In Memory of Paul Ticknor
Posted: Sat Jun 13, 2009 8:50 amTo Fellow Volleyball Players, especially those who were blessed with meeting and playing with this most optimistic and joyful volleyball enthusiast:
All:
For those who don't already know, it is with great sadness that I report that Paul Ticknor, one of the original players in this group on Court 3 at Seabright, died Monday the 8th of pneumonia, which was a complication following his second major spinal cord injury.
Paul was an avid volleyball player until his first spinal cord injury, in 2000. He went over the handlebars of his bike and broke his neck. After initially being fully paralyzed from the neck down, Paul used his athleticism, his great attitude, and his complete dedication to hard work to rebuild an independent life. He was supported and encouraged at every step by his indomitable wife Sylvia.
After many months of hard work, Paul could walk with crutches. One of his big goals was to be able to get down to the volleyball courts at the 3rd Street stairs, and he did that many times. 66 stair-steps, I think.
I'm pretty sure he wanted to play vball again, but his vertical leap remained at 0" so he couldn't hit down with any authority.
Eventually he got his van which made him truly independent. The van knelt down, and Paul could ride his power chair in the sliding door, transfer to the driver's seat, and drive quite ably. I rode with him many times. If you were watching him go by, the only indication you would have that the driver wasn't fully able was the little blue symbol on the license plate.
Last Tuesday, while playing with his grandchildren, Paul threw his hands up in the air with glee, and tipped his chair over backwards, breaking his neck for the second time in the fall. He had surgery Tuesday night. I saw him on Thursday and he was in amazingly good spirits, and ready to start over again. But he contracted pneumonia over the weekend, and by Monday morning, the pneumonia took his life.
In confronting physical challenges, Paul is my hero, and my mentor, and his spirit lives on.
Geoff Alexander
All:
For those who don't already know, it is with great sadness that I report that Paul Ticknor, one of the original players in this group on Court 3 at Seabright, died Monday the 8th of pneumonia, which was a complication following his second major spinal cord injury.
Paul was an avid volleyball player until his first spinal cord injury, in 2000. He went over the handlebars of his bike and broke his neck. After initially being fully paralyzed from the neck down, Paul used his athleticism, his great attitude, and his complete dedication to hard work to rebuild an independent life. He was supported and encouraged at every step by his indomitable wife Sylvia.
After many months of hard work, Paul could walk with crutches. One of his big goals was to be able to get down to the volleyball courts at the 3rd Street stairs, and he did that many times. 66 stair-steps, I think.
I'm pretty sure he wanted to play vball again, but his vertical leap remained at 0" so he couldn't hit down with any authority.
Eventually he got his van which made him truly independent. The van knelt down, and Paul could ride his power chair in the sliding door, transfer to the driver's seat, and drive quite ably. I rode with him many times. If you were watching him go by, the only indication you would have that the driver wasn't fully able was the little blue symbol on the license plate.
Last Tuesday, while playing with his grandchildren, Paul threw his hands up in the air with glee, and tipped his chair over backwards, breaking his neck for the second time in the fall. He had surgery Tuesday night. I saw him on Thursday and he was in amazingly good spirits, and ready to start over again. But he contracted pneumonia over the weekend, and by Monday morning, the pneumonia took his life.
In confronting physical challenges, Paul is my hero, and my mentor, and his spirit lives on.
Geoff Alexander