Delaware Valley Orienteering Association

Topic created by Nancy on Sun Jan 26, 2014 at 2:31 pm

Nancy
Num Posts: 113
Primary Club: DVOA
Fav map:
First O: 1982

We learned just recently of the death of Caroline Ringo, one of DVOA's founding members. The family will hold a memorial service at a later date. Caroline and her husband Kent were part of the backbone of the club for many years. Caroline organized scrapbooks to help track DVOA's history; these are displayed at our winter meetings. For many years Caroline also maintained the club's library of orienteering books and training materials, often lugging numerous crates and totes to our events.

Reply by bobburg on Sun Jan 26, 2014 at 3:13 pm

bobburg
Num Posts: 200
Primary Club: DVOA
Fav map: Batsto
First O: 1999

Caroline and Kent were always so welcoming, so willing to help (I remember them always manning Registration at our NJ events), and inspiring as they continued orienteering at DVOA events into their 80's and 90's.  I remember Caroline loving my Yellow courses, because she could still use advanced skills cutting corners, even as her body could no longer take on the longer, more difficult courses.

And years ago, when I took my game 82 year old mother out on the first 1 or 2 legs of a White course (so she could see this new thing I was so passionate about), it was the Ringos who she hung out with back at registration while I ran my advanced course.

They were there at the beginning of DVOA and have kept our story and sense of O-family alive for decades since.  I'm sure you are navigating some great terrain, wherever you are, Caroline.  God Bless. 

Reply by camperpat on Sun Jan 26, 2014 at 8:11 pm

camperpat
Num Posts: 391
Primary Club: DVOA
Fav map: Hibernia
First O: 1999

I first met Kent and Caroline Ringo in the early 70"s as they were founding members of our local club, The Outdoors Club of South Jersey.  Together with Bert and Betty Nixdorf they moved both DVOA and OCSJ ahead into clubs that have memberships that exceed 2000 people. 

Reply by Orienteeringmom on Sun Jan 26, 2014 at 11:27 pm

Orienteeringmom
Num Posts: 163
Primary Club: DVOA
Fav map: Green Lane NC
First O: 1993

The Porter family met the Ringo's back in the mid 90's when we join DVOA.  They loved talking to our children about their course and were always willing to offer good advice to them.  We have many fond memories of them over the years.  I have two that always stick out in my mind when the name Ringo is mentioned and they are one with each of them.  I remember a number of years ago Kent and Caroline coming to our Green Lane event and Caroline asking me if I felt she would be able to do the Yellow and I was so upset with myself because I knew she could not do it as it was to physical for her with a cane, to many down trees and rocks that needed to be climbed over.  From then on I always thought about Caroline as I was field checking the white and yellow courses when we were course setter which I think some of our course setter today should think about as well.  My memory with Kent was just a few years ago at an event at Tyler State Park.  I can't remember which level course it was.  I remember that some of the course was on the BCCC campus and some in the surrounding woods.  I came upon Kent on the campus and he was having some problems.  I remember seeing Kent struggling to figure where he was on the map so I stopped to help him and found that we were doing the same course so I got him going again and then slowed down to keep behind him so that should he have more problems I would be there to help.  We basically finished together and I privately told Caroline at the finish that I stayed with him to make sure he got out of the woods safely and she was so very grateful to me for doing so.  They are great lovely people and Caroline will be greatly missed by all.
. 

