Diamantina Ruiz Jannone / Manhasset, NY Resident
Loretta Puzziferro Kline / Annapolis Chapter
Jean McCormick / Long Island Chapter
Constantine “Dino” Vlahakis / Boston Chapter
Diana Rivera Wiggins / Miami Chapter

MIRIAM GONZALEZ BAUER
July 10, 1930 – March 31, 2025
Malibu, CA Resident

Miriam was born on July 10th, 1930 and grew up in Seattle. She graduated with a PhD from the University of San Francisco but chose a different path for her life. In the 1950s, she saw an ad in the paper looking for “International Girls” to fly for Pan Am. She had her initial interview in Texas, where she met and bonded with two other hopefuls: Maria Farias and Irene Figueroa—both of Texas. All three were hired and became Fight Stewardesses for the iconic Pan American Airlines. They were selected for the International Division, due to the fact that Spanish was their first language and they were racially ambiguous. They were paired as roommates during their training, and the trio flew with Pan Am for over two and a half decades. They remained lifelong friends.

A significant event happened to Miriam on one trip, when Miriam was reassigned to Flight 212 from Puerto Rico to JFK on April 7th, 1964. The aircraft crashed into Jamaica Bay. All 136 passengers and other crew members, including Miriam, miraculously survived.

Another significant event happened to Miriam a year later. During an outing with her flight crew in Lisbon, Portugal, she met her future husband, Richard W. Bauer. Richard was a Naval Captain at the time, later becoming an FBI Supervisor in Washington D.C., and a Federal Attorney. They kept in touch via mail and phone for five years, until realizing that they were “the one” for each other. They were married in 1970 and relocated to Malibu, CA in 1976. Their son Wolfgang, aka Richie, was adopted at 6 months in 1978 and attended Webster, Malibu Park/High, Santa Monica High School, and Santa Monica College.

The Bauers were active in their community during the early and mid-eighties, and were members of many organizations around Malibu. Miriam cherished her Pan Am connections and was a longtime member of the Los Angeles chapter of World Wings, until health issues prevented her further participation. Richard passed away in 2007. When Miriam began exhibiting cognitive decline, Wolfgang became her caretaker and conservator, until she succumbed to cancer.

Miriam is survived by her son, Wolfgang Richard Bauer, of Malibu, CA. Professionally, he is a Blockchain and A.I. Analyst, but is currently navigating through post-recovery efforts from the loss of their home of 49 years due to the Palisades Fires. He hopes to be able to rebuild to carry on the legacy of his parents, and help to take part in the change of new post-emergency protocols.

Memorial Services for Miriam will be held at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills at the Column of Eternal Promise, Saturday, May 3, 2025 at 3:30pm.

CHRISTINE GEFAELL
January 7, 2025
Manhattan Chapter

Sadly, we inform you of the passing of long-time Manhattan chapter member Christine Gefaell on January 7, 2025, in hospice care following a long illness. Christine is a former president of the Manhattan Chapter, having held that office in the late 1980’s.

Born of German parents living in what is now the Czech Republic, on Christine’s 8th birthday her family was expelled from that country because of their German citizenship. Returning to Germany, they lived in the Frankfurt area where Christine was raised. She was working as a nanny in Paris when she interviewed with and was accepted by Pan Am.   

Christine’s friends describe her as a renaissance woman with an interest in many things. She spoke four languages fluently and intently followed world events. She loved to swim and loved the beach and sunshine. She was also an avid gardener. Christine especially loved clothing and being well groomed. Wherever Christine made an entrance, she turned heads with her well-dressed, elegant manner. She was always impeccably turned out.

Following her employment with Pan Am, Christine worked in the travel industry, successfully owning her own tour company which conducted tours of New York City for visiting Germans.

As Christine’s illness progressed toward its end, she required hospice care and was attended there by her Pan Am roommate and advocate, Susan Anderson. Susan stayed with Christine in her final weeks, sleeping in a lounge chair in order to be available should Christine need help, a testament to how deep our Pan Am friendships run, even to this day.

Christine will be remembered fondly as a special person and wonderful friend.

KRISTINA NYLUND HERRICK
September 23, 1943 – April 11, 2025
Portland Chapter

Kristina Nylund Herrick, who joined Pan Am in 1965 during what was called the “Golden Age of Flying,” flew for seven years as stewardess and purser based in MIA, SFO, and NYC.

In later years, having a degree in music, Kristina created and hosted “In the Mode,” a public radio program focused on classical music. Her program explored new recordings, fascinating composers, and forgotten traditions of music from the medieval and Renaissance eras. She was named the station’s Classical Music Director. In retirement Kristina and her husband moved from Fresno, California to Corvallis, Oregon. She was active for many years in World Wings, most recently as a member of the PDX chapter. She passed away in early April from lung cancer, according to her husband Brian Borneman. She was 81.

