The history of American aviation pioneer Pan Am was the theme of Torrey Pines Rotary Club’s Sept. 5 luncheon. Guest speaker Jeffrey Kriendler, director-at-large of the Pan Am Historical Foundation, gave a slide presentation on the history of Pan American World Airways, the largest intern- ational air carrier in the United States from its inception in 1927 until its bankruptcy in 1991. “Pan Am had tremendous influence helping start airlines all through the world while spreading worldwide,” Kriendler said during his detailed presentation, noting Pan Am, which began as an air mail and passenger service operating between Key West, Fla. and Havana, Cuba, criss-crossed the globe, stopping regularly in such far-flung ports of call as Baghdad, Rangoon and Beirut during its heyday. Kriendler chronicled the development of the iconic American airline identified by its blue globe logo, the use of the word “clipper” in aircraft names and call signs and its white pilot uniform caps. Showing slide after historical slide, Kriendler walked Rotarians through Pan Am’s evolution starting with the early days of its water-based “fly boat era.” “After that, aircraft became ground-based and flying for the masses began,” said Kriendler. Several of Kriendler’s slides de-picted an age long gone when Pan Am passenger planes offered “bridal suites,” and patrons were served sump- tuous dinners by waiters in spacious surroundings. During his speech, Kriendler said Franklin Roosevelt was the first president to fly courtesy of Pan Am, which took him on a secret mission to Casablanca. Forced to conclude because of time constraints midway through his discussion — while he was covering the beginnings of the jet era when Pan Am’s flagship terminal was the Worldport at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York — Kriendler promised to return to finish at a later date. Co-author of a new book, “Pan American World Airways Aviation History Through the Words of the People,” Kriendler offered copies of the book for sale and stayed after the luncheon to answer audience questions. The story of Pan Am was near and dear to the heart of 91-year-old Torrey Pines Rotarian Max Gurney, who worked for the airline from 1947 until the very end in 1991. “I started in New York and went through the ranks in operations and marketing and was assigned overseas opening up stations in Africa, Europe and the Middle East,” said Gurney, whose Pan Am connections eventually helped secure him another prestigious post later on as honorary Consul to Monaco and Prince Albert, son of Hollywood actress Grace Kelly. Gurney pointed out there will never be another Pan Am. “Pan Am has been an icon and, in my opinion, started globalization,” he said. Gurney and Kriendler are both working to host and promote a Pan Am reunion in Monaco in early November. “Thanks to Max, we already have more than 600 people pledged to come out,” said Kriendler. Torrey Pines Rotary, established in 1964, is an organization of business and professional leaders providing humanitarian ser-vice, encouraging high ethical standards and helping to build goodwill and peace throughout the world. Unlike most other service clubs, Rotary members are invited to join. Prospective members must actively hold, or be retired from, a professional, proprietary, executive or managerial position. They must have the desire and ability to serve and to meet the club’s attendance requirements for its weekly meetings. Torrey Pines Rotary meets every Wednesday starting with social hour at 11:45 a.m. at Rock Bottom Brewery, I-5 and La Jolla Drive. Kriendler can be contacted at [email protected]. For more information about Torrey Pines Rotary visit www.torreypinesrotary.org.
