Sometimes, there are people who stand out, and they later become memorable for the rest of your life. It’s rather unusual when two of these people are husband and wife, but such was the case with Vinny Gargiulo and his late wife, Marguerite, of the Roxbury Area Model Airplane Club (RAMAC) in Great Meadows, New Jersey.
My first experience with RAMAC—and about the most fun I have ever had flying—was in the 1990s while flying RC Combat at the RAMAC Delaware Water Gap field in New Jersey. Little did I know then that fellow competitors Vinny and Marguerite would later enter my life and become influential in the lives of so many modelers.
Sparked by his uncle’s models, Vinny started building and flying RC airplanes in 1968 following service in the U.S. Navy. After joining RAMAC in 1973, Vinny quickly became one of the club’s most active and influential members, constantly building kits, designing original models, and showing up nearly every weekend with something new to test at the field. His flying activities have spanned more than half a century.
Long before commercial kits or plans existed for unconventional aircraft, Vinny dreamed up and built them himself. His designs have included a flying baby carriage, lawnmowers, Superman, witches, Snoopy’s doghouse, a large-scale space shuttle, a 13-foot SR-71 Blackbird with twin ducted-fan Rossi .90 engines and vectored thrust, and a massive Chipmunk model made from plywood and Luann doors, complete with wingtip smoke, for the Stand-Off Scale category in the 1991-1992 Nats. Vinny’s creativity has extended beyond the air; he has pioneered unique transport methods for his airplanes, from limos and hearses to one of the earliest trailers used by club members.
Without a doubt, both Vinny and Marguerite have been deeply involved in not only the RAMAC club but also in the wider hobby of model aviation. Vinny served as club president of RAMAC in the 1990s, while Marguerite held the presidency during the 1990s and 2000s. A few years ago, RAMAC honored Vinny and Marguerite with lifetime club memberships in recognition of their extraordinary commitment as members and club officers.
An accomplished Aerobatics pilot in her own right, Marguerite had been celebrated in Model Aviationmagazine as a "sparkplug" for community outreach, events, and encouraging participation. Beginning early in my tenure as AMA District II vice president, Marguerite would keep me well informed of RAMAC activities and her extensive efforts to promote the club and AMA.
Vinny and Marguerite were "blue blood" modelers with an undying passion for model aviation and the rewards it brings to so many people. Be thankful for the Vinnys and Marguerites in your club, and try and follow in their footsteps.
Remember,it’s not about what you fly, it’s about the friends you make.
