Terence Michael Winn

Terry was born in Mitchell, South Dakota. Two of his first 3 years were spent in Australia, after which the family settled in Pacific Grove, where he was raised and went to school. As a youngster he had a large news-paper route. He was very active with the Boy-scouts, acting as a junior leader and achieving Eagle Scout rank. Always looking for an adventure, one summer after high-school he hitchhiked to Alaska where he found work on a salmon boat.

Terry seldom talked about his experiences in the military. His five military years (67-72) were spent in Viet Nam as an Army Captain flying helicopters. Only a few people today are aware that he was quite a military hero, receiving various commendations for his heroism while under enemy fire. Among other laurels, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, the Bronze Star & the Commendation Medal.

After graduating from San Jose State University with a degree in Business Administration, he first worked for Bechtel Corp. However, in 1976 his wanderlust took him to Iran for three years where he worked as an instructor pilot for both the basic levels and in the Cobra Helicopter. It wasn’t all work, however. Terry was also fortunate to be able to travel freely from the Caspian Sea to Persepolis. While in Iran, being invited to student’s homes gave fascinating insight into the average Iranian home life. This all changed when the Iranian revolution began. Isfahan was under Martial Law for 9 months prior to the Shah being disposed and the Ayatollah Khomeini entering. A forced evacuation for all Americans was called in the spring of 1979. While still in Iran, however, he met his future wife Rita, where they shared amazing experiences. Married in 1985 Terry and Rita shared over 30 years traveling, exploring, reading, gardening, building, loving, dining, & planning additional adventures.

Of course, the marriage was just the beginning of more excitement, & adventure. While on their Honeymoon, Terry and Rita were in Mexico City during the Big 8.1 earthquake of 1985. Awakened by the shaking in the early morning, they ran, barefoot, with limited clothing and no possessions - not even a wallet - down 8 flights of darkened stairs with ceilings falling, windows breaking, jumping over rubble to the street below where they saw massive destruction, fires starting & neighboring hotels/buildings flattened. Although they were relocated to another hotel, all possessions, wallets, passports, cameras remained in the abandoned hotel. Later they walked back to the hotel where Terry charmed a guard into allowing him back into the hotel to get ‘their shoes’. He recovered their suitcases but wallets and other items that had been left on the dresser tops were gone. They were amazed & delighted when 3 days later, a plastic bag was delivered to them containing every item that had been left in their room.

Arriving home, Terry continued working for a local firm before being recruited by Radionics and eventually he worked in Thailand for GSS Array, South Dakota for Gateway Computers and New Hampshire for Cabletron, all High Tech Electronics firms. He acted in the capacity of Director, Vice President and eventually General Manager.

Terry had a passion for life - from Scuba Diving to Bungee jumping. Although an excellent fly fisherman he wouldn’t say no to a float tube or charter boat & he spent many memorable hours fishing from a kayak in Monterey Bay and diving for abalone at Salt Point. He volunteered at the Monterey Bay Aquarium where, in scuba gear, he helped clean the inside of the kelp tanks.

Deciding it was time to start enjoying life outside of the workplace, He retired in 1998. Traveling through or just being in the Sierras was another of his passions. He spent 60 days the first summer of retirement backpacking through the Sierras to rid himself of the cobwebs of corporate life. Hiking and backpacking anywhere was always special.

Terry enjoyed skiing and he was also an avid tennis player. One of his biggest disappointments was not being able to play tennis during the last few years.

His zest for life took him to more than 60 countries on 6 continents. Terry was an independent traveler who immersed himself in the culture, life, food, customs and/or transportation of any locale in which he traveled.

With his wife:

• He trekked Alps’ Haute Route from Chamonix,France to Zermatt, Switzerland;

• Circumnavigated Mont Blanc through France & Italy;

• Completed the Annapurna Circuit in Nepal;

• Climbed Kilimanjaro;

• Hiked the ‘W’ in Patagonia Chili;

• Completed the 200 mile Coast to Coast hike across England;

• Walked the Tiger-Leaping-Gorge in Tibet/China;

• Bungee jumped at The Last Resort in Nepal (520 ft from bridge to the river);

• Traveled by camel through the Northern Sahara Desert in Morocco where he spent time with the Tuareg (blue men) of Morocco;

• Went on Safari through the Serengeti, Ngorongoro & Tarangire in Tanzania.

