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From: steamboat@is*.ne* (Dustin Clesi)
To: <techdiver@aquanaut.com>
Cc: <wiltz44@ao*.co*>
Subject: Fw: [RecoveryDivers] Rory Dickens Memorial 6/15/00 in Jax, Fl
Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2000 15:33:39 -0400
The first time I ever saw a scooter in an U/W
cave,  Rory was piloting it.   I'm posting this
to a few lists at Wes' request.  Dustin

-----Original Message-----
From: WSkiles@ao*.co* <WSkiles@ao*.co*>
To: RecoveryDivers@ca*.co* <RecoveryDivers@ca*.co*>
Date: Wednesday, June 14, 2000 2:36 PM
Subject: [RecoveryDivers] Rory Dickens Memorial 6/15/00 in Jax, Fl


I've updated this with information I've been gathering on Rory. Will some of
you help me post this on some of the other relavant list that might help get
this information out to Rory's friends and supporters?

Wes


The cave diving community has lost one of its greatest innovators, teachers,
and friends. Roderick (Rory)  Dickens, a naval fighter pilot, school
teacher,
and cave diving instructors passed away this week in Jacksonville, Fl. He
was
67.

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

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

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

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

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

People wishing to express their feelings regarding Rory Dickens passing are
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

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