At age 10, Kristina Nylund immigrated to the U.S. from Finland with her mother, where they met up with her father who had arrived earlier. They loaded up their belongings into his baby blue Ford and drove cross country to Palo Alto, California, where they planned to settle into the local Finnish community. After learning English by watching TV, finishing her education, and then working briefly in San Francisco surrounded by the hippy movement, Kristina found herself sitting in a Pan Am personnel office, thanks to one of her dad’s clients, a Pan Am captain.

On January 11, 1965, she started training in Miami. Not only did she fly around the world for the next seven years, but she met her future husband, Duane Herrick, on a layover at the crew hotel, The Piarco Guest House in Trinidad. Duane passed away in 2010.

She formed what were to become lifelong friendships with seven of the women who had flown with her from San Francisco to Panama to Miami. Kristina always treasured the connection to her 1-11-1965 training class that included past and present PDX and SEA members Gayle Larson, Esther Nelson, Susan Greb, Lynn Fox Fuller, Teresa Six Diekemper, and Susan Bailey Harris. In 1995, Kristina invited Esther to travel all over Finland with her to visit her extended family.

DIAMANTINA RUIZ JANNONE
February 4, 1940 – January 18, 2025
Manhassett, NY Resident

Diamantina Jannone (nee Ruiz) of Manhasset, NY sadly passed away on January 18, 2025. She was born on February 4, 1940 in Laredo, Texas to parents Aurelia and Encarnacion Ruiz. 

Diamantina was the wife of the late Joseph Jannone and loving mother to her three children Diamantina Jannone-Kim of Los Angeles, Justin Jannone of Manhasset, and Jordan Jannone of
Los Angeles, and grandmother to Harry Kim and Max Kim. Diamantina was the cherished sister of Eden, Samuel, Francisco, Joel, Loretta, Diana, and Geri. 

Diamantina was very elegant, popular and strong-willed. She was a majorette in high school. She spoke English, Spanish and Italian fluently.

Diamantina had a distinguished career beginning in 1960 with the United States Air Force (USAF) attaining the Rank of Airman First Class REGAF (Sergeant). Diamantina served as a flight traffic specialist with the Military Air Transport Service at McGuire Air Force Base, and routed air traffic when President Kennedy deployed thousands of troops to West Berlin in 1961. Diamantina also participated in the transportation of soldiers and cargo en route to the Republic of Vietnam. Diamantina was honored by Nassau County in 2016 as a “Woman Veteran Trailblazer.”

Following the Air Force, Diamantina then went on to have a very successful career as a flight attendant with Pan American Airways from 1964 to 1991, and then Delta Airlines until she retired in 2006. She always enjoyed going with the crew to Restaurant Casa Botin in Madrid and Baseler Eck in Frankfurt. She also took crew with her to visit the nuns at the Monastery of Corpus Christi las Carboneras in Madrid.

In December 1965, Diamantina married Joseph Jannone, who held the rank of Commander USMS. They met at a gathering in Kew Gardens, New York. Joseph was an aerospace engineer who had a PHD and worked on project RAM for NASA during the Apollo space program. The family moved to Pasadena in 1969 so he could be at the Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL) for the Apollo 11 Lunar Landing.  Commander Jannone also held two patents. 

Diamantina enjoyed collecting antiques and in 1971 opened JD SAXONY antiques in Rego Park, Queens New York. 

Diamantina enjoyed introducing her children to international travel and culture. She was also a devout Catholic. Diamantina believed in duty to her country, bravery and honor. 

On September 11, 2001, she was working as a Flight Attendant on a Delta Airlines B-767 from Madrid to New York John F. Kennedy Airport. Gander reported to the crew that U.S. authorities closed all North American Airspace. The plane was diverted back to Madrid. In all the chaos and news reports of hijacked planes we were very concerned. Fortunately, we were able to call the hotel in Madrid and find her safe. Following her return to New York, she flew a gigantic American Flag in her driveway in Manhasset. 

Diamantina is survived by family members, who will never forget the love she brought to their lives.

Funeral Mass is Friday, February 7, 2025 at 10:15 a.m. the Church of St. Mary, 1300 Northern Boulevard, Manhasset, NY 11030. Internment is Noon at the Long Island National Cemetery,
2040 Wellwood Avenue, East Farmingdale, New York 11735. There is a visitor’s parking area adjacent to the administrative office at the cemetery. People who are attending should meet at the administrative office.

LORETTA PUZZIFERRO KLINE
October 23, 1930 – April 26, 2025
Annapolis Chapter

Born in Brooklyn, New York, Loretta was the only child of the late Michele Puzziferro and the late Angiolina Caracciolo Puzziferro. She was raised in Cambria Heights, New York, where she graduated from Andrew Jackson High School.

