Click on the link below to remember all of those that gave their life for us on 9/11/2001.
CLIPPED WINGS LAS VEGAS CHAPTER
My Sky Angels, Spice Devils and Friends
It is with deep sadness I inform you of the passing of Flash Jensen.
This past Wednesday evening, surrounded by his family, Flash went to his final layover.
I never flew with Flash, however, our paths did cross.
For the past 20 years, the world of music brought us together in many ways.
I’ll always remember his powerful voice and electrifying smile.
While in a room or on stage, he could capture anyone’s attention.
He was always ready to belt out a song.
Flash was an original member of Pualani and the Flying Kanakas.
Mike Fry, Flash and I are all August babies.
Mike is the husband of FA Jeannie Fry.
(The group are all retired UAL Flight Attendants)
2nd Row: Pat Enos, Rey Aldanese, Owen Wong, Flash, Hutch
1st Roy: Roy Rabanal & Pualani (Fran) Ponto
Note: Those are Clipped Wings baseball caps.
I will pass on any further information as it is made available.
If you would like to send your condolences, here is the address.
Candi Jensen
237 Crystal Springs Place
Henderson, NV
89074-4201
If anyone would like to share their memories, pictures, etc., please feel free to hit the “Reply All” button.
Aloha Pumehana,
Hutch
DENVER Chapter
We have lost two wonderful gals, both former CW members in our DEN Chapter:
Sue Whiting Vierling passed away on February 11, 2023 at Collier Hospice Center in Wheat Ridge, CO after a long battle with ovarian cancer.
She was born in Portland, Oregon on April 16, 1944 and grew up in Boise, Idaho. She attended Boise State University for a year, and then was a dental hygienist before going to Stew School to be a UAL flight attendant.
She began flying for United Airlines in 1966 and retired in 2002 because of health reasons. Over her 36 years with UAL she flew out of SFO, LAX, and then DEN.
Sue was first diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 1988. Over the next 35 years the cancer returned five more times. She always maintained a positive attitude during those difficult years and fought valiantly to try to win her battle with cancer.
Sue was married to Dean Vierling, brother of Betty Vierling Klieforth, who also flew out of Denver. Sue and Dean had two children.
A Celebration of Life is planned in June. If you would like to send a card, you may send it to:
Sue Vierling Family
13184 W Asbury Circle
Lakewood, CO 80228
Helen Burrack Fitzgerald started flying for UAL in May 1964. She flew until she became ill with leukemia, which she fought with a vengeance, including having a bone marrow transplant. She recovered very well and was able to live an active life.
Helen was very outgoing and athletic, loving all sports but particularly outdoor activities. She lived near Keystone where she could ski and bike, ran a B&B in her home, and operated a crepes cart at the Keystone ski area for a while. A woman of many talents!
We remember Helen on layovers: the rest of us would be absolutely dragging after a long day of many legs, and Helen would want to know who would like to go our for a run with her. And never a short run either!
Helen died of complications from a stroke. No service is planned for her at this time.
____________________________________________________________________
Suzanne DuBois Tanner EWRSuzanne DuBois Tanner, age 81, passed away on Sunday, February 26. Suzanne was born on August 25,1941, to Henry Clay DuBois and Lela Flora Shaw DuBois and was their third child, preceded by her two brothers Henry Clay and David (Philip). Her father passed away unexpectedly when Suzanne was 12, and she was raised by her mother.
Suzanne graduated from Durham High School in Durham, NC where she was a member of many clubs. She later graduated from Duke University’s School of Radiological Technology and was employed as a staff technologist at Duke University Medical Center, where she was involved with bacteriological research. In 1964 she decided she wanted to see the world and became a flight attendant for United Airlines. Suzanne worked at United Airlines until her marriage in 1967, when company policy dictated that only unmarried women could be stewardesses. As a result of the McDonald vs. United Airlines class action discrimination lawsuit, she later returned to United Airlines with full seniority to carry out a successful career in flying.
Suzanne was a devoted mother to her two daughters, Delisa Renee Maney and Shawna Nicole DiMattina. She is survived by her husband, William (Bill) Dykeman Tanner, her two daughters and their husbands, as well as her three grandchildren: Joseph Matthew DiMattina, Nicole Loren DiMattina, and Riley Renee Maney.
