In Memoriam

This is where the League honors fallen cyclists. If you know someone that should be honored on this page, contact the League. Please include the cyclist's name, age, hometown and circumstances of the tragedy.

Jimmy Nisser, 65

Jimmy Nisser was struck and killed on his bike before dawn Sept. 11, 2008, by a hit-and-run driver on a road near Lake Calhoun in Minneapolis, Minn. Despite being 65 and overcoming cerebral palsy, he was the neighbor who still took pleasure in shoveling the driveway for "the elderly couple next door," as he called them. He was the volunteer who watered the trees and re-sanded window frames at the church without being asked. He wasn't afraid to get his hands dirty. Though doctors said it would be a miracle if he could walk as a boy, he grew into a man who took great pleasure in riding his fleet of Raleigh bicycles, even leaving his newest one in the garage Thursday morning in favor of his "rain bike," his sister said.  Now, from family members to parishioners at his small church to the power players at the Minikahda Club, a private golf club in Minneapolis where he worked as a kitchen steward, Nisser is being mourned while police investigate who is responsible for striking him with their vehicle and leaving his body in the street. Nisser, a 45-year employee, was just moments away from arriving at the club from his nearby St. Louis Park home when a vehicle struck him shortly after 4:15 a.m. on eastbound Excelsior Boulevard near W. 32nd Street, said club manager Jim Jennings. Police confirmed that Nisser was wearing a helmet when he was struck by a tan vehicle, which police suspect has right-front damage. His minister, the Rev. Tim Rauk, said Nisser didn't drive because of the cerebral palsy. It never kept him from being the second person to church without fail. "I was always the first one here on Sundays, and Jimmy would be the second. He'd make the coffee," he said. He biked to work during the warmer months and otherwise walked in the winter, Jennings said. Read more here.

Peter Kaczor, 38

Peter Kaczor, 38, of Edwardsburg, Mich. died on Thursday, August 28, 2008 after he was hit by a car while cycling on Ash Road just south of the Indiana-Michigan state line. According to police, Kaczor, who was training for the Niles Triathlon, was traveling south against traffic about 5 a.m. when a southbound vehicle crossed the centerline and struck him from behind. The driver of the vehicle — 44-year-old Larry Weaver of White Pigeon, Mich. — was reportedly not under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The accident remains under investigation. Born Oct. 9, 1969, in Cass City, Mich., he grew up in Lexington, Mich. He attended Western Michigan University where he received a bachelor's degree in geology. In 1999, he moved to Edwardsburg, Mich., where he worked for Peerless Midwest until his untimely death. It was in Edwardsburg where he met the woman who was to become his wife, and where they were raising their family. Pete was a beloved son, a committed husband, a loving father, as well as a treasured brother and dear friend. He was an avid outdoorsman who loved camping, hiking, hunting, canoeing, and anything else that involved spending time outdoors, especially with his family. He was a smart, hard-working employee who enjoyed his job. He lived a Christian life, loved the Lord and was a role model to all who knew him. His absence will be felt and his presence missed by those who were privileged to have known him. Kaczor is survived by his wife and son, as well as a stepdaughter, stepson and six siblings. A memorial fund has been established in Peter Kaczor’s name for his 6-year-old son Samuel Kaczor at 1st Source Bank in Granger, Indiana. A memorial ride on September 9th, 2008 will be sponsored by Outpost Sports, Michiana Bike Association and Bike Michiana in his honor. Organizers say the purpose is to provide financial and emotional support to the Kaczor family, but also to raise awareness of motorist that cyclists are on the road.

Charlie Williamson, 70

Charlie Williamson, age 70, was struck from the rear while cycling near Beckley, W.V. on Thursday, March 13, 2008. Williamson was riding a bicycle alongside the expressway’s northbound lanes and in the shoulder, Larkin said. He was then struck by a northbound Nissan Pathfinder. The male driver of the Pathfinder was unhurt. From what police had determined, the driver went off the roadway to the right and Williamson’s bicycle remained in the shoulder. Riding bicycles on a highway’s shoulder is legal, except on interstates.

