Clipper Pioneers - In Memory Of...
James W. Etchison, flight engineer, died August 27 2010 at age 97 in Mocksville, N. C., where he had been born. He started his career as a mechanic with Pennsylvania Central Airlines in 1935, and joined Pan American Airways in September of 1936. Read more>>>
Jane T. Omohundro, wife of Jack, passed away March 1st 2010 after an accident and operation from which she did not recover. Says Jack: "We had 43 wonderful years together and [she] is greatly missed."
Lilo Brissette, wife of Les Brissette, passed away on July 3, 2010 after a long illness.
Charles Morris died August 5, 2010. A retired PAA Captain for many years, he was in his mid 90's and had been quite ill for some time. He is survived by his wife Sara, children & grandchildren.
Norton D. Pladsen (Nort) was a member of the Clipper Pioneers and lived in Caldwell, ID. March 5, 2010 was given as the date of his passing. Nort was a pleasant crewmember to fly with with a good sense of humor.
Hugh Huddleston passed away on June 12, 2010. He had pancreatic cancer. He is survived by his wife Liz, 3 children and 10 grandchildren. He was hired by Pan An in August 1956, and retired as a Captain on the 747.
J. Richard Bergad passed away on July 27, 2010. He died in peace at the local hospital. He will be buried in the 'familyplot' in Greensburg, PA within a few days. There will be a 'celebration of life memorial serivce' at a later date.
If ever anyone could say: Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth, it would be Dick. The last 18 months were surly for such an active, in-control guy, just sitting in his fancy recliner watching himself waste away.
Dan Cooper, Flight Engineer, died July 14th in Modesto. He had emphysema. No services will be held. Dan was 78.
Evelyn Maxine Prater, 85, loving wife of Lynn Prater, passed away peacefully on June 26, 2010. Read more here>>>
George Jefferson Price, a Pan Am pilot who flew seaplanes out of Dinner Key during World War II -- and the only civilian aircraft in the 1948 Berlin airlift -- has died at 96 on October 4, 2009. Read his story here.
Willis H. Kleven of Chester, Conn. passed away on July 8 2009 at the age of 91. He was a Pan Am flight engineer for 35 years and retired in 1977. Willis flew out of Kennedy Airport and was a crew member of the historic Inaugural Flight non-stop N.Y./ Buenos Aires and Buenos Aires/N.Y. Dec. 5 and 6 1963 5436 miles in 605 minutes. He enjoyed an active life playing golf, fishing and hunting into his 90's. He will be missed by all.
Hugh P. Huddleston passed away. No other details are currently available.
John Ferruggio, hero of 1970 Pan Am hijacking, passes at age 84 in Milton, MA, formerly of South Boston, passed away on June 19, 2010 at Milton Hospital of a sudden illness. He was born July 6, 1925 in Boston, MA, graduated from South Boston High School and served as a Pharmacist Mate 1st Class in the Navy (loaned to the Third Marine Division) from 1943 to 1946. He was part of the historic battles - Guadal Canal, Guam, Iwo Jima and received the WWII Victory Medal, Asiatic-Pacific 2 Stars and America Area ribbons. John worked as an In-Flight Service Director for 27 years for Pan Am. While working for Pan Am on September 6, 1970 Flight 93 was hijacked; John was considered to be the lead person with saving the lives of 176 people. A documentary was made by PBS called "Hijacked" regarding this incident. See his story here.
Retired Pan Am Flight Engineer Robert J. Messler passed away April 29, 2010 at St. Claire's Hospital, Denville, NJ.
Donald James REID November 17, 1936 ~ May 29, 2010 After battling a debilitating illness for twenty-three years, Don Reid, has finally been liberated and has found peace. Following an honorable discharge from the Navy, Don worked in the engineering and architectural design fields for several years while pursuing civilian flight training. Don went on to have a 25 year career as a commercial airline pilot with Pan American World Airways. Don was initially based in Seattle and flew Boeing 707s. Despite his plane being repeatedly shot at, Don volunteered to fly into and out of wartime Vietnam carrying supplies and personnel while Pan Am was under contract with the military. More >>>
Thad Eksrand passed away recently (June 2010). Although not a PAA crewmember, Thad was a past president/boardmember of the Outrigger Canoe Club in HNL, and was 'instrumental in the admission of over 100 Pan Am cockpit crew-members during the 50's and 60's. He was a true friend and supporter of Pan Am
Burleigh B. Wood, Sr. passed away on April 10, 2010. Burleigh was born on October 27, 1934, in Seminole, Oklahoma, to Mr. Paul R. Wood and Mrs. Margret C. Wood. He moved to Hobbs, New Mexico the summer of 1941 and finished High School in 1952.