There will be a visitation on Saturday, March 11th from 10:30 – 11:30 AM at Rich and Thompson Funeral Home in Burlington, NC with a graveside service at Bethlehem Presbyterian Church in Mebane, NC at noon. In lieu of flowers, please donate to St. Jude’s Hospital.
Betty Burch-Spanjer -CHI-ORD
The world lost a wonderful spirit on Tuesday, March 13, 2023. Betty Burch-Spanjer passed away with her loving family by her side, holding her hand and telling stories of her travels and times with her “sweeties”. We will miss her birthday calls, her stories, and most of all, her smile. She lived her 81 years on this Earth with a spirit of adventure, dedication, and fierce love for her family.
Betty was born on September 28, 1941, in Merna, Nebraska to Kenneth and Helen Burch and graduated from Grand Island Senior High in 1959. She lived in Kansas City, Oklahoma City, and finally settled in Chicago. She went to work as a Flight Attendant for United Airlines starting May 29, 1968. She worked for United Airlines for over 50 years.
In July of 1990, Betty married her number one sweetie Roy Spanjer. They had a beautiful ceremony outside of their home in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Roy and Betty loved to sail and travel together. They frequented the Yacht Club in Chicago, and every year would participate in Venetian Night, an annual boat parade. They spent time at their homes in Lake Geneva, Key Biscayne and Chicago, always close to the water and always together. Betty took such good care of Roy, as his health declined until he passed on September 30, 2001. Even after Roy passed, Betty continued to decorate her pontoon boat for Venetian Night every year. She loved spending time with so many wonderful friends and living life to the fullest.
Finally, you can’t celebrate Betty’s life without mentioning her family. She celebrated her 80th birthday, surrounded by her brothers, sister, and all of their kids and grandkids. She made family reunions a priority, most recently attending a cousin’s reunion in Nebraska City.
She is preceded in death by her sweetheart, Roy Spanjer, her sister Norma Lee Burch, and her parents, Kenneth and Helen Burch. She is survived by her siblings Bonney Root and her husband Jon, Dale Burch and his wife Claudia and her brother Dean Burch; her nieces and nephews: Adair Miller (Jeremy), Brandy Fogarty (Todd), Grant Burch (Rylie), Brent Burch, Mason Mortimer (Helena) and Amy Turpen (Blake); their children, her cousins, and her many friends.
A friend recalls Betty telling him, “We should not mourn people who were fortunate enough to have accomplished their life’s dreams and ambitions.” Betty was truly one of these people.
From RDW…
I am sad to tell you that we lost one of our best ladies in RDW Chapter.
Diane Bazler succumbed to cancer this week. She fought long and hard, but cancer won.
We are all deeply saddened.
Wondering if you could tell other chapters where there are members that may remember her.
Don’t have any information on the memorial yet, but believe it will be in June in Marin.
Barbara Rosenthal (LAX) by Carolyn Plumley
Writing an obituary about a very special friend is hard to do, especially when that friend was a very complicated individual who along with her fabulous, funny, engaging personality had some real issues to deal with in her life.
Who you say?
Barbara Pringle Rosenthal was my friend and a long time member of LAX Clipped Wings. She was raised in Eagle Rock California, went to Sacred Heart, high on the hills of La Canada. She called it Scared Heartless. I can only imagine what trouble she gave the nuns. She went on to Occidental College before “joining the airlines”. She flew for a bit, as one did in those days, then got married to “Don the Shoe Shaw” and had three children. Barb was such a fun person and added joy and laughter whenever she was. She got talked into being president one year, but kept wondering what she was doing there. She did fine. In the middle of her term she moved to Palm Desert, but continued on as our President. She was funny and could tell a story like no other, but she had a serious problem.
Over the years she became a victim of the condition called Agoraphobia, which translates as Fear of the Market Place. It started out as so much fear to go outside that she would often keep her friends waiting for hours while she got the courage to venture out. Once outside she might take more time to rearrange the contents of her car, or go back in to change her immaculate and beautiful outfit for another immaculate and beautiful outfit. If you were rooming with her at an event or convention, she would go into the bathroom and not come out for hours. It was heartbreaking to see this happening to our dear friend, not to mention the need for the bathroom ourselves.