Barbara Bitritto, 29

Barbara Bitritto, was killed while pulling out on her bike from a supermarket parking lot onto a busy street in North Bergen, NJ on March 7, 2008. She was hit by a delivery truck and apparently neither one saw the other. It was a hit and run, and when the police caught up with the guy and told him, he went hysterical and had to be taken to the hospital. Bitritto had Asperger's Syndrome (a mild form of autism) but prided herself on her independence.

Ed Weiss, 50

Ed Weiss was struck head on by a motorcycle coming from the opposite direction while cycling on Skyling Blvd in Oakland, Calif. on July 29, 2006. He died the next day. His family said Weiss was an avid cyclist who owned a large collection of bikes
he enjoyed both maintaining and riding. Police are investigating the accident and no charges have been filed against the motorcyclist, whose name was not released. The man was driving a Kawasaki racing bike and might have been speeding.

Sarah Howard

Oncology nurse Sarah Howard was hit on her bicycle and killed on Oct. 19, 2007 while waiting in a bike lane at a red light in Boise, Idaho. Nancy Mann, a fellow oncology nurse and friend of the Howard family, was one of them. "(Oncology nurses like Ms. Howard) take care of people in the process of dying. We lose people every week," Mann said. "But to lose one of your own, it hits you hard."

Russell "Pete" Bennett, Jr., 64

Pete Bennett was killed in a bicycle accident on July 19, 2007, near his home in Arizona. Born July 1, 1943 to Russell and Louise Bennett in Memphis, TN, Russell "Pete" Bennett, Jr. moved to Arizona with his wife and children in 1972. He worked as a computer programmer and systems analyst for American Express in the Phoenix area before retiring and moving to Northern Arizona in 2000. There he lived life to the fullest and died near Sedona while riding his road bicycle, one of the many outdoor passions of this vibrant and physically fit man. Click here to read his obituary.

J. Cecil Jarvis, 58

On May 22, 2007, Cecil Jarvis was killed in a bicycle crash on the Skin Creek area bridge near Stonewall Jackson Lake in Lewis County, WV. Mr. Jarvis suffered a high cervical spine injury. The circumstances of the crash are still under police
investigation; however, it appears that the actions of at least one 17-year-old juvenile who was ambulatory on the bridge, along with others, caused the crash. Cecil was an extraordinary man who touched the lives of many people in northcentral West Virginia. He had an innate sence of goodness. He possessed unique qualities that allowed him to achieve a noble balance of faith, family, friendship, and fitness in his life. Cecil's attributes included respect, humility, integrity, and humor. He was a man of action with an "anything is possible" mentality. Cecil was an attorney, civic leader, and an accomplished athlete. He had completed four full Ironman triathlons since 2002, and Cecil had run in approximately 30 marathons, including the Boston Marathon in 2007. To see his obituary, click here.

Doug Huber, 53

On Earth Day, April 22, 2006, Doug Huber was enjoying a "guys weekend" with his son, Nick. They headed out for their first bike ride of the year together, on a beautiful, sunny spring day. Doug had just celebrated his 53rd birthday three weeks earlier. Along the path they came upon a wooden bridge, probably made by a biker. They stopped, and Nick jumped up and down on the bridge to make sure that it was safe. Doug started across it, but something went wrong and he went over the handlebars, landing on his head/neck in the creekbed a few yards below. He knew immediately that he was paralyzed. Nick helped Doug into a position so he could breathe, and ran to the nearby freeway. He ran out into traffic waving his helmet, fearing that nobody would help him. A car pulled over, and the driver was a doctor. He helped Doug, and within an hour he was at the nearest hospital. Surgery never was possible, and after two days he developed respiratory failure, and was intubated and ventilated. He was restrained and sedated. Doug Huber developed heart, kidney and liver failure, and died on May 10, surrounded by his family and friends.

