It would be difficult to write about the life of Todd Ivens without also penning that of Eric Blackwell. Or eulogize Eric without also sharing Todd's life.
Best friends for 14 years, Eric and Todd shared careers, adventures, ambitions and drives. Each could count the other's family as their own. And to speak with the two of them was to enter into foreign territory, where the language and words were familiar but the context wasn't. They had a language just for them, where a simple phrase could send them into peals of laughter, leaving their new friends or bystanders unaware of how to be included in a private, shared joke.
Many of their new friends and coworkers had begun to learn this Todd/Eric language as the two loved to share stories of their adventures and misadventures, of their experiences - both good and bad, of the planes they enjoyed working on and of the people they loved. More and more, their lingo was making sense as they mentored and taught those around them.
Todd Ivens was born and grew up in Portland, OR. As a teenager, he moved to Fairbanks, Alaska with his family, where he finished high school and started his career. It was at that time that he met and befriended Eric.
Eric Blackwell grew up in Ridgecrest, CA. He served several years in the Army, and then upon his discharge, relocated to Alaska, where he obtained an A&P Mechanics License and an Associates' degree in Aviation Technology. He then began his career working in aviation, repairing planes and performing flight checks for services in Alaska.
Both Eric and Todd were A&P Mechanics and loved working on planes. They shared many stories about servicing the planes in Alaska, such as old WWII bombers, DC-3's, fire bombers and big radial-piston engines. They could also brag that they worked in subzero temperatures. They loved their work so much that even the harsh conditions were just another aspect of the fun they had doing what they had a passion for.
Eric returned to California in 2005 to be closer to his family. He reconnected with his High School sweetheart, Kim, who he had known since elementary school. They were soon married and settled down in the area.
Eric joined the Scaled family in September, 2005. He started as a Composite Fabricator, but quickly demonstrated his drive and ambition to learn anything new. He always sought new things to learn and work with and wanted to be involved in every step of every process. His ambitions were quickly rewarded and he was excited to become a member of the propulsion team on the SS2 project.
After Eric left Alaska, Todd soon decided to follow his friend to California. He also came to find love with his girlfriend, Kelci.
Like Eric, Todd wanted to be a part of something he could be proud of. He joined Scaled in February, 2007, and the Eric/Todd team were once again making magic with their mechanical aptitudes and their great cheer. With Eric in the role of big brother, and Todd's spontaneous nature, they had established a harmonious balance in their relationship. Todd was forever ready to jump in and tackle a problem; Eric was meticulous, a list-maker, a professional who would step back and look at a situation before deciding on what action should be taken. It wasn't unusual for Eric to rein in Todd and tell him it was important to take the time to breathe, to act only after a second look.
The Eric/Todd duo immediately adapted to the "small family" atmosphere of Scaled and even enhanced it with their warm personalities, their willingness to mentor others and their incredible love of their work. Working on the propulsion team was exciting for Todd and Eric, and they looked forward to each and every test.
Eric and Todd were an incredible pair. Taken individually, each on their own was able to inspire and guide those around them. But together, they created a force - a strength - that touched many lives, and left them forever changed.
Todd and Eric will be greatly missed. Our Scaled family greatly feels their loss. We are thankful to their families for coming and sharing their grief with us on Tuesday, July 31, 2007. They will forever be in our thoughts and hearts.