In November, the estate of longtime USPA member and parachute rigging instructor Dave DeWolf, D-1046, notified USPA that it was distributing $118,299.09 to the U.S. Parachute Team Trust Fund. DeWolf passed away on May 22, 2019, and remembered the trust fund in his will. Known by all as “Handsome Dave,” DeWolf had more than 13,000 jumps to his credit, a larger-than-life personality, a rollicking sense of humor and a very deep knowledge of parachutes and rigging. He began skydiving in 1962 and never stopped, actively skydiving and training riggers through his school, Para Loft, into his 80s.
DeWolf’s service to skydiving earned him many accolades in his more than 50 years in the sport, including the USPA Gold Medal for Meritorious Service, the Parachute Industry Association's Don Beck Memorial Award and induction into the International Skydiving Museum’s Hall of Fame. He continued his generosity after his death with a gift to the USPT Trust Fund. His donation will help the trust continue to grow, with the interest used to support each U.S. Parachute Team that competes at World Championships. Jumpers who are interested in remembering the sport with a legacy gift to USPA or one of its four funds—The USPT Trust Fund, The U.S. Parachute Team Inc., The U.S. Skydiving Safety Foundation and the Airport Access Defense Fund—can contact Executive Director Albert Berchtold at aberchtold@uspa.org for planned giving information.