1918
Leonard
2016
Leonard LaVassar
March 27, 1918 — February 29, 2016
Leonard J. LaVassar, 97, of Haverford, PA, passed away on February 29, 2016.
Born in 1918 in Johnson City, NY, he was the son of the late Peter Napolian and Margaret Agnes (nee Burke) LaVassar.
Leonard was trained to be a pilot with the Civilian Pilot Training Program in 1938. He joined Pan Am as a pilot and left to join the Navy. He wanted to see combat but was such a skilled pilot, he was sent to train pilots in Indiana.
Leonard was honorably discharged from the US Navy. Sent by Bell Labs to Argentina, he and several colleagues trained Juan Peron's pilots to fly helicopters among other tasks. Leonard then worked at Piasecki which eventually became Boeing Vertol, leading a team of over 100 as Director of Test Flight. After 33 years he retired from Boeing. He had a record eleven "first flights" on a variety of aircraft.
Leonard was the loving husband of the late Elizabeth (nee Rigney); the loving father of the late Lisbeth Ann; the uncle of Meg Bowden Wolf (Jim); he was predeceased by his siblings Marian, Helen Bowden, Genevieve Giblin, Paul, Joseph, and John (Jack).
Relatives and friends are invited to his Visitation 6:00-8:00 PM Thursday Eve, March 3, 2016 at The Donohue Funeral Home, 1627 West Chester Pike, West Chester, PA 19382, 610-431-9000.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in his name may be made to Helicopter Foundation International, 1920 Ballenger Ave, Alexandria, VA 22314, for ongoing research and studies of Leonard's many accomplishments in flight testing.
Born in 1918 in Johnson City, NY, he was the son of the late Peter Napolian and Margaret Agnes (nee Burke) LaVassar.
Leonard was trained to be a pilot with the Civilian Pilot Training Program in 1938. He joined Pan Am as a pilot and left to join the Navy. He wanted to see combat but was such a skilled pilot, he was sent to train pilots in Indiana.
Leonard was honorably discharged from the US Navy. Sent by Bell Labs to Argentina, he and several colleagues trained Juan Peron's pilots to fly helicopters among other tasks. Leonard then worked at Piasecki which eventually became Boeing Vertol, leading a team of over 100 as Director of Test Flight. After 33 years he retired from Boeing. He had a record eleven "first flights" on a variety of aircraft.
Leonard was the loving husband of the late Elizabeth (nee Rigney); the loving father of the late Lisbeth Ann; the uncle of Meg Bowden Wolf (Jim); he was predeceased by his siblings Marian, Helen Bowden, Genevieve Giblin, Paul, Joseph, and John (Jack).
Relatives and friends are invited to his Visitation 6:00-8:00 PM Thursday Eve, March 3, 2016 at The Donohue Funeral Home, 1627 West Chester Pike, West Chester, PA 19382, 610-431-9000.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in his name may be made to Helicopter Foundation International, 1920 Ballenger Ave, Alexandria, VA 22314, for ongoing research and studies of Leonard's many accomplishments in flight testing.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Leonard LaVassar, please visit our flower store.
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