I am sure that many of us woke up today hoping for a second that this was all a bad dream. The outpouring of love for Ned and his family and friends is overwelming - at the house, on the phone, through email.
Vicki's family, my parents, Ned and Vicki's friends, Logan, Dan, Vince, and their neighbors are amazing and we will all be helping Vicki raise little Shaan with Ned's spirit and love for life.
Read the comments following the first post. Here are emails that have come in as well as some personal emails I received from friends:
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I am in complete disbelief at the moment. I used to work with Ned at the Los Gatos Brewing Company andthen flew with Ned many times at Skywest, where Icurrently work. This is terrible news that I was unaware of. What happened?
Sincerely,
Russ Weiss
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My name is Warren Madden and I knew your brother from SkyWest airlines. I was a new first officer when Ned was a new captain and we flew together regularly when he was based in Fresno. I liked him very much and I am terribly saddened by the news of his passing. I would like to express my condolences to your family and would be honored to attend his services to show my respect for a truly great aviator and friend. If I can be of service in any way, including monitary support for his family, please let me know. I wish your family the best and am very sorry for your loss.
Respectfully,
Warren Madden
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I am so sorry to hear about Ned. We really liked Ned. He was a really special man. He was nice, funny, very likable and handsome. What a loss for his friends and family. I am part of the women's group that does volunteer work with Vicki. We were thinking that in lew of sending flower can we set up an account for Shaan at a local bank? I can set it up since I am local. If you think this is okay do you have a preference on where we can set this up? I know Vicki lives by a Wells Fargo and Washington Mutual.Please let us know if there is anything else we can do to help.
Jennifer Bist
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Words cannot describe the sense of loss I feel at the passing of my friend and colleague. We all admired Ned's life loving attitude and willingness to strike out in new ventures and pursue his dreams. I spent many hours in the cockpit with Ned, and always appreciated his ever present smile, warm heart and sense of humor. He also was a consummate professional, ever striving to improve, and as a Check airman, fostering growth in others as well. I was saddened when Ned told me he was leaving SkyWest, because that meant not only was the company losing a great Captain, but I wouldn't be able to see his friendly face around the system. Today that feeling is magnified one hundred fold.
Ned always came to work as a representative of SkyWests best. The one small item he added to his uniform was something ( a lapel pin, his writing pen, a sticker) emblazoned with Supermans S symbol. Just like the comic book hero, Superman never dies. He lives on in our hearts and memories.
I am the Assistant Chief Pilot in Sacramento, please let me know if there is anything I can do for you and your family. Please feel free to pass on any information and I will ensure it gets out to all the flightcrews that knew Ned.
Your family is in our prayers,
Respectfully,
Keith McRae
SkyWest Airlines
Assistant Chief Pilot
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I am really sorry to hear about Ned. Please accept our condolences on the loss of such a classy person. I met Ned at Sweety's wedding and then we became close after the family tragedy where his brother-in-law Pranil was a victim of a fatal automobile accident. Pranil was a geat friend of mine and we also played soccer together.
Ned and I always shared stories about our respective professions/careers (his flying and mine as a law enforcement officer at a State prison). I was supposed to give him a tour of my prison and he was to take me out flying - someday.
My 16-year old son Hashnel was very fond of Ned as he (Ned) always was him giving good advice on life.
Yes, along with you all, these are very tough times for the family especially Vicki and Shaan.
All we can do now is cherish the joys of the moments we shared with Ned and pray that his soul rest in peace and ask the lord to give his grieving family all the necessary strength to accept this fate.
Please keep us posted of the services. I will be stopping by at their house later this afternoon.
Please feel free to call me if I could be of assistance in any way to the family during this tragedy.
-Vimal (Vee) Singh
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I am a flight attendant based in Sacramento and flew with Ned many times. We became good friends and the news of his passing brings me great
sadness. It is unbelievable. He was my favorite pilot. He was an awesome person. His enthusiam for life was uplifing to me so many times. What
a loss, a tragedy. I am so very sorry. Please know that my prayers are with Vicki and Shaan andall of you.
Please let me know when the service will be and if there is anything I can do, please ask.
Once again, i am so very sorry for your loss,
Michael Reintsma
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I am so sorry to hear this news, I had the opportunity to fly with Ned on many occassions, he was a pleasure to fly with and an all around great guy.
My family wishes you well and condolences,
Sincerely,
Dan Valentini
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I am so very sorry to hear about your brother! I have met Ned on a couple of occasions and he seemed like a wonderful, warm person. What a shock that it happened just after the death of Ron's brother. Please let us know what we can do to acknowledge him. My sympathy and love to you and the whole family. Uhuru comrade! Love, Penny
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Oh Wendy, I am so sorry for your loss. How very shocking and I feel for what your entire family is going through. Please let me know if there is anything I can do. Call me if you need to talk or anything please!
Much Love, Lisa
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I'm so sorry to hear of the loss of your brother Ned. Your blog and the picture of him with his son give me a glimpse of a solid, wonderful man. He was so encouraging to you. And if your stance in these past few weeks was any indication - his words to you to "think big" really took hold. Please let me know if there is anything I can do. I know you and Ron and Jasmine and Aaren have suffered a second loss in just a few days.
My condolences to all of you.
Uhuru, Kitty
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Ohhh I'm so sorry to hear about this Wendy. What beautiful eyes and smile he has in that picture. What a beautiful baby. Your blog paints a picture of a wonderful person with an inspiring energy, who is loved by so many and will be greatly missed. I can feel that even never having met him. So sorry for the loss of Ron's brother as well. Your whole family is in my thoughts. Uhuru! Love! Lisa W.
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Wendy and Ron, I am so shocked and sad for your family. My heart goes out to you, love, Ellen