Matthew C. Wilhelm, 25

Matthew C. Wilhelm, 25, died on September 8, 2006, at Carle foundation Hospital in Urbana, IL. Wilhelm died of injuries suffered when the bicycle he was riding on the shoulder of IL Route 130 south-east of Urbana was struck from behind by an automobile on September 2. The driver allegedly was distracted by downloading ring-tones to her cell phone. She drove so far off the highway that she hit Wilhelm, who was riding on the shoulder of the road, with the driver's side of her vehicle. Wilhelm was a summa cum laude graduate of the University of Illinois and had recently begun a job with Caterpillar, Inc. in Peoria, IL. The Champaign County State's Attorney declined to prosecute the driver for anything more than illegal lane usage. His parents, Charles and Gloria Wilhelm have started an organization to lobby the Illinois State Legislature and other governmental bodies to stiffen the laws and penalties for "driving distracted."

Jonathan Dechau, 33

Rochester, N.Y.
On September 13, Dechau was killed after being struck from behind by a motorist. The accident occurred in Lima, New York, about 20 miles south of Rochester. The Livingston County sheriff's office said that Dechau was riding westbound on the shoulder of route 20 approximately two feet to the right of the white line. Dechau was a champion cyclist who began racing with the Genesee Valley Cycling Club in 1989. His cycling accomplishments included winning numerous medals at the Empire State Games and State Championships, competing in the 1996 Olympic trials, and two top-20 finishes in the US National Time Trial Championships. A man of deep Christian faith, he leaves a wife, toddler-age son, and newborn baby.

Dave Marsden, 1968-2005

Vienna, VA
The family and friends of David Marsden lost him in a tragic bike accident on August 17, 2005. An avid cyclist, father, husband and neighbor, Dave's life was tragically cut short when he was hit by a truck while in a crosswalk. (more)

Bohdan Kulakowski, 63

Oak Hall, Pa.
On March 22, 2006, Kulakowski was riding his regular commute home from the Pennsylvania State University campus when he was struck from behind by a van. His injuries were fatal. Preliminary reports indicated that the van drifted to the shoulder of the road before striking Kulakowski. A professor in the Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering at Penn State, Kulakowski commuted by bicycle every day. He was a gentle and kind individual who loved the outdoors and whose activities included many sports in addition to bicycling. Local cycling organizations have honored him for his commitment to bicycle transportation and to creating a healthy community.

Paula Lee Higgins, 46

Albuquerque, N.M.
Higgins died tragically on July 17, 2006, while doing what she loved most -- bicycling. She was involved in a crash with a motorist at an intersection in Albuquerque during a daytime ride. Paula was an experienced cyclist who had been racing for more than 20 years.

Barbara Lee Hilley, 70

Santa Fe, New Mexico
Hilley rode frequently with the New Mexico Touring Society. On July 11, 2006, while riding in a designated bicycle lane on one of Albuquerque's main east-west thoroughfares, she hit a piece of metal in the roadway that jammed in her front-wheel spokes. She was thrown over the handlebars and landed on her head and neck, injuring her spinal cord. She died two days later.

Carl Henry Nacht, 57

New York City, New York
Nacht trained hundreds of doctors at St. Luke's Hospital while running his own internal medicine practice. The son of a truck driver from Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, Nacht was an avid athlete and outdoorsman. Along with his wife and best friend of 33 years, Mary Beth Kelly, he had bicycled throughout the world. On June 22, around 11:30 p.m., Nacht and his wife were heading north near 38th St. on the bicycle path that skirts the West Side Highway. A police tow truck heading south turned into the city car pound, crossed the bike path and struck Nacht. He was fatally injured.

