Marian Bennett celebrates 80th birthday with glider ride

Marian Bennett with her Mile High Glider pilot Ty on Aug. 30.

Marian Bennett after her glider ride at Mile High Glider in Boulder on Aug. 30 to celebrate her 80th birthday.

By Naomi Miller

Marian Bennett, 80, of Longmont is best known for her involvement in the Longmont Theatre Company. She is well known for her on-stage performances as well as helping with all aspects of the running of the theater. However, she has another claim to fame. Over 10 years ago, she decided that she wanted to start having adventures, other than traveling to see the world.

She mentioned her desire to go on a hot-air balloon ride. So for her 70th birthday her children, David Bennett and Naomi Miller, gave their mom her first adventure, that very same hot-air balloon ride. This started a continuing tradition. So for her 75th birthday, she tried indoor skydiving, saying she wanted to experience skydiving without having to jump out of a perfectly good airplane. For Marian's 80th birthday, her adventure was a glider ride on Aug. 30, 2015. Marian's 80th birthday was Oct. 23, 2014.

"My children gave me a choice of a glider ride or bungee jumping. I didn't even have to think about it," said Marian.

She took the ride with Mile High Glider in Boulder. Her pilot, Ty, has 17 years of experience and commented that he feels safer in a glider than a motorized plane because gliders are designed to glide while other planes usually can't. When asked if she enjoyed the experience, her answer was a very enthusiastic yes, and she said she would definitely do it again.

She was joined at Mile High Glider by her daughter, Naomi, and son-in-law, Joseph Miller; grandsons Paltiel and Phillip Kelsay with Phillip's wife, Jennifer; and three of Marian's great-grandchildren, Alitza, Jeremiah and Aiden. Marian and her daughter are already starting to plan her next great adventure for her 85th birthday.