• Visited the islands of Zanzibar and Lamu off the coast of Africa

• Rode a bicycle down the La Paz-Coroico road descending 9800 feet in 50 miles called the (called the most dangerous road in the world)

• Also rode a bicycle down the Haleakala volcano in Hawaii.

• Spent several days, camping under the stars & exploring the Wadi Rum Desert in Jordan (think Lawrence of Arabia)

• Explored Petra, Madaba, Jerash and Amman, Jordan.

• Traveled through the Valley of the Kings/Valley of the Queens in Egypt

• Spent several days/nights on a Felucca (ancient sail boat) on the Nile River, sailing from Aswan to Luxor.

• Soared in a balloon over the Cappadocia area in Turkey

• Spent time in Tibet and Bhutan

• Spent a week on a cargo boat navigating the inland passage off the west coast of Chile

• Hiked on the Porito Moreno Glacier in Argentina

• Spent a week traveling through the high desert (all over 12,000 feet) of South-Western Bolivia (Butch-Cassidy & the Sundance Kid country)

• Visited the floating islands of Peru

• Rafted the class 4/5 rapids of the Manso River from Argentina to the Chili border

• And on...and" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">on...and on...and on...

Yet he also loved the energy & culture of cities, great food, theater, opera and all genres of music. He enjoyed train travel: New Delhi to Bombay, India; Moscow to Beijing with a stop in Mongolia to explore the Gobi desert; Argentina into Bolivia; Old steam trains in England as well as short train trips elsewhere.

He loved experiencing whatever type of transportation was available. To get to his destinations he has ridden on buses, chicken buses, rick-shays, trains, the back of motor-bikes, broken down pick-ups, bicycles, boats, rafts, camels, elephants and frequently . . . he just walked.

However, he wasn’t a non-thinking dare-devil. He always checked safety issues, informed himself about conditions and prepared himself for any up-coming adventures. He was patient in assisting others and helped them to gain the self confidence necessary to also explore life.

Terry was an extraordinary person who was genuinely interested in the thoughts, ideas and beliefs of others. Trips were never of the 10 day 10 country vein of travel. A one to four month stay in an area was more typical. That gave him enough time to become familiar with the local people. He would engage them in long discussions about local concerns, beliefs, politics, or food enabling him to have many unique experiences that he might otherwise have missed.

In Nepal, he was stopped by members of the Maoist party, demanding a donation in order to continue on to his destination. (He had just trekked over 8 hours & climbed over 5000 feet, was only an hour from his destination & was given the choice of going forward by paying a “donation” or going back the way he had just come). In typical Terry fashion, he had a long discussion with the Maoists, trying to explain the difference between a tax and a donation. He finally paid the $5 “donation”. With receipt in hand he was allowed to continue.

While on vacation in Viet Nam, they connected with a group of Vietnamese motor cycle tour-guides (Easy Riders, all of whom had been in the ‘American War’) who gave back-country tours wherever one wanted to go within the Republic of Viet Nam. Both guides had fought in the Viet Nam War, one for the North and one for the South, but were now best-friends. Riding with backpacks and plastic ponchos on back roads, through small villages, on old war trails, through rice fields, visiting family businesses, Rita & Terry stayed in small inns or with private families.

And yet, around home he was a caring husband, brother, friend, uncle & handyman. He enjoyed spending time with his family & especially during the holidays when the entire family would gather together.

• He fixed things,

• built things (adirondack chairs, shed, etc.)

• loved things...his dog, his bees, sitting quietly on his back patio watching the birds that would flock to where he would faithfully spread bird seed,

• was a stickler for “facts”.

• looked forward to planning trips and adventures

• enjoyed reading

.....and He Loved Life...He lived life to its fullest.

. .....You Were Loved.........You Are Missed.......