Terry Walker, 53 & Amy Gehring, 51

Cincinnati, Ohio
Terry Walker and Amy Gehring were killed on July 16, 2006 by a motorist who crossed the double yellow line and plowed into a group of cyclists. Amy was training to ride across Tuscany with her husband to celebrate their 28th wedding anniversary and Terry was planning on being married. The driver had a suspended license.
Club members remember lost cyclists (The Enquirer)

Alexander Capelluto, 20

New Haven, Conn.
Alexander Capelluto, 20, a Yale University sophomore from New York City, was killed May 18, 2006. He was training for Habitat for Humanity’s annual 4,000-mile cross-country cycling trek, and died when his bike collided with a 10-wheel truck. He was the second Yale member of the Habitat Bike Challenge to die while riding in less than a year.

Tony Estrin, 58

Santa Clarita, Calif.
Tony Estrin was killed on April 8, 2006 by a truck while riding his bicycle in Canyon Country, Calif. He was an active member of his local bike club, Santa Clarita Velo.

Margaret Moran, 62

Baton Rouge, La.
On January 8, 2006, Margaret Moran drove her bike from the shoulder of the road into the lane for northbound traffic, and was struck by a 2005 H2 Hummer. She died on a ride with other members of the Baton Rouge Bicycle Club.

Jeanne Menard, 55

Greenville, S.C.
Jeanne Menard, a passionate cyclist, was fatally struck by an SUV in Greenville on October 24, 2005 as she was pedaling to her home from work as a therapist. She was an active rider in Greenville, and Congressman Bob Inglis (R-SC) spoke about her on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Todd Weaver, 36

Charlotte, N.C.
On Friday, October 14, 2005 Todd Weaver was riding north when a southbound bus turned left into a parking lot and was killed almost instantly. The bus driver has had six accidents in the past five years. Learn more at www.toddweaver.org.

James McKinnie, 51

Byrum, Miss.
James Steven McKinnie was killed in a hit and run bicycle accident on June 30, 2005 near his home in Byrum, Miss. A truck heading the same direction hit him from behind. The driver left the scene of the accident.

Bill Bliss, 69

San Jose, Calif.
Doug Havens, 34, was driving a pickup northbound on June 24 when he collided from behind with a bicycle ridden by Bill Bliss. Bliss died at the scene. A long-time Almaden Cycle Touring Club member, Bliss was doing a cross-country bicycle tour.
Update: Officer avoids jail in bicyclist's death.

Paul David Clark, 49

San Francisco, Calif.
Paul David Clark of San Francisco was killed on April 26, 2005, while riding his bike near Livermore, Calif. He was struck head-on by a pickup truck that crossed the centerline.

 

Make a Difference

If you know of a cyclist who has died, there are ways you can help. From setting up a foundation to helping create safer roads for cyclists, here are some ways people have made a difference to honor their friends and loved ones.

Advocate for Safer Roads

Jean Gorman, mother of fallen cyclist Brad Gorman, was determined that his 1999 death would not be forgotten. In the ensuing years her dedication has led to a Brad Gorman Memorial in Tucson, among other successes. To find out more, click here.

Write to the Appropriate Authorities

Barry Zalph, a cycling advocate in Louisville, Ky., spoke out against dangerous driving in a letter to Major Riggs with the Louisville Metro Police Department. Click here (pdf) to read it. The police responded quickly and helped Zalph understand the constraints under which they operate. Though they could not solve the problem, their feedback was helpful.

Work with Local Law Enforcement

While each case is different, here is a sample letter written to a district attorney about the tragic death of Todd Weaver. Visit our legal program page for more information.

Raise Awareness

Memorializing the fallen cyclist at the site of the accident raises awareness and honors the cyclist. Here are some examples:
Gainesville, Fla.
Charleston, S.C.

Organize a Memorial Ride

Help organize a Ride of Silence to honor fallen cyclists in your hometown. Click here to find out how. The League participates in the Ride of Silence and in several memorial rides, including the Bill Bliss Memorial Ride.

 

Make a Memorial Gift to the League

The League's 2006 Share the Road campaign is working on behalf of all American cyclists to encourage drivers to responsibly and safely share the road. To donate to our Share the Road campaign to help prevent future tragedies, click here.