It is with great sadness that I report to you that an old friend and a well know figure from the early days of soaring has passed on. After a long illness, Larry Gehrlein Sr. died last Wednesday in his home. Larry was a competitor in the early days at some of the first contests held at Harris Hill and elsewhere and later operated the Thermal G gliderport in Erie Pa where several pilots got their first starts in soaring. Larry also started the business of repairing gliders, building trailers and of course the Gehrlein winches that many of us learned on here in the USA. This business exists today and is well known as one of the finest sailplane repair facilities in the US and today is operated by his son's Rod and Jay Gehrlein and now also the third generation Gehrlein with Larry's Grandson Rory..... Those of us who knew him were all touched by his wit, his sense of humor and stories from the early days of soaring and we will miss his passing, and to those who did not know him I can only say we feel sorry for you as well for you have missed ever knowing this unique individual and a rich piece of our soaring heritage....... No funeral plans have been made or are planned for, the Gehrlein family is a private one and wishes no fanfare, though they do plan to sometime this summer hold a memorial. with deepest regret Tim