It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Gary Corippo. Gary left this world peacefully on Monday, 1/29/24 surrounded by his family in Fresno, CA.
For those of you who did not know him, Gary was the co-founder of Estrella Warbirds Museum along with Glen Thomson. Gary was also a force of nature! No project was too big or hard or impossible when Gary got involved.
Gary was the proverbial "Bull in the China Cabinet" and would not let anything stand in his way! He was the master of persistence. If it could not be done, Gary found a way.
I am sure some of you have witnessed or have heard of stories where Gary acquired many of the aircraft, artifacts, objects, vehicles etc. I am sure some of you have heard or witnessed other Gary stories where conversations were animated or legendary in scope!
But for all those stories, Gary was the heart and soul of this museum! Everything the museum has done or will do has roots in what Gary would have termed "making this museum better... by any means necessary".
For all the stories you may have involving Gary, I am sure they all contain his heart and soul behind what he did - always with good intent.
No service or ceremony has been set yet but I will be sure to inform you all if and when the family intends to for him.
As Gary was a United States Marine Corps veteran, I will end this message with an appropriate quote for him: 'And God said, "Let There Be Marines", and the devil ran in fear!'
Semper Fidelis my friend!
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