Schwartz, Ofer

Son of Ruti and Binyamin. He was born on December 14, 1970 in Rishon Letzion. The eldest son of a family of three, a second generation of parents from Rishon LeZion. Ofer was an alert child, full of life and vigor. From an early age, he was characterized by curiosity, caring and a desire to help others. Ofer studied at the Ein HaKoreh elementary school in Rishon Letzion and at the ORT high school in Rehovot, where he continued to serve as an electronics technician at the age of 13. Ofer was a very energetic youth who fulfilled himself in every way – diving, reading, dancing, raving, laughing, listening to music, organizing and planning, he loved animals and especially dogs, collected stamps and left behind a valuable collection. He renewed his love for basketball and in the last two years he played for a team from Kibbutz B Shilo’s second class. At the end of a course at the Technion in Haifa, six months after his enlistment, he volunteered for an aviation course. Ofer completed a pilot course on 19.12.1991 and was ordained as a navigator. After completing the course, he served for about two years in the Palmach Squadrons Squadron, then moved to the Yasur Squadron at Tel Nof, where he played a major role in the Yasur 2000 helicopter. He loved flying, and he loved his job. During the entire period of his service, Ofer was involved in leading major projects in the squadron, which he carried out in full, while maintaining every detail large and small. His promotion in the series of his roles placed him in a senior role in the Ofek program for outstanding pilots only. Ofer planned to study building engineering and after liberation wanted to work in it. During his military service in the Palmachim Squadron he met Operations Officer, Inbal Ben Natan. After three years of friendship they decided to marry. Their wedding was scheduled for August 29, 1996. On the 31st of Nissan 5756 (March 31, 1996), Ofer fell while carrying out his duties in the Yasur helicopter accident. During a routine training flight in the Judean Desert, the helicopter hit the ground and crashed. In the accident, six other members of the IAF were killed – Major Eyal Geller, Sergeant David Weizman, Sergeant Guy Shafir, Corporal Inbal Twasi, Corporal Doron Ezra and Corporal Liav Pilgod. He was followed by his parents, sister Anat, brother-in-law, and friend Inbal, in a letter of condolence to the bereaved family, the commander of the squadron wrote: “Ofer was a central figure in the squadron, both professionally and socially. The ambition from which she worked has succeeded in driving those around him to be better and more caring. … Ofer was destined to take a central and important position in the operations department, a position he wanted very much and was happy to meet. “The memory of Ofer was commemorated by his family in the forests of Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael. A forest of 1,000 trees with tables and benches and a view of the landscape, an evening in memory of the family and Maccabi Rishon LeZion was held at the Sports Hall on June 6, 1996. On this evening there was a basketball game between his squadrons and his friends in the youth group (born 1970-1971) Maccabi Rishon Lezion, his family and friends took out a book in his memory.