About Air America News Image Library Feature Stories CAT/Air America Archive Guide Other Topics Sick Call In Memoriam Reunion Info

Last Updated: June 29,  2001

In Memoriam

          Charles S. Whitehouse, 79, of Marshall, VA, died at his Virginia home from cancer.  Whitehouse served as US ambassador to Laos and Thailand.  He served in the Marine Corps as a pilot during World War II and was awarded the Air Medal and two gold stars. In 1973, he became ambassador to Laos and was appointed to Thailand in 1975. (AP)

           Anthony Durizzi, 66, of Bellevue, Washington, died Saturday afternoon when his plane crashed in a wooded area 21 miles northeast of Pulliam Airport.  Tony was piloting a single-engine plane and died in the crash, police said. There were no other passengers in the plane.  According to a Flagstaff Police spokesman, Tony radioed airport officials at 4:26 pm that he was trying to land at the airport but was probably going to crash land somewhere between the Flagstaff Mall and the airport.  Airport officials then called Flagstaff police.  Using the DPS Search and Rescue helicopter and Forest Service aircraft, officials located the downed plane at 5:09 p.m.  Flagstaff police secured the crash site and awaited the arrival of investigators from the NTSB and FAA.  The crash didn't cause a fire and police couldn't detect the smell of fuel at the site. "One possibility is that he ran out of gas".   Durizzi was flying the plane on a cross-country flight.  He left Ada, OK, and was flying to Flagstaff, the next stop in his cross-country flight that was scheduled to end in Los Angeles. (From the Flagstaff Daily Sun 6/18/01).  Go here to read an article that appeared in the Bellevue Newspaper.

Please check back for updated funeral and memorial information.  If you have additional information, please send an email message. 

            Timothy Wayne Gentz, 30, of Dallas, died Sunday June 10, at Baylor Medical Center due to injuries suffered in a single vehicle car accident. He was born January 10, 1971, in Dubuque, IA. He graduated from Sam Houston High School in Arlington, Class of 1989. He received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Texas at Arlington.  He is survived by his father and step mother, Gary & Martha Gentz of Eustace, his mother, Suthida Parker of Plano, his brother, Thomas Gentz of Grapevine, his step grandmother, Lili Watts of Dallas, and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.  

            Claire A. Osborne, widow of Captain CR Oz Osborne, FW Air America, died June 7th of Leukemia and Congestive Heart Failure. Burial will take place at Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas, June 22nd at 11:30 a.m.  Request Memorials be sent to Air America Archives at the University of Texas, Dallas, American Heart Association or Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  She is survived by her daughter Robin Osborne.   This message was submitted by Robin.

Robert L. Josephson, died December 17, 2000 after having suffered for almost a year with gastric cancer.  He is survived by his wife, Hedy, a son Robert, three daughters, Ellen, Tamara and Christine, three grandchildren and a brother.  He retired as a Foreign Service Officer in 1983 from the position of Executive Officer with USAID Inspector General’s office.  Graveside services were held on January 5, 2001 at Arlington National Cemetery, with full military honors.

Steve Stephens ("Big") who has resided in Alaska for the past few years has passed away during some training courses at Nome.  Submitted to the Log by Harry Bernier.

Jack Mathews, died at his home on January 8, 2001.  He worked in Taipei with Western Enterprises 52-54 and with NACC 56-57.  Also during his service with the CIA he worked in Laos with Hmong and in recent years has been actively involved with the Hmong refugees in the US.  He is survived by two sons both of whom serve in the US military.