Reply by BRycharski on Mon Jan 27, 2014 at 3:51 pm

BRycharski
Num Posts: 198
Primary Club: DVOA
Fav map: Rutgers Preserve
First O: 1976

I first met the Ringos at local O meets, Althought I did not connect with them at first- Early 90's (maybe Washington Crossing St Park)?  I fondly remember them coming to my Quail Hill  "Novice" Meet directors aid in the 1999 to 2002 years, In NJ, when they both Kindly showed up to .... work as volunteer DVOA assistant registrars (when I was short handed with meet Staff- out of the blue stuff) and then walked the Yellow or White courses after they volunteer long help efforts.  This was greatly appreciated and I adore Both Kent and Caroline and  ...    listened at that time at the depth of their Orienteering meet - Event experience, map training savvy and that they were with ... other DVOA founders from the Start of this fasinating DVO O club, and even told me to stick with the Event organization duties - even when I was a lot younger and obviously needed "ED 101" learning & encouragement.  The last time I met them I believe, Early or Mid 2000's, I conspired with Caroline to keep a close 'watch' on Kent, as Caroline was no longer able to keep up on a hike with him (*he was faster) but she encouraged Kent to keep to walking his Yellow O courses or the occasional Orange if he was keen on a challenge.  We had (spoiler alert to Kent) , had discreet expert DVOA runners (and also asked older Yellow finishers at event finish line had they seen him) run in the weeds/woods with a Yellow map  and check on his map hike Progress, reporting to Caroline and that we would  tell no one but herself what we were doing to monitor him, at either Quail Hill or Pakin Pond, where I was a beginner trainer, Kent came in safely 2 hours upon course completion with a happy Caroline knowing every 30 minutes or so - that Kent was observed chugging along OK and no worries for her.

I salute Caroling (and Kent) and ask only for prayers for Caroline, and maybe if I can so bold 2 suggest. can many if not all DVOA Course Setters maybe add a NEW "GO" control tradition  (years ago before going all numbers 31 thru 85 Orienteering flags, that A "GO" last  control flag was common (Go to the finish after this punch) ) , please use the DVOA numbers, but on the last control before finish, Add a sign or label at that last control that this is the " RINGO'S"  - Go Control -, or similar wording, for the rest of the 2014 DVOA season, in Memory of Caroline/  I will on June 8th at QH.   Thanks Caroline, you will be great sore-runner-toes missed  and we will remember you fondly...   Bob R

Reply by BRycharski on Tue Jan 28, 2014 at 12:22 pm

BRycharski
Num Posts: 198
Primary Club: DVOA
Fav map: Rutgers Preserve
First O: 1976

E Board Webmasters (attention !!) and DVOA club officials, please' huddle' and find a SAFE way to get Kent and Carolines NC address out to the DVOA members that is more secure , maybe mass email?.  I - being a past Event Director, have access to the ... Confidental member ED list (with many address's if known), but I desire others/in DVOA to send letters or cards condolences to Kent (for Caroline) via the USPO without letting scammers or worse getting the info (security caution for Kents now time of grieving).
Let me know later if you have a way other than the e board.  Maybe people whom are currently paid members can send Mary Frank the address request, she checks the club 'roles', and if the person is a DVOA member, send it one by one  - thats relatively safe and is less work than e mailing everyone (some Newbies DOVies  (yes, mis-sp) may not have had the luck of meeting Caroline... or Kent since they retired from O runs)  For those who never worked with Kent and Caroline, they are both some of the most devoted map Hiker volunteer/workers I have even had the pleasure of working with (at DVOA or HVO O meet even).

Here in NJ hoping for hundreds of kind words by Friday to Kent ... and For Caroline .

Reply by DaveDarrah on Wed Jan 29, 2014 at 11:37 am

DaveDarrah
Num Posts: 47
Primary Club: DVOA
Fav map: Fatlands
First O: 1976

I, too, have nice memories of Caroline. A very nice obituary can be found <a href="http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/courierpostonline/obituary.aspx?n=caroline-f-ringo&pid=169262832">here</a>.

Reply by DaveDarrah on Wed Jan 29, 2014 at 11:40 am

DaveDarrah
Num Posts: 47
Primary Club: DVOA
Fav map: Fatlands
First O: 1976

Well, some edit fields (geocaching, for one) will allow the funny stuff in the above post to look like a link. This edit field, apparently, will not. So, copy and paste this link for Caroline's obit:
   www.legacy.com/obituaries/courierpostonline/obituary.aspx?n=caroline-f-ringo&pid=169262832