Live Fast Fly Faster — In memory of CW2 Robert D. Frey
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Live Fast.
Fly Faster.

In memory of CW2 Robert D. Frey — Black Hawk pilot, Life Flight pilot, storyteller, Uncle Rob. Every hat, patch, and story shared here goes toward keeping the next pilot, medic, soldier, or friend alive.

21+
years in the Army National Guard
5
countries deployed: Iraq, Kuwait, Afghanistan, Turkey, Kosovo
2
speeds: idle and full throttle
Rob at the controls of a Life Flight helicopter at sunset
Geisinger Life Flight · Montoursville, PA
Robert David Frey

July 10, 1985 —
June 29, 2025

Montoursville, Pennsylvania. Son of Deborah and David. Husband to Nicole. Dad to Bella. Brother, uncle, cousin, friend to more people than any one room could hold.

Rob Frey, official scrunch-face portrait
The Official Portrait
CW2 Robert D. Frey, as he preferred to be photographed. Two decades of service, one facial expression. If you have a better one, we'd argue you don't, but send it anyway.

Rob's early years were filled with joy and a deep connection to his family's legacy of aviation and military service. His passion for all things aviation was evident at a young age. It was this love that would shape much of his life's path.

He was a 2003 graduate of South Williamsport High School. He proudly served his country in the Army National Guard for over 21 years. He started his military service as an Apache Mechanic. After completing flight school, he served as a Chief Warrant Officer 2, flying Black Hawk helicopters on medivac missions while serving his country on deployments in locations including Iraq, Kuwait, Afghanistan, Turkey, and Kosovo. His service also included time as a Maintenance Test Pilot. The bonds he formed through his military service became lifelong friendships he deeply cherished.

In his civilian career, Rob was respected and admired as a Life Flight Pilot for Geisinger. His Life Flight colleagues became an extension of family to him. His work was not just a job but a calling, as he played a crucial role in saving lives and providing critical care to those in need.

Rob operated at 2 speeds, idle and full-throttle, rarely wasting time on anything in between.

His many pet projects revealed an incredible analytical mind that could solve nearly any mechanical issue. His cue of projects was always longer than the time available to work on them. He saw potential in nearly every broken-down vehicle he encountered. That perspective was true of people as well. He rarely saw the flaws in others, instead choosing to focus on their potential.

Rob lit up every room he entered. Any gathering of family or friends regularly devolved into storytelling and jokes with the room inundated by his infectious laugh that will be sorely missed. Christmas dinner will never be the same without him arriving in a ridiculous robe, trooper hat, and slippers to announce "Merry Christmas — $h!t*er's Full." A natural storyteller, he brought laughter wherever he went, often through his spot-on voice impressions, massive mental collection of movie one-liners, or his unexpected Australian accent on the radio in flight.

Rob was a skilled photographer, an avid hunter, and a friend to many, especially those with ties to the military. He described his trips to Hawaii with Nicole as trips of a lifetime and longed to return. Also an animal lover, Rob adored he and Nicole's Rottweilers Mina and Gunny.

In addition to his biological nieces and nephews, "Uncle Rob" was a cherished title bestowed on him by a wide circle of young cousins and friends. He absolutely lit up when the opportunity to badger, tease, and entertain young souls presented itself. In turn, he is dearly loved and will be missed by them.

Rob with a baby Rob with the Rottweilers Rob on a pool float
Two Uniforms, One Mission

Wrench, then wings.
Then he came home
and kept flying.

Apache mechanic. Black Hawk medevac pilot. Maintenance test pilot. Geisinger Life Flight pilot out of Montoursville. Rob spent his whole adult life carrying people out of the worst day of theirs.

Rob and crew in front of a Black Hawk in Afghanistan
Army National Guard · 2003–2025
CW2, UH-60 Black Hawk

Medevac missions across Iraq, Kuwait, Afghanistan, Turkey, and Kosovo. Started turning wrenches on Apaches; finished as the pilot everyone wanted in the left seat.

Rob in a Life Flight flight suit with kids in front of the helicopter
Geisinger Life Flight · Life Flight 4
Pilot, Montoursville Base

His crew became family. Known on the radio for an accent nobody could place and a laugh everybody could.

Black Hawk in snow Rob on top of a Black Hawk Rob with his unit Rob holding his daughter in front of the Life Flight helicopter
To the Life Flight 4 crew and the Guard family

You carried him, and now you're carrying this. Crew photos, patches, and unit stories belong here. Send them through the story portal below and we'll add them to the wall.

Black Hawk helicopter in the snow
Medevac. Life Flight. Now this.
The Store

Wear it. Fund it.
Somebody stays.

100% of proceeds go to suicide prevention for veterans and first responders. Beneficiary organizations are being finalized by the family and will be listed here.

The Live Fast Fly Faster leather patch on a washed green trucker hat
The Patch
Laser-engraved leather. Flight helmet, aviators, the mustache.

Every hat below ships with this patch sewn on the front. Pick a style and a color. $25 flat, any hat.

The apparel shop is operated by Get Stitched (Olivia Segear, Rob's cousin). Payments go to her Venmo, @Olivia-Segear, until the foundation is set up.
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Buy on Venmo · $25
Note: "{{ h.note }}" + your name + pickup or ship (+$9).
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Put "{{ p.note }}" + your size & name in the Venmo note. We'll message you about pickup or shipping.
How ordering works
  1. Tap the Venmo button on any item.
  2. Pay the price shown (add $9 if you need it shipped).
  3. In the note: item, color, your name, pickup or ship.
  4. We'll reach out within a couple of days.
Just want to give?
Donate any amount

No hat required. Every dollar goes to the beneficiary organizations.

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The Living Memorial

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Add yours.

Shared by family, Life Flight crew, and the Guard. Tap any photo to see it big and who brought it. This wall grows every time someone sends one in.

Send a photo with your story
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The Rob Stories Project

Tell us the one
you always tell.

Every family dinner turned into stories. We're collecting them all — the flight-line ones, the deployment ones, the ones that can't be repeated in church — to weave into the story of Rob's life and, eventually, a book. Funny is encouraged. He'd want it that way.

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Got it. Thank you.

Your story is in the pile. The family reads every one before it goes on the wall. (This is a preview — submissions will be wired to the family's inbox when the site goes live.)

Share a Rob story
The story
Listening. Talk like you're at the kitchen table. Tap Stop when you're done; you can edit the text after.
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Life Flight helicopter on the hangar pad
Photo · Brittany Martin
Show Up

Events

Rides, outings, hangar nights. Dates are being set — check back or follow along on Venmo and Facebook.

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If it's you tonight

Call. Text.
Right now.

Rob saw the potential in every broken-down thing he ever met. If you're the one who's broken down tonight, that goes for you too. You don't have to be a veteran or a pilot. You just have to pick up the phone.