On June 6th, 2008, my son, Shaun Lunt, was tragically killed while flying his Piper Super Cub in Alaska. He was 34 years old. In May, 2008, Shaun returned to Alaska to feed his passions for bush flying, adventure and photographing nature. Shaun and a friend, each flying their Super Cubs, were beach combing from the air when Shaun spotted whale vertebrae on a lonely beach near Jack Smith Bay on the western coast of Alaska. Shaun was circling the vertebrae at low altitude when his plane stalled and spun to the ground headfirst. He was killed instantly. Shaun's desire to live life to the fullest is exemplified in the following photo documentary of his 3 months spent in Alaska in 2007:
I miss him more than words can possibly describe. He was my 'partner in crime' and my best friend in life.
RIP, my dear son.
Dad
PS Shaun was "shaunlunt" on the C5 and C6 forums. He and I were passonite about our Corvettes. He read the forums frequently but posted infrequently. For three years he was quite active in So California autocross clubs and participated in numerous track day events in California.
A self protrait on an Alaskan beach, 2007:
A photo he took while flying his Super Cub of an Alaskan sunset:
Norm, if you look just ahead as you walk through the valley of death that is me , my son passed before me as well. There is an organization that was created to deal with the impossible they are called "compassionate friends." Its an international group and entry costs the ultimate; your children must have passed before you; sounds morbid but all of those thousands of people share your every emotion, they can relate to all of your outrage and disbelief. If things get too out of control for you perhaps you can keep them in mind, there really is no relief from the anguish but they may provide a small respite. Take care of yourself try to take comfort in the fact that you had him for 34 years, God just could not wait any longer to bring him home. I wish you peace....
I am very sorry for your loss! Sounds like your son lived a life we all wished we could. My wife's brother moved to Alaska ( Sitka) in 2001 after reading in a field and stream mag, bought a canoe & kiax store and moved there. LOVED what he was doing and ended up drowning practicing roll overs? I never would had have the guts he did!
Bless there souls!.
Thanks for your kind replies!! I am familiar with Compassionate Friends and I plan on attending a meeting soon. You guys are great. It's just so wrong for a child to die before the parent. It's not the normal order of things. I grieve every day and shed tears often. I never knew it was possible for my crusty old heart to actually love someone SO much!
Did I mention that he NEVER was a problem growing up and that he was a Doctor? Sorry for the proud parent in me coming through ...
Very sorry for your loss. I was looking through the picture and thay where all beautiful.
The flying , and the sights where something I have been wanted to do for a long time.
I am very to hear of your loss. I too have flown single engine airplanes in Alaska, and have felt the magic, wonder, and felt the absolute joy of the experience. It is something I wish everyone had the chance of doing, just so that they could understand the beauty of our world, and the happiness it brings. Your son was doing what he loved and there would have been no better life he could have asked for. Life is too often short so we must live every moment to its fullest. It looks like your son did.
i didnt know he was a vette owner.
me and my friend(pilot) always kept track of his photo blog and heard about his accident a few days after it happened.
he had some AMAZING pictures and hobbies and i'm sure he will be missed around the country and through his family. there were a LOT of people that respected Shaun, including me.
he seemed to be a great guy, really wish i could have met him, every hobby he did i also do.
thanks for posting some of his pictures, they are an inspiration to others.
Thanks guys. Your comments are very appreciated. He was an amazing person, bright, sucessful, and loved adventure. I bought an airplane, a Maule 260C, to share in his love of aviation. I was planning to fly my airplane to Alaska this summer as a memorial trip in his honor but now I'm not sure. I spent a week with him in the summer of 2007 flying with him around Alaska and it was the most amazing week's vacation of my life.
We shared almost every hobby together ... water skiing, off-road and on-road motorcycles, guns, backpacking, Corvettes in autox and track days, and last of all flying.
I regret I do not have any pictures of him in the operating room practicing his profession as an anesthesiologist. He was the kindest person I've ever known.
The 2 of us off-roading in the Cascade Mountains, Washington State:
This is the plane I bought to share the experience of flying with him. Now it's For Sale:
Shaun at the controls of the family Cessna 170B and sister Shelly as copilot:
Shaun smokin' through a slalom course at 36 mph and 28 feet off:
Together on the lake:
In Alaska, 2007:
A plane came along 10 minutes after his crash and took this photo of the burning wreckage. His companion in another airplane had landed beside the crash site and said the wreckage burned for 2 hours. Godspeed, my son.
Ya I know the pain from loosing a loved one. I losted my best freind / brother. He was racing his car and lost control , and died on impacted. When thay told me I didnt want to believe it , I told them it wasent him he must of lent his car to some one. I know its hard to move on but we must.
I happened across the news of your loss today during a brief 'mental break' at work.
I only know you from posts I've seen on here the last few years and didn't know your son Shaun at all, yet I have a heavy heart for you and your family.
Your son seemed an amazing person, full of life, humor, humility, talent, and a family (and obviously a father) that loved him very, very much. You and your wife have much to be proud of Norm.
Shaun posted this on his blog, and the last sentence seemed to also summarize his life:
An impending weather system hurried my short interaction with the two adventurous and intriguing ladies, but I made a mental note to contact them when I got back home. I was sad to learn, that less than two weeks later, the two were killed in a tragic accident in Washington state. I've learned that Patricia was a very accomplished pilot and flew as volunteer for the last couple decades for the Flying Samaritans, routinely flying to Mexico to transport medical personnel. It sounds like they lived a giving life that touched many people.
May you and your family find peace knowing that your son also lived a giving life that touched many people.
Thank you for bravely sharing your story and your son with us.
RIP Shaun
p.s. For what it's worth, I'd encourage you to take that memorial trip to Alaska. I don't know this, but it seems likely that Shaun would have wanted you to.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Norm Lunt
Thanks guys. Your comments are very appreciated. He was an amazing person, bright, sucessful, and loved adventure. I bought an airplane, a Maule 260C, to share in his love of aviation. I was planning to fly my airplane to Alaska this summer as a memorial trip in his honor but now I'm not sure.
I lost my son to a drunk driver when he was 5 years old, over 30 years ago.
You will never forget your son, but it will get easier.
My son never really lived his life, but it looks and sounds like your son lived enough for himself and my son together, so be happy for that and all the years you did get to spend with him
Corvette Store
Shaun Lunt, RIP my dear son!
I sincerely envy the relationship you had with Shaun. Such good memories the two of you created. I'm sorry he's gone.
