This past weekend, Zack Marzec, a beloved hang gliding instructor at Kitty Hawk Kites passed away in a hang gliding accident in Florida at the age of 27. Zack had been with the company for nearly four years and was planning to return this coming season.
Zack Marzec started his career with the company as a dune hang gliding instructor and worked his way up to a tandem hang gliding instructor. Zack’s positive attitude and passion for flying impacted many of the instructors and the students he taught during his time at Kitty Hawk Kites. 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 Kites Hang Gliding School 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 Flight Park in Charlestown, New Hampshire. He had a passion and a gift 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 family 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.
[…] 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 […]
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………
I am Zack’s parents’ very old first cousin. Here is the eulogy Zack’s brother, Ryan Marzec, gave at Zack’s celebration of life. It is so touching —
When people used to ask me about my brother, attempts at describing him would fall
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.
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.
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.
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
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)
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
my sympathies go out to zack’s family,and the whole khk’s team. thanks for putting smiles on so many faces.
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!
I feel very fortunate that our paths crossed up here in New Hampshire. HUGE loss to our community.
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.
We flew with Zach in June last year, it was a memory of a lifetime and he made it it happen. So sad………………..
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.
So very sorry to learn of this. Zack taught my husband and me how to 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.