Anyone who knew Allen Emer, knew that he lived life to 110 %. Whether it was sailing, operating his ham radio or piloting a hot air balloon, Allen did it all.
I first met Al about 15 years ago when he and I had the occasion to work together. From the beginning, I liked him and later was happy to call Sue, Sean and Allen my friends. Allen was one of the people who interested me in becoming an Amateur Radio Operator. In 1995, when I finally got my Amateur license Al was the first person I called to share the news. Those were happy times and Allen, Sue, Bonnie and I spent many happy hours working on Ham Radio projects together.
As they say, "Life is what happens, while you're busy making other plans". In the past few years, the circles that Al and I have been traveling in, haven't intersected too often. So, we haven't talked in a while. Nonetheless, it was a real shock when I got the sad news of Al's passing. You just never expected that somebody like Al would leave us. He was full of life.
If you live in Jersey, then you know the old joke about "What Exit". Well, though Al and I hadn't spoken for some time, there was hardly a trip up or down the Garden State Parkway, when I didn't look over to see Al & Sue's house by Exit 114. Many times I wondered how they all were. Sadly, too much time had passed without ever picking up the phone to say hello.
After I heard the news of Al's passing, I called Sue, to express our condolences and see how she and Sean were coping. We chatted for awhile and Sue told me that she and Al had also wondered what ever became of Gary & Bonnie? In this busy world, it's sad how time has a way of slipping by too quickly.
In 1994, Bonnie and I took the kids up to a Balloon Festival in Northern Jersey and sure enough, we ran into Sue and Al. Today, after my phone call to Sue, I decided to post a few photos from that memorable day in '94. Thanks to Al and Sue, it's a day neither I or my family will soon forget.
This first two shots show Al filling the hot air balloon with the Propane burner and huge blower fan at his back. In the first photo an assistant is holding the fabric so it doesn't catch on fire.
After the balloon partially filled with hot air, Al went inside to straighten out the fabric so it would inflate properly. I shot the photo below through the vent hole near the top of the balloon. If you look closely, you can see Bonnie standing by the gondola.
Finally, here is Al's balloon (stars) fully inflated as it soars into the heavens.
Thanks Al, may you Rest in Peace.
Fellow Amateur and another friend of Al, Bruce McLeod, K2QXW
sent along this link to some neat photos of Al's in action.
© 2006
