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Steve Fossett Declared Dead

Parallax Blue writes "Millionaire adventurer Steve Fossett, who risked his life seeking to set records in high-tech balloons, gliders and jets, was declared dead Friday, 5 months after he vanished while flying in an ordinary small plane. The self-made business tycoon, who in 2002 became the first person to circle the world solo in a balloon, was last seen Sept. 3 after taking off in a single-engine plane from an airstrip near Yerington, Nev., heading toward Bishop, Calif. He was 63."

6 of 221 comments (clear)

  1. Wife wanted his will put into effect? by KingArthur10 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    From the sounds of it, Steve's wife wanted his last will and testament read and put into effect, and that's what prompted the ruling in the first place. CNN reported that "Judge Jeffrey Malak made the ruling after an emotional presentation from Fossett's wife of 38 years, Peggy, who also asked that her husband's will be entered into probate."

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    I came, I saw, She conquered.
  2. The man died with open eyes doing what he loved by benzapp · · Score: 5, Interesting

    This is no tragedy; we should be celebrating this man's life. We should all be as lucky to live such a full life, and die as old men under such circumstances. When most reach old age, they give up on life entirely. When your body begins to fail, it takes real courage to tempt fate on a regular basis.

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    I don't read or respond to AC posts
  3. Big wilderness out there by Desert+Tripper · · Score: 5, Interesting

    It amazes me, especially living in the area of endless urbania that is the Greater L.A. area, that there are still uninhabited areas so vast that a plane could crash and not be found after exhaustive searching with high-tech equipment.

    Then again, there is an almost-intact crashed plane near the western (Highway 190) entrance to Death Valley, near Towne Pass, that's in plain view of the highway yet almost impossible to see unless you know what you are looking for. It crashed in the 50s; it was part of a CIA mission and lost power over the Amargosa Valley. The crew bailed out near Furnace Creek, if my memory serves me correctly, then the plane crashed in the Panamint Range to the west.

    Some pics from someone who hiked to the site: http://rides.webshots.com/album/292358776FDMVRo

    After seeing that on one of my outings, Fossett's plight isn't so incredible to me. Sucks to be him, but he certainly didn't live a hard knocks life prior to his demise.

  4. Inappropriate tagging" by nebaz · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Whoever tagged this article "whogivesafuck" should turn in their human card at the door. Sure, you may not have known this guy personally, but that tag is in really poor taste. How would you like it if after someone you knew died, someone came up to you and said "he's dead. so what?".

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    Rhymes that keep their secrets will unfold behind the clouds.There upon the rainbow is the answer to a neverending story
    1. Re:Inappropriate tagging" by ScrewMaster · · Score: 4, Interesting

      No, they've been taught that being obnoxious is cool, because there are no consequences to bad behavior in a forum such as this. Now, if each of us could click a "jackass" button, and when a certain number of them get pressed the individual responsible receives a brief 30 kV electric shock ... now that might do it.

      And I'm not so sure that they're as young as you think: I'm pretty certain that some of them have had plenty of time to grow up but didn't.

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      The higher the technology, the sharper that two-edged sword.
  5. Re:Faked death by gobbo · · Score: 4, Interesting

    What is to benefit from faking a death when one already has money? I think other reasons perhaps.

    We had a good friend of the family go missing and presumed dead when he was in his late 50's. He was wealthy (not stinking rich, but had owned a car dealership and good investments for 30 years). The circumstances caused our family to think that he had staged things, including insider info (such as a rented car... unusual... and certain affairs nicely wrapped up, including insurance).

    Why, one wonders, would he do such a thing when he was at the top of his career and independently wealthy? Easy.

    • kids grown and doing OK, if clingy -- obligations resolved
    • overbearing wife, lovely and charming but man did he have patience
    • business now ran itself
    • a long-running nostalgia for his home city, Genoa
    • well-behaved and upstanding for too long
    • a semi-public figure
    • success is boring and easy when it's assured
    • no doubt, a secret life on the side
    • lots and lots of lead time to stash some cash