Big Nik made his last jump

guest · August 9th, 2002, 03:16 PM

There couldn't have been a more wonderful brother-in-law in the world. Nik was always there when we needed advice and so patient as an Uncle. I just loved his energy and how he shared it when I was around him. He always made me laugh so hard I wanted to just roll on the floor. I was so fortunate to have him in my life. As all of us probably feel, we wish we could have spent more time with Nik, but you couldn't keep that "Wild and Crazy Guy" in one place for very long. As my tears flow for his departure, I pray Nik that your LIFE in death is as wonderful as your LIFE in life. I know it will be. We will miss you so much and we love you with all our heart. Cheers to you Nik.

Sheri

guest · August 9th, 2002, 10:09 PM

From his San Francisco Friends

Well said who ever you are. Inspire is a very good word for Nik. We spent 5 yrs. with him here. True and irrevent to the bone. Your last sentence says it all.

Will miss everything about him. I still can't believe this.

guest · August 10th, 2002, 05:18 AM

I don't know what to say. I met Nik at the Perrine last year and we jumped a building in New Orleans together. He was so grateful and such a good guy. I was looking forward to seeing him at Bridge Day this year and the Alabama/Mississippi crew is really going to miss him.

Paul:-(

guest · August 11th, 2002, 06:18 PM

Nik was my BASE papa. He wasn't really eager to take on a student, but he was so impressed that I was willing to drive 14 hours to Bridge Day '99 to make one jump under his tutelage that he gave in and arranged to get me a slot to jump. He had me doing floater exits into the Holiday Inn pool for about an hour the day before BD. And when my jump went perfectly flat and stable for a solid 3 seconds, he can be clearly heard in the video exclaiming "That's MY %&$# student! That's MY %&$# student!" It made me feel great to know that I had made him proud for that moment. We have corresponded from time to time since then, despite the distance between us, and he has remained a voice of wisdom and reason in my progression in BASE. It was his knowledge and judgement that I trusted above anyone's in this sport.

This sad news has shaken me deeply. We are all diminished.

guest · August 12th, 2002, 12:44 PM

I am not a BASE jumper either, but I respect your passion for your sport. I was a co-worker of Nik's in Portland, and was honored to attend his memorial service and to raise a pint afterwards with those who loved him.

He was one heck of a guy, and I loved and respected him.

"Sail On, Mate...We'll meet again!"

Terry

guest · August 13th, 2002, 10:23 AM

When I flew back to Mpls yesterday from Portland I looked out the window and couldn't help thinking of Nik flying through the clouds or jumping off the the wing of the airplane.

Nik couldn't go outside without looking up. Looking up for jumpable objects and most everything was somehow jumpable (last week I thought of him when I saw a crane at a new building construction site).

Last week I thought of Nik when I saw the new Austin Powers movie with the opening scene of a BASE jumper landing in the backseat of that convertible.

Any of us could go on and on with Nik stories, but the cool thing about Nik is that he was so diverse, so different, so interesting, so crazy, that a day will not go by where something won't remind you of Nik.

xxBridget Sivanich
bsivanich@dexma.com
612-709-0419