Dear Editor, Without a doubt, Nick Nilmeyer was a rising star in
the world of air shows. He was an incredible stunt pilot who
defined the courage, will to win, and determination of the
”
Go Nuts Spirit.
”
Dear Editor,
Without a doubt, Nick Nilmeyer was a rising star in the world of air shows. He was an incredible stunt pilot who defined the courage, will to win, and determination of the “Go Nuts Spirit.” Conversely, Nick was so humble that many of us in our community had no idea that he was one of the finest pilots in the aviation world and had received standing ovations from 750,000 people at places like the Oshkosh Air Show.
Last Saturday, many of Nick’s former Live Oak teammates, friends, and their families honored his extraordinary, albeit tragically short life. Star yes; however, for those of us who were graced by the pure joy Nick exuded and were lucky enough in this life to have known him, he was so very much more.
Our family loved Nick because he was truly a fine person, someone who cared greatly about and was always there for his family, friends, and teammates.
The Nick we knew and loved was a gifted natural athlete, always enjoyed the moment, and made everyone feel like they mattered to him. It is with fondness we remember how his contagious smile could brighten any moment. When Nick came over to the house he made a point of interacting not only with his friends but with parents and siblings as well. Nick was there to playfully torment Connor when he was learning to spell his name and dubbed him “Connor with a K.”
The Nick we remember was always fun to be around. As a student, he had a brilliant understanding of the principles of physics, mechanical objects and flight. Sometimes he forgot the small details like turning in homework, especially if he felt no passion for the subject matter. When Nick felt passionately about something like his family, friends or flying he was exemplary. As an athlete, he on occasion missed water polo or swim practice because of a “dentist appointment” and shortly thereafter would be spotted flying over the Live Oak pool, tipping his wings to his coach and teammates. When asked the next day about his “appointment” he would break into such a mischievous, joyous smile that it would inevitably erase any upset and made everyone a little envious that they weren’t with him to experience his true love, which was the freedom and artistry of flight. Even after Nick graduated, the next class of Acorn aquatic athletes would catch a fly-over from time to time and a tip of the wing.
Losing a child is incomprehensible. Parents of teenagers learn to dread the sound of sirens. One memory that stands out and haunts many of Nick’s close friends is an incident in which Nick’s incredible reflexes and uncanny driving skills undoubtedly saved the lives of Trevor Haines, Cole Chassy, Mike Cook, Joey Andrews, Dustin Bastinelli, and Dan Oka. The boys had attended a concert and late at night on a dark stretch of Highway 85 they came upon a car accident with a car facing the wrong direction in their lane with its lights off and upside down. Nick’s instincts saved the boys’ lives that night. Nick skillfully squeezed between the center divide and the car, narrowly missing a fatal accident. At Nick’s memorial service, the six friends sadly reminisced and noted the irony, that had anyone else been driving it was very likely that none of them would have survived to feel the pain that comes with losing a friend.
It is uncanny how many times this week a small plane has flown over our house, or over the pool and each of us has looked to the sky and thought of Nick and that amazing smile. Like Mark Twain, Nick’s spirit challenges us all to “sail away from the safe harbor and catch the trade winds in our sails, explore, dream, discover.” You were right Nick, it is all good, and we will miss you! Thank you for everything you gave our family, your fans, your friends and teammates, in the water, on the land and, above all, in the sky.
The Haines Family,
Mack, Trish, Trevor, Jessilyn and Connor with a “K.”
