After my mom, Barbara Ranker, died, I had no idea that I would be writing a tribute for both of my parents in the same year. My dad, Robert Ranker, passed only two months after my mom.
Bob and Pam on the West View Park Tilt-a-Whirl.
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Growing up, Bob rode the trolley to West View Park. In addition to roller coasters, Bob loved tilt-a-whirls. He often told the story of how he and a friend were really spinning it one time… and then the friend puked. He begged Bob to stop, but Bob replied, “C’mon, I got a good spin going!”
Barb grew up going to the Kennywood pool, Conneaut Lake Park and Crystal Beach in Canada. Even as a child she loved roller coasters. On a class trip to New York City, one of her regrets was seeing Palisades Park from afar and not being able to go. After they were married in 1969, Bob and Barb traveled to Cedar Point in Sandusky and Wildwood in New Jersey.
Marcia and Bob on Double Loop at Geauga Lake.
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Pam and Bob on the Kennywood Turnpike cars.
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As kids growing up, my sister, Marcia, and I went to Geauga Lake in Ohio and Kennywood. Our family started taking longer trips in 1987, venturing as far as Cedar Point, Kings Island and Dorney Park.
We learned about ACE in 1990 when a local news channel aired a story about ACE being at Kennywood. Bob actually called the television station to get more information about the club and the address! The rest, as they say, is history. In 1991, Tim O’Brien published the first edition of The Amusement Park Guide, which we used to plan even more trips until the pages wore thin. It was also where we first read about a little park in Pennsylvania called Knoebels that became one of Barb’s and Bob’s favorites to visit every year.
A proud moment for Bob was walking me down the aisle (or up the ramp!) of the Jack Rabbit at Kennywood to give me away at my wedding to Brian Kanai. This was the first roller coaster he took me on when I was just two years old. As the story goes, other riders commented, “Why are you taking such a young kid on there; she’s going to be scared.” His reply, “Nah, she’s going to love it.” Well, he was right!
Among proud moments, for Barb’s 60th birthday, she wanted to ride the Phoenix at Knoebels 60 times in the front seat. Using an all-day wristband, and over a two-day period, she did just that.
Bob and April on Leap-The-Dips at Lakemont Park.
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Barb and April on Jack Rabbit at Kennywood.
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April and Bob on Ravine Flyer II at Waldameer.
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Another proud moment for Barb and Bob was taking their grandchild, April, on her first rides and instilling the love of roller coasters into the next generation. April visited nine different amusement parks before she was even one year.
The Rankers and Kanais: Marcia, Barb and Bob Ranker; Brian, Pam and April Kanai.
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Instead of having a party for their 50th wedding anniversary in 2019, Bob and Barb decided to take the family to California for Coaster Con 43 to celebrate. During one of the group lunches, this author was passed the microphone and announced their special anniversary in front of hundreds of ACE members!
I told Bob years ago that he would live forever — on my YouTube channel. Our family got its first VHS-C video camera in 1993, which Bob used to film our amusement park trips. We walked around the park describing things and making comments. He was essentially “vlogging” before it was a thing. These videos can be seen at YouTube.com/CoasterACE.
Rest in peace, Barb and Bob, but keep riding that big roller coaster in the sky!
— Pamela Kanai
#ACENews