Author and self-publishing guru, Dan Poynter, as we knew him.
I was saddened to learn of the passing of my friend and Cat Writers’ Association member, Dan Poynter, on November 1 to lymphoma. Dan was a mentor and teacher to many members of CWA and other writers. He joined our merry band of writers and cat lovers in 2001, already a self-publishing guru.
I received Dan’s mentorship on a completely different path from other CWA members. So rather than list all his writing credits, which most writers already know about, I thought I would share a different side of Daniel F. Poynter.
I started skydiving in 1976 and made my final jump in 1980 with a just over 100 freefalls under my harness. By today’s standards, I’m one of the oldtimers. Not one of the greats, but an oldtimer, nevertheless. When I first signed up for ground school, my instructor required me to join the United States Parachute Association. A benefit of USPA membership was a subscription to Parachutist magazine, which I read ravenously when it arrived in my mailbox.
Dan in the early days of skydiving.
Jump ahead almost three decades. I met Dan Poynter face-to-face at the 2004 CWA conference in Houston. He was, of course, a pioneer in self-publishing. I was shocked and delighted to learn that he was THE skydiving Dan Poynter, whose column, “Parachuting Poynters” I read religiously every month.
Here’s a few facts about the Dan Poynter I knew.
Dan Poynter jumped onto the real North Pole in 1996.
He was a pioneer in, not only the sport of skydiving, but also the parachuting industry and parachuting safety. From his first static line jump in 1962, he rose to become one of the world’s leading experts in parachute design and engineering. A master rigger and canopy designer, he invented the Stylemaster parachute, the Fastbak parachute and patented the Pop Top parachute. (The first parachute gear I ever owned had a Pop Top reserve.) He wrote a dozen books on airborne sports that included skydiving, civil aviation and hang gliding. “The Parachute Manual—A Technical Treatise on the Parachute,” which he first published in 1972, was the bible of the parachuting industry and riggers around the world. (Riggers and especially master riggers have to go through an intensive training, testing and licensing process. Riggers pack the emergency reserve parachutes and do repairs. Master riggers can also build and repair parachutes and harnesses.) He managed a parachute company in Oakland, California.
This is a Pop Top reserve parachute similar to the one I owned. Only a few days ago I learned it was designed by Dan Poynter.
Over his career he made 1200 jumps and accrued 12 hours of freefall time. He was also a pioneer of the sport of hang gliding and was a licensed pilot.
He earned all possible skydiving licenses and ratings all with early-issue numbers: USPA D License (instructor rating) #454. Dan was Star Crest Recipient #271. (I earned mine in 1978. My SCR was #8294.) To get an SCR you have to be part of an 8-person freefall formation called a star. His Star Crest Soloist number was 63. To get an SCS you must have docked eighth or later on an 8-way or larger star freefall formation. In 1994, Dan even jumped onto the North Pole.
Here’s a 10-man star. Imagine flying your body into position 8th or later.
Dan served as president of both the Parachute Industry Association and the International Hang Gliding Commission and chairman of the board of the United States Parachute Association. He served on the boards of the National Skydiving Museum, American Museum of Sport Parachuting and Air Safety, the Commission Internationale du Vol Libre (hang gliding) of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (president). Poynter also established the eMuseum for the National Skydiving Museum in 2014.
He’s the recipient of the: USPA Lifetime Achievement Award, 2005 Parachute Industry Association Don Beck Memorial Achievement Award for parachute or skydiving achievements that have stood the test of time. In 2012, he was inducted into the Skydiving Museum and Hall of Fame.
Dan Poynter being inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Since that first jump in 1962, Dan wrote more books, reports, magazine articles and columns on the topic of skydiving and parachuting than any other author. He took his passion and turned it into an occupation. Dan taught and mentored CWA members and aspiring writers, the same way he taught and mentored skydivers.
Besides skydiving, Dan also loved cats. He authored The Older Cat, a book about the aging feline most likely based on Cricket, his beloved pet of 20 years.
Thanks Dan. I’m sure there are many skydivers whose lives were saved by your generosity and sharing of expertise and knowledge.
Dusty–This is a wonderful tribute to Dan. It shows what an interested and interesting man he was. Makes me wish I had known him, though I did hear him speak many years ago. Awesome man.
Really nice tribute and boy, he certainly did a lot with his life. I loved the photo of him (and your photo, too) in the earlier days. He certainly was a powerhouse. God rest his soul. Thanks so much for this, Dusty.
Beautifully researched, lovingly written. I am sorry for your loss.