Barb loved to travel and worked as a travel agent for many years, but that too came to a slow halt, when she just couldn’t get out the door, even though great adventures lay waiting for her. Her condition became so bad, she would not leave her house for anything. Three ladies, Marge Sinclair, Pat Strohecker and Vicy Young made it their mission to drag her out to the movies or for a Clipped Wings event. They became less successful as the years went by. But the little stinker, even though her driver’s license had expired, would get in her car in the middle of the night and drive to In n’Out Burger for a milkshake and a burger. Some where along the line, she feel out of bed and broke things. She had a succession of caregivers, who she drove nuts with her exacting details of caring for her including lining up the Turkish rug exactly with tiles in her floor. She spent the last few years of her life in “the home.”
On a personal note, Barb was our Nanny when Rock and I went away. She and my daughter had the best of times. Barb took her all over So. Cal to the elegant places that she had gone with her mother and interesting places she wanted to go, but didn’t want to go by herself.. She even took her to a Gay Pride Parade, back when that was “shocking”. Another time, Barb and I went into some store that sold special clothing for adventurers and convinced the sales clerk that we were going boar hunting on Catalina Island and needed pith helmets. During the 1984 Olympics she rented out her condo to some of our friends from Australia and she stayed with us. Stayed and stayed long after the Olympics were over. She was a great house guest, kept us laughing for weeks. I have a lot of Barb stories and not too many people left who knew here to share with.
She and Marge Sinclair came to our daughters wedding in Edinburgh, Scotland and then the two of then drove all over Scotland. The photo is from that time.
Barb passed at age 93. Her final words were to her son Paul after he had been rude to a nurse were “Paul, I taught you better than that”, and then she passed. Fly High, old friend.
(Photo taken at my daughter’s wedding in Scotland)
Glen Sue Smith
BWI – Baltimore Chapter
The ever-present smile and kindness of our dear friend and flying partner, Steve Balter, will be greatly missed by the BWI Chapter. When Steve was two years old his family’s nickname for him was “Sunshine”. Wherever he was it became a nicer place as he shared his genuine interest in each person he met. It was a real blessing to share Steve’s life path and especially in the aisles with him during his twenty-five-year career with United Airlines. He was the perfect personification of People Person and was a joy onboard for both crew and passengers.
Steve was a Man of Many Talents including artist, gardener, car mechanic and wonderful cook. He was a devoted partner to Jim and they lived with joy and happiness in different cities before returning back to Baltimore and family. Steve was an avid animal lover. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to BARCS (Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter).
Two of Steve’s most used phrases … How can I help? What can I do? In Steve’s honor we will do our best to follow his life’s philosophy …
Live a life that matters. Live a life of LOVE.
Submitted By: Karen Williams
Betty Burch-Spanjer – CHI/ORD
Passed away on March 14, 2023, more information will be sent later from chapter
Betty at a party at her Lake Geneva, WI home a couple of summers ago…as we sat chatting and eating when Betty’s chair tipped over in the soft grass…We were all concerned for her that she didn’t hurt herself …but she just got up laughing.. That’s our Betty..
Sylvia Van Norstrand Sweetnam- DEN
We have recently learned that Sylvia Van Norstrand Sweetnam passed away on January 29th, 2023, from respiratory failure at the age of 86. She was a former CW Member of the Den Chapter.
She originally flew for Capital Airlines, starting in 1956, out of New Orleans. With the merger of Capital and United in 1961, Sylvia then flew for UAL out of DEN until her retirement in November of 2002, 46 years in total.
In 1981, she married Rick Sweetnam, and they had homes in DEN and Florida, calling themselves sunbirds.
We remember Sylvia as a sweet petite gal, with a delightful and sunny disposition and a calmness about her which served us very well inflight. She loved her cats, particularly Sasha the mouse cat.
We will miss her and her wonderful smile.
Mary Anne Owen – DEN
Marge was born in Lamar, Colorado, on October 12th, 1934, and lived there until she went to Colorado A & M in Ft. Collins, now known as CSU. She finished two years there, then went to work for Gates Rubber Co. She started flying in June of 1956 out of SEA, transferred to SFO, then to DEN where she did most of her flying. Marge was a world traveler, very athletic, an avid skier, and a legend in her own time.