In July of 1964 he hired on with Pan American World Airways as a Pilot Engineer and attained Captain on the B-707 then Captain on the B-747. In 1986, Pan American sold its international routes to United Airlines and Burleigh was one of the Captains on the B-747. Later, he transferred to United where he finished out his career as an airline pilot. During this time, Burleigh was blessed with twin girls on July 23, 1963. Monica Leigh Wood and Marie Ann Wood, followed by a son, Burleigh B. Wood Jr., on December 26, 1967. More >>>
Captain Marion (Dinny)Dinsmore made his final trip after a short bout with Bronchitis and Pneumonia that proved to be just too much for his 97 year old aching body. As it quite often happens Dinny lost his beloved wife a short time ago after several years of being her caretaker. She was suffering from the ravages of Alzheimer’s disease and Dinny was at her side everyday. It took its toll on him and after she passed he didn’t have much to live for.
He was born in 1912 and lived through it all as fine God fearing man; WWI, the roaring twenties, depression, WWII (Lt. Col. Retired) and a full career with Pan Am. Read more >>>
Jane Omohundro passed away on March 1, 2010 at the age of 89. Jane traveled with husband Jack, going to almost every continent in the world. She will be missed.
Tom L. Miller was a Flight Engineer with Pan Am for 28 years. He flew out of SFO for a number of years until we moved to Los Angeles area...where he flew out of LAX until he retired in 1983.
Tom passed away March 1,2010 from Alzheimer's and Parkenson disease. He was 80 years old . Tom and his wife Anna were married 60 years and had three beautiful daughters, three grandchildren and one great grandson. Tom fought a long battle with Alzheimer's
Anna says: "I know he is in a better place now.....but I miss him so very much.I am thankful for the years we did have together."
We miss all of our Pa n Am friends....we lost touch with so many friends.
Memorial for Tom on April 10,2010 at 2p.m. at Quail Run Club House in Paso Robles, Ca.93446
Connie Mazzarella, former JFK flight attendant, advises that Capt. Al Berry passed away on December 12 in New Milford, CT. No other details are available.
Retired Pan Am Switchboard Operator, Ann M. Jurasek, age 82, of 3017 Fortesque Avenue, Oceanside, New York, a former resident of Banner Elk, North Carolina and Tampa, Florida, died Tuesday, February 2, 2010, at South Nassau Communities Hospital in Oceanside.
Ann Jurasek is survived by her husband Frank; two daughters, Linda Petrizzi of Oceanside and Nancy Preudhomme of West Babylon, New York; two sons, Robert Jurasek of Miami Beach, Florida and John Jurasek of Apple Valley, California, and one brother, John Mahoney and wife Lillian of Tampa, Florida. She is also survived by eight grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, a number of nieces, great-nieces, and great-nephews.
Funeral arrangements for Ann Jurasek will take place in Boone, North Carolina; dates are still pending.
Memorial contributions may be made to Nassau County American Legion, (Legacy Fund), in care of Frank Colon, 85 Cleveland Avenue, RVC, New York, 11570.
Online condolences may be sent to the Jurasek family at www.hamptonfuneralservice.com.
Hampton Funeral and Cremation Service is coordinating all arrangements on behalf of the family.
William Louis Hussman passed away peacefully at his home in Minden on February 4, 2010 at the age of 88. He instructed military pilots when the war broke out and then was hired by Pan American Airways in 1943, retiring after 35 years in 1978. His career began aboard the early Pan Am Clipper flying boats based at Treasure Island and ended with a smooth landing in San Francisco as captain aboard the Boeing 747. He was highly regarded as a pilot by the company and his fellow employees and considered a real gentleman and an all around good guy by all. Read more >>>
Melvin J. Fuller took his final flight at age 88 on January 28, 2010 in Santa Rosa, CA. Mel was born on the second of February, 1922. He liked to mention that he and Charles Lindhberg had the same birthdate, only his (Mel?s) was 20 years later.
He led an exemplary life -- working hard and playing hard, along side of his loving wife, Pearl, of 67 years. A pilot for Pan Am for 36 years, he never missed a flight. He was fond of saying flying for PanAm was such a great adventure, that if PanAm ever became aware that how much he enjoed his job, would have flown for free.
He was an enthusiastic Rotarian, a happy hiker and a great tennis player. A man that all who had the privilege to know admired. He will be sorely missed by his many friends and all of his family. He'd requested no services, donations to Hospice would be nice.
His obit/Guestbook may be found at www.marinij.com/obits
Capt. R.W. Savory passed away in January 2010, in Santa Rosa, CA. He had reached the venerable age of 100, last October.
Edmund Buchser, Jr., retired Lt. Colonel, United States Marine Corps, and retired Pan Am captain, of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, passed away, January 10, 2010. More >>>
For a list of those who passed in 2008-2009, click on the links in the right-hand column of this page.