originally posted on 12/23/2024
Photo: Debbie Kidd Collection. View full-sized image.
Helen Marion Fluharty beloved mother, sister, grandmother, aunt, and great aunt passed away peacefully on November 9, 2024. Helen was born March 13, 1942. She loved music (especially 1950s rock and roll), had many hobbies, enjoyed riding roller coasters of any shape and size and spending time with friends and family (preferably at an amusement park). Helen joined ACE in the ”early days” and was one of the first 1,000 members! She discovered ACE and RCBI (Roller Coaster Buffs International) in correspondence with the late Ruth Voss of Kings Island. Helen shared that love of coasters (and the clubs) with her family members. She developed close relationships with many members and coordinated trips to various parks in conjunction with and outside of ACE events.
She had probably close to 750 roller coasters under her belt. Some of the notable ones she got to ride were Bat at King's Island, Space Coaster at Saltair, Coney Island Cyclone, Idora Park Wildcat, Bertrand Island Wildcat and Rockaways’ Playland Atom Smasher.
We had joined the ACE “family” by around 1979 and started traveling even more whenever time permitted. Places like Kings Island, Kings Dominion, Idora Park, Geauga Lake and Cedar Point were the highlights of many Fluharty family adventures. Since Helen was originally from the Akron area, we traveled there and visited parks from Oklahoma up to Akron and beyond. Another favorite was AstroWorld in Houston, Texas, home of the Texas Cyclone.
Helen proudly shows the truth! Texas Cyclone as the world's #1 roller coaster (red hair, center). Husband Harry on far left. Son Mark in green jacket thinks it's #2. Randy Geisler far right in black ACE shirt, with Paul Young next to me and Betsy Abrams in Mind Bender shirt.
Photo: Ricky Summersett. View full-sized image.
Helen moved to Memphis after her husband, Harry, passed away in September 2000. While there, she visited Elvis’ favorite amusement park — Libertyland — and got to ride the Zippin Pippin many times. We traveled together with the whole family to Holiday World and rode Raven, The Voyage and The Legend and to Beech Bend Park in 2006 for the opening of the Kentucky Rumbler.
She moved to Columbia, Tennessee, in 2020 and joined our family on multiple trips before and after her move. One of her last coaster trips was to Erie to visit Waldameer Park to ride Ravine Flyer II, Steel Dragon and Comet. At the end of the day, exhaustion had set in, but looking back, my kids say it was a great way to spend her last coaster trip. In hindsight, the torch was passed.
Helen’s very last coaster excursion was to Beech Bend Park in June 2022, where she rode Kentucky Rumbler. At 80 years of age, the ride took a lot out of her. We had promised to get her on a coaster again, and she loved it. We will carry on her love of amusement parks and roller coasters with our children, and one day with their children.
Thank you to the members of ACE who accepted her with open arms and shared their love of coasters with her. We look forward to riding with many members in her memory in the future. See you on a coaster soon!
— Mark Fluharty
Photos: Debbie Kidd Collection. View full-sized image.
View full-sized image.
Remembering Helen
Ah, the Fluhartys (Helen, Mark, Tracy, Harry). Very special people in the enthusiast community. And for me, the most special was Helen, an active member of RCBI (Roller Coaster Buffs International) and of ACE. She was spirited, feisty, joyful, a positive force for fun and friendship, a personality and a treat to be with.
Helen wrote for ACE’s publications, and was a regional representative back in the day. She did a lot of volunteering for various activities and was quite the memorable presence at numerous ACE events.
In those earliest days of ACE, and once I started becoming more involved in ACE responsibilities, she was especially kind to me, and very supportive of my efforts. She will be missed.
— Randy Geisler
"You Don't Have to Be a Masochist, but It Helps!" – Helen Fluharty
Helen Fluharty wrote that as a title for one of her wonderful coaster stories in the early 1980s. She sent it to me, knowing that I enjoy writing, reading and roller coasters. (I didn't know what a masochist was until years later!)
Helen loved the Texas Cyclone, a roller coaster that could cause that pain and harm. Bruises were common, and Helen was the first I ever saw to proudly show off hers! She knew how to ride — loose, relaxed, hands up. She taught me this, “Let the roller coaster do to you what it’s designed to do!”
I met the Fluharty family in 1981 in Roller Coaster Buffs International. Helen took a liking to this crazy 13 year old, so my first coaster trips happened through her generosity. One memorable trip was to the defunct Indian Nations Park to see the remains of Phantastic Coaster. The owner caught us walking his roller coaster and berated us loudly with “You damn roller coaster people are always coming around here.” In just a few minutes, he calmed down and was changed by whatever Helen said to him! He ended up letting us walk around the park, take pictures and walk the roller coaster.
Helen was incredibly enthusiastic about roller coasters, especially intense wood coasters, such as Idora’s Wildcat and AstroWorld’s Texas Cyclone. She was a joy to ride with and to simply talk to.
The last time I spoke with Helen I told her about my decision to give my life to Jesus Christ. I knew she was a Christian and that this would be great news. Indeed, I could hear her getting choked up on the phone as I spoke. That’s love. Helen Fluharty, more than anything else, she loved well.
I will see her again in eternity.
— Ricky Summersett
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