There is no service planned for her, but if you’d like to send a card, you may send it to her nephew (who took exceptional care of Marge for many many years) at:
Kurt McCall, 8962 Larose Ct., Parker, CO 80134.
You may also include any Marge stories as it was never dull to fly with her.
May she rest in peace. She will not suffer her pain any more.
Carolyn Steiner – PAP MAL LAX
On Wednesday, December 21, 2022, Carolyn Steiner mother and grandmother, passed away peacefully in her sleep at age ninety-two. Carolyn was a flight attendant in the early days of commercial airline travel. She was pregnant with her only child, Jeffrey James Groves, and as a result was required to retire from being a stewardess by the airline. She launched a 25-year career as an elementary school special education teacher in Cheyenne WY, San Carlos CA and ended her teaching career in Prunedale, CA.
Carolyn remarried to Stan Conkey in 1965 and the family moved to San Carlos California; followed by a move to Aptos California in 1974. After Stan passing from a heart attack in 1981, Carolyn eventually met a wonderful man, Phil Steiner, who was just finishing a career as an airline pilot for United. After their marriage in 1991, they moved to South Pasadena, Florida where they resided till Phil’s passing in 2011. Carolyn became a grandmother of Alana Groves on June 9, 1999 and then to Jennessa Groves on October 11, 2000. In 2012, Carolyn moved back to California, to be closer to her son and his family. She lived in Southern California for her remaining years.
Carolyn will be remembered for her determination in life, using that fire to inspire her family and others. She loved her family and took great pride in decorating her houses and having Miniature Schnauzers as pets. A fond memory will be her ever-present sweet tooth that often was satisfied by Sees Candies. As an ex-flight attendant, Carolyn was a member of the Clipped Wings organization. She is survived by her son, Jeff Groves, his wife Angela Groves and their daughters, Alana and Jennessa and her sister Diane Wahl. Her ashes will be spread at sea by the Neptune Society that will be followed by a memorial celebration in Redondo Beach at a time and place to be determined. In lieu of giving flowers, the family asks that those who are able instead make a donation to research for curing Alzheimer’s and Dementia.
Margo Haley Guenther – DEN Age 94
We are saddened to tell you that Margo Haley Guenther passed away last week at the age of 94. She was a past President of our DEN Chapter in 1952-53. and the older sister of Elaine Haley McGann (also a DEN Chapter member).
The sisters grew up in Craig, Colorado, where their father was a sheep rancher.
Margo flew for just one year in the late 40’s, out of ORD and DEN, and quit for the usual reason – marriage. She went on to have four children and several grandchildren.
Margo had not been a member in the last few years due to health problems, but she and Elaine (who were very close) were quite active with CW for many years.
Our condolences to Margo’s family, and to Elaine too.
Dee Whatley – LAX age 82
Dolores “Dee” Catherine Whately, age 81, of Cathedral City, California, died on October 13, 2022. She was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on November 25, 1940, and relocated to California as a young girl with her family. Dee was the youngest child and the unfortunate victim of her three older brothers’ shenanigans. While too small to defend herself or her dolls, which were frequently hung by a noose, she resorted to undermining her brothers by popping buttons off their shirts, which put them straight in the crosshairs of their mother—bad news.
Dee was a graduate of Torrance High School, class of 1958, and remained a proud Tartar her entire life. A few years after her graduation, Dee began a 40-plus year career with United Airlines as a flight attendant or a “stewardess,” as they were called in the early years. Training at their headquarters in Chicago and then returning to Los Angeles for her permanent domicile, Dee loved flying. As a teenager on Hermosa Beach, she met and eventually married Ron Whately in 1965, having one daughter during their years together.
Dee was known for her wit, sense of humor, and expletives! The F-word being a particular favorite. She logged millions of miles flying both domestically and internationally with favorite destinations including Boston, Massachusetts; Hong Kong, China; and Sydney, Australia. She also enjoyed a five-year stint in LAX Passenger Service, leaving her mark on the ground and in the air. Dee made life-long friends throughout her career and retired in 2002 with a last flight to Sydney, Australia.
