 1990.

During the early and mid seventies, Rory was one of the biggest advocates of=
=20
diving safety and training through one of the sports most dark and difficult=
=20
times. Utilizing his expertise he work tirelessly to test and evaluate early=
=20
concepts and rules of cave diving. No matter what the situation, Rory always=
=20
gave freely of his time and vast knowledge on myriad subjects. As an active=20
National Association for Cave Diving (NACD) instructor, he taught many cave=20
divers to dive safely within Florida=92s underwater caves. He was a friend a=
nd=20
mentor to many well known cave divers including Sheck Exley, Wes Skiles and=20
Clark Pitcairn.=20

A memorial service for Rory is being held in Jacksonville, Fl on Thursday,=20
June 15th at Hardage/Giddings Funeral Home on 5753 Blanding Blvd. A post=20
memorial gathering of Rory's diving friends, will be held at David Cameron's=
=20
house after the service.

Please pass this notice along to anyone that might have known Rory and might=
=20
be interested in helping him celebrate his incredible life.

People wishing to express their feelings regarding Rory Dickens passing are=20
urged to send a charitable donation to:

Forrest High School
5530 Firestone Blvd.
Jacksonville, Fl 32210

Attn: Janice Lamb

Note on check: Rory Dickens Scholarship Fund

Wes Skiles
(904) 454-3556

Navigate by Author: [Previous] [Next] [Author Search Index]
Navigate by Subject: [Previous] [Next] [Subject Search Index]

[Send Reply] [Send Message with New Topic]

[Search Selection] [Mailing List Home] [Home]