February 4, 2013

Remembering Zack Marzec

This past weekend, Zack Marzec, a beloved instructor at passed away in a hang gliding accident in at the age of 27. Zack had been with the company for nearly four years and was planning to return this coming season.

ZackMarzecZack Marzec started his career with the company as a dune hang gliding instructor and worked his way up to a instructor. Zack's positive attitude and passion for impacted many of the instructors and the students he taught during his time at . Zack was the type of person who never met a stranger and always encouraged people to try new things. His love of flying and teaching was an inspiration and an example for those new to the sport.

Bruce Weaver, Vice President of Recreation and Manager of Kitty Hawk said, “Zack started teaching hang gliding for us in 2009, when he won the title “Rookie of the Year”. He spent the next 3 years teaching and flying, most recently as a tandem instructor at the airport and at Morningside Park in Charlestown, New Hampshire. He had a passion and a for flying and teaching and truly lived his life to the fullest. His positivity and enthusiasm were contagious and he enriched the lives of the thousands of people he taught and of all those who knew him. We will miss him greatly.”

Our deepest sympathies are sent to the and friends of Zack Marzec. We have lost an amazing member of our team this weekend and we hold onto the many memories Zack gave us during his time at Kitty Hawk Kites. Fly, Fly, Fly.

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15 Comments

  1. […] February of 2013, we lost one of the most beloved members of the Kitty Hawk Kites crew. Zack Marzec started his career with the company as a dune hang gliding instructor and worked his way up to a […]

  2. SEAFALCON ™ March 29, 2013 at 7:05 pm - Reply

    Thanks Dave Miller-This Guy was a class act and Even Now the Greatest amongst Spirits.Quite a life.Holy Commander's Best to all this Good Friday………

  3. Bobbi Mendenhall February 12, 2013 at 12:31 am - Reply

    I am Zack's parents' very old first cousin. Here is the eulogy Zack's brother, Ryan Marzec, gave at Zack's of life. It is so touching —

    When people used to ask me about my brother, attempts at describing him would
    short, concluded simply by saying, ‘you just have to meet him, he is one of a
    kind'. Since he can no longer provide that exceptionally unique experience we
    must learn to put words in place of the emotions he instilled, in a crude
    attempt to justly portrait him. He was infectious. From the moment you first see
    him he has your attention. flamboyantly colorful clothes, uniquely loud hair,
    perceivably positive energy surrounding him, always, always a huge smile and an
    outstretched hand. “Hi I'm Zack.” Humbly shy just for a moment, led directly to
    his abundantly inquisitive nature. His amazing imagination made him a great
    listener. He wanted to know what made you happy, your passions and what inspired
    you. Even if he couldn't place himself in your shoes, he would read your energy
    and enthusiasm and he would relate. everything you said to him was interesting,
    was exciting. Every moment with him was memorable bc he always made it about
    you. The ease of communication, and the energy of conversation would naturally
    move his direction, as you can't help but wonder what made him tick. Likely he
    would start by telling you what he did, since what he did every day meant
    everything to him. Of course he would light up, bright eyed, smiling face, he
    would very proudly say “I teach people to fly”. He would speak with such
    enthusiasm, motivated by his passion for experience and his drive to feel
    freedom. To inspire freedom

    So many beautiful things have been written and said by people that have spent, at
    times, just a moment with him. For those of us who are fortunate to have
    extensive experiences with him, I offer my words as a mere beginning, to what I
    know will be a simply heartwarming plethora of happy stories. We cannot justify
    his life with a million of them, but I hope he hears us try.

    He always forced me to be his big brother. To be the responsible one. To be
    protective and therefor less fun. But he taught me to open my mind, to believe
    in myself, to slow down and take time to enjoy every moment, to lose myself in
    my imagination. To be patient and self-less. He always told me he looked up to
    me, but it was he whom I aspired to be. He was a joy to watch with a soccer
    ball, on a snowboard, and in the air. His life was filled with epic adventures,
    wonderfully original people, energy, heart, passion and inspiration. Zack we
    have peace in knowing where we stood with you. You always told us you loved us.
    Multiple times. So now you get to hear us say it, every day, for the rest of our
    lives. We love you Zack.

    Fly Fly Fly, but come down and visit once in a while.

  4. Jonny Thompson February 10, 2013 at 10:22 am - Reply

    Please go to YouTube and watch or rewatch Zach's videos. Zach wanted to reach as many people as he could with his talents. If we watch on YouTube his Family and non-flying friends can get some idea of the lives he touched in his short time with us.

  5. Holly Kroeger February 7, 2013 at 10:13 am - Reply

    Zach was my second cousin, one I've never met. I wish I had, he was apparently an amazing and talented man. I live on the other side of the country, but think my life would have been a little bit fuller had I known him personally. You will be missed.

  6. Scott Burke February 6, 2013 at 8:30 pm - Reply

    I had the pleasure of meeting Zach this past summer while he was tandem flying in New Hampshire. Great pilot and a better person. Always a smile on his face, and always willing to join in a conversation. That smile was contagious and he shared it regularly.

    As a tandem pilot, Zach helped many, many, people live a personal dream. What a wonderful mark to leave on this world. My thoughts are with his family and friends. Zach, you will be missed. Fly Fly Fly

    • Clara February 11, 2013 at 12:48 am - Reply

      Scott, Zack and I think the world of you. Even after we left NH we carried you and our memories with you wherever we went. Thank you for everything you have given us. Much Love. Clara (moseleyc07@students.ecu.edu)

  7. Skip February 6, 2013 at 9:27 am - Reply

    What a great tribute for such a well thought of young man. He helped teach my daughter to hang glide at KHK, our thoughts and sympathies go out to his family and friends. I know he will be missed

  8. winton February 5, 2013 at 8:20 am - Reply

    my sympathies go out to zack's family,and the whole khk's team. thanks for putting smiles on so many faces.

  9. Todd Wichman February 4, 2013 at 8:18 pm - Reply

    Crank the volume, play it full screen, and feel the unbridled joy that was Zack's life. My wife and I had the immense pleasure of flying with Zack last year, and we are saddened by his passing. Live, Love, Play; and may we all pass on doing what we love!

  10. Jonny February 4, 2013 at 6:48 pm - Reply

    I feel very fortunate that our paths crossed up here in New Hampshire. HUGE loss to our community.

  11. February 4, 2013 at 6:35 pm - Reply

    Zack helped me and my husband take our first hang gliding flights out at Jockey's Ridge. We had so much fun that we decided to go for the 2,000 ft tandem tow just a few days later. He was a great instructor to work with. We had hoped to fly with him again sometime. He will be missed.

  12. JohnJoAnnNYC February 4, 2013 at 6:27 pm - Reply

    We flew with Zach in June last year, it was a memory of a lifetime and he made it it happen. So sad………………..

  13. LBinTX February 4, 2013 at 5:26 pm - Reply

    Wow. I just had my first hang gliding experience (a mile high tow tandem) last May and Zack was my instructor. In the short time I got to know him, I felt like he was an amazing person that really seemed to have a plan for his life and had so much positivity to give. If he had to go, at least it was while he was doing something he truly loved.

  14. Gail and Greg Gillis February 4, 2013 at 3:31 pm - Reply

    So very sorry to learn of this. Zack taught my husband and me hang glide several years ago. What a great time we had, and Zack's great personality and enthusiasm made it even more special. Sending peace and prayers to his family and coworkers.

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