After retirement Dee relocated to Cathedral City, California, where she spent her time enjoying the desert lifestyle, luncheons with other retired United Airlines friends, and crafting homemade greeting cards.
Dee was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Dorothy Dwyer, and her three older brothers, Jim, Bill, and Bob Dwyer. Dee is survived by her daughter Lynne Whately of Sacramento, California, and the loves of her life – her two grandsons, Benjamin and Daniel. With her sense of humor and collection of dirty cocktail glasses, it’s really a wonder how her daughter Lynne turned out relatively normal. Dee relished being “Grandee” and will be very missed by her grandsons, daughter, family, and friends.
Not one for sad occasions and with a hatred of the smell of Stargazer lilies, we will honor Dee with a celebration of life held at The Cheesecake Factory in Redondo Beach, California, on January 13, 2023.
Maureen Lannon Amberg – LAX
October 9, 1932 – November 8, 2022 age 90
Maureen Lannon Amberg, the gracious lady with the smile, died Tuesday morning, November 8, 2022, in Oxnard, CA at the age of 90. Maureen was born and grew up in Hollywood and went to North Hollywood High school with all the TV and movie stars’ kids and those who became stars. She went on to UCLA.
In the early1950’s she flew as a stewardess on prop aircraft for Seaboard and Western to Japan via Alaska, the Aleutians, Wake Island and Hawaii. Later, she was a stewardess for United Airlines. One day at the Kansas City airport President Harry Truman came up to her and offered to help with the crossword puzzle she was doing.
One of the best stories Maureen told was about when she invited the President of United, Mr. Patterson, to dinner. She and roommates prepared and served a delighted Mr. P.
She met her future husband John Amberg at 4am in the elevator of the Henry Hudson Hotel while on a layover in New York. He was a pro football player for the New York Giants. It was love at first sight and they were married for 49 years.
Maureen was an active member of LAX Clipped Wings for nearly 60 years, excelling at organization, fundraising and fun. She even arranged for the LAX Clipped Wingers to play a basketball game against the AA Kiwis at halftime of a LA Laker game. It was a truly memorable event!
In addition to her dedication to Clipped Wings and their philanthropic support of the Harbor Foundation for people with Intellectual disabilities. She served on their board for many years.
Maureen was active with the PTA and a Girl Scout leader who took her girls on many hiking trips to the Grand Canyon, Big Sur, etc. She also worked at LAX as a preliminary interviewer for United Airlines. After moving to Palm Desert she belonged to the UA Desert Lunch Bunch.
Maureen’s greatest love was for her family. She had 4 children who presented her with 13 grandchildren who were a fabulous joy to her and who gave her 5 great grandchildren. She will be missed by everyone who was blessed to know her.
Lois Andres Kahn – DEN
September 26,2022 Age 80
It is with such great sadness that we tell you of the passing of our wonderful DEN Chapter Member, Lois Andres Kahn, of cancer on September 26, 2022. She was 80, but was always a fireball of energy, even until three days before her death when she wanted to make sure all her CW commitments were completed.
Lois started flying out of ORD in September of 1963, and in June of 1964 she transferred to DEN and flew until August of 1967 when she married and had to quit. She came back to flying in March of 1988 as a McDonald, and retired in April of 2004. She had one son, Brian, and a granddaughter, Tatum.
Lois was born in Waukesha, Wisconsin, where she attended a one-room schoolhouse from first through eighth grades. Maybe that’s where she learned her can-do attitude and caring spirit. She was a great Flight Attendant with such compassion for everyone!
She was DEN Chapter President twice, from ’77 to ’79, and again from ’94 to ’96. She was awarded the Distinguished Service Award in 1992 – the highest honor that CW can bestow. Lois earned it by being the most active person in our Chapter, from hosting more meetings and more Summer Parties at her house and yard than any other Chapter member, to working on the By-laws and volunteering for so many other committees. Her Melmac Plate Project was perhaps her greatest achievement. (Taking orders from pre-school children to draw on paper then having their design transferred to plastic plates, and delivering the finished product back to the schools). She did two campaigns a year, and earned a total of $134,136 for our Philanthropy Fund since she started the project in 1984.
Scroll down to see gallery of our wonderful members. Hover your cursor over photo to see names. Please click link to send your photos and stories to Carolynplumley@me.com
