Help George Gassaway Fight Pancreatic Cancer

Help George Gassaway Fight Cancer

Please see the bottom of this post for an important UPDATE.

I'm Ed LaCroix and I'm raising funds for my good friend of over 30 years, George Gassaway. Quite recently, George was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. His cancer is inoperable, has metastasized and is in bloodstream. Although he is beginning chemotherapy, his very best result is 12 months. With no family to support him, I am calling on all of you, members of his hobby rocket family, for financial help.

Very soon, George may have an need to enter an assisted living center. Cost associated with either an assisted living facility or nursing home is the reason for this fundraising effort and the goal of $20,000.

George has not only flown rockets but has been an active member and volunteer for the National Association of Rocketry (NAR) for some 50 years. George has:

• Served on the NAR Board as a trustee for 10 years- from 1994-2004- and notably created an entirely new NAR member database and operating system.

• Developed and presented many award winning NARAM Research and Development presentations.

• Designed and shared countless competition and sport rocket designs via his website Georgesrockets.com- the Rotoroc; Maxima and Xebec boost gliders; Stilleto rocket gliders; and Flex-wing gliders to name but a very few.

• Represented the NAR as a competitor on numerous USA World Championship teams where he won medals in both duration and radio-controlled glider events.

• Successfully developed and flew the only fully-functioning radio-controlled, scale model of the Space Shuttle at a World Championship.

• Successfully developed and flew the first on-board model rocket guidance system- Sunguidance. In it’s first iteration, Sunguidance operated forward steering vanes to direct flight. A later version provided guidance using thrust vector control (TVC) by gimbaling the rocket motor.

I have been a friend and NAR competition teammate of George’s since 1992. Because of what we have shared flying sport and competition rockets, as well as radio control gliders and rocket-boosted gliders during the past 30 years, this fund raising effort is super important to me. I want George to have the best care during the time he has left.

The funds raised will go directly to him so he can receive the medical and living support he will require. I cannot adequately express my gratitude for whatever donation you can make.

June 16-2023 Update

Unfortunately, on May 22, 2023, George suddenly passed away. Upon getting an email from Jon Stenberg informing me of his unexpected passing, I closed this GFM account to further donations. Since then, I have been able to connect with his immediate next of kin, his niece Pamela Nauss. Even though the original intent of this GFM was to help George with his medical expenses (and there may still be some outstanding) the funds will now be used to close his estate and pay legal fees. Pamela has designated me as the manager of these funds.

-Ed LaCroix