On a day that could have been like any other for residents at Cedarhurst of Tesson Heights, 85-year-old Charlotte Moszczenski turned it into a remarkable one by fulfilling a lifelong dream to skydive, an act honoring her late husband who was a paratrooper with the 101st Airborne Screaming Eagles. KSDK reported that she completed her jump on a hot summer morning, while her family and the staff members of the senior living community watched.
Despite the nerves that come with such a venture, Charlotte, equipped with a brief tutorial on the proper way to fall, remained resolute; she even joked about forgetting the instructions right after signing the necessary paperwork for the skydive. "I signed my life away and listened to some instructions which I’ve already forgotten,” Moszczenski humorously remarked to KSDK, demonstrating a blend of humor and bravery as she prepared to embark on her adventure with Skydive STL instructor Noah Bogard.
Charlotte's daughter Lisa Reando admitted to FOX 2 having initial hesitations about her mother's skydiving plan stating, "I thought, why didn’t she do it when she was a lot younger and more able-bodied, but her reasoning makes sense,” showcasing a mixture of concern for her mother's well-being while acknowledging the deeper, emotional significance of the jump. Walter Moszczenski, Charlotte's late husband, and a founding member of the St. Louis Parachute Club passed away at 37, making this skydiving journey a poignant tribute.
After a thrilling 10,000-foot ascent and subsequent descent, Charlotte expressed her exhilaration and encouraged others to act on their dreams, "Don’t give it a second thought,” Moszczenski said, “Go do it! I wish I would’ve done it years ago!" a sentiment shared with KSDK, yet when asked about a second jump she replied to KSDK, “Oh, there isn’t going to be one, I would if I could."
In addition to the thrill of the skydive, Charlotte Moszczenski's leap was also an emotional tie to her husband's legacy, something she and Walter's shared history had deeply ingrained in her spirit, “He’d say, ‘I can’t believe you did it, but he’d be proud,’” Moszczenski told NewsNation Now.