Loretta had a fascination for airplanes and world travel. After high school, Loretta went to work for Pan Am at LaGuardia Airport, and then the international check-in counter at Idlewild (now JFK Airport). Later she became an international stewardess for Pan Am. At the time, stewardesses were not allowed to be married, and they had strict guidelines on height and weight.

She married Laurence Ward “Larry” Lucey in 1957; they would later divorce. After her children were of school age, she became a travel agent in Huntington NY. She moved to Loudoun County in 1972, where she became a volunteer at Loudoun Memorial Hospital. She married H. Wendell Kline in 1983.

Lorretta was active and still driving up until the day she died. She was a Ladies Board member at Loudoun Hospital, member of the Leesburg Garden Club, Rainbow Investment club, Leesburg Presbyterian church, Loudoun Golf & Country Club, and World Wings International (the philanthropic organization of former Pan Am flight attendants).

Loretta was predeceased by her husband, H. Wendell Kline, ex-husband, Laurence Ward Lucey, stepson, Wendell H. Kline, and her parents.

Loretta is survived by her daughter, Laurie Lucey (Dr. Flinton Callahan II) of Tunkhannock, PA, son, Laurence Michael “Bud” Lucey (Tami) of Bend, OR, stepdaughter, Emily Kline Neville (Bill) of Ocean City, MD, grandchildren, Dr. Claiborne Callahan, Sean Callahan, Patric Callahan, Garrett Neville, Conner Neville, Aidan Lucey, Isabella Lucey, and great grandson Crawford Moore.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Loretta’s honor to Lights of Love, https://ladiesboard.org/lights-of-love-donation/.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.loudounfuneralchapel.com

JEAN MCCORMICK
February 19, 1928 – January 21, 2025
Long Island Chapter

Jean McCormick passed away on January 21, 2025, one month short of her 97th birthday.

Jean was the last surviving founding member of the Long Island Chapter, which is officially recognized as the first chapter of World Wings International. The Long Island Chapter first met on March 20, 1957, and the organization was incorporated in 1959. She remained active for many years, including serving as President, until moving to New Canaan to be close to her daughter.

Jean loved to travel and attended nearly all of the World Wings International conventions. For many years Jean and her husband John hosted Long Island Chapter meetings at their home in West Hampton Beach each summer, as well as at their house in Great Neck during the winter. Several members even slept over after the Christmas parties were snowed in.

Wonderful memories of Jean’s kindness and generosity will will live on, and she will be dearly missed by the Long Island Chapter members and all of the other World Wings members she touched over the years.

In lieu of flowers the family requested donations to:
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
501 St. Jude Place, Memphis TN 38105

CONSTANTINE GEORGE “DINO” VLAHAKIS
September 23, 1934 – January 27, 2025
Boston Chapter

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Constantine George “Dino” Vlahakis, 90, Monday, January 27. 2025. A devoted father, grandfather and friend, Dino lived a life full of passion, adventure and an appreciation for the world he traveled.

Dino was born in Lowell, MA on September 23, 1934, the youngest of three children born to George and Helen (Aggelakos) Vlahakis. He attended Lowell schools and graduated from Lowell High School in 1952. After graduating from Wentworth Institute in Boston, MA, he continued as an assistant instructor and lab assistant in the Aircraft Maintenance Engineering department. He was later employed as an aviation maintenance tech for Four Star Aviation at Tew Mac airport in Tewksbury, MA and earned his FAA private pilot’s license there as well. After successfully passing the qualifying tests at Naval Air Station, South Weymouth, MA, he reported to Pensacola, FL for Naval Aviator flight training. He received his commission and gold wings upon completion of advance training at Naval Air Station, Corpus Christi, Texas.

His fleet assignment was Patrol Squadron Two (VP-2) based at Naval Air Station, Whidbey Islands, Washington with deployments to Kodiak, Alaska and the Aleutian Islands, flying the Lockheed P2V-7 Neptune patrol bomber. Upon completion of his active duty tour, he returned to the Northeast and flew as a corporate pilot for Eastern Gas and Fuel in Boston and flew in the Naval Reserve unit at South Weymouth, MA. He later flew for Mohawk Airlines based in New York. In 1964, he was hired by Pan American Airways, based at JFK Internation Airport for over 27 years as a flight engineer, copilot and subsequently as a captain on the Boeing 707, Lockheed L1011 and Boeing 747.

His love for flying was not just his profession but his way of life. Whether soaring through the skies or offering rides in his beloved 1941 Stearman biplane, he found joy in sharing the freedom of flight with others. The hum of the engine and the open skies were where he felt most at home, and he delighted in giving others the chance to experience that same wonder.

Dino had an incredible eye for photography, never seen without his camera in hand. He never missed Kate’s basketball games after retiring. Always there for support, encouragement and photos. His passion ensured that no moment went unnoticed and no memory went uncaptured. His love for cars, particularly his 1972 Mustang Convertible, attending car shows over New England, with trophies in hand.

He was an active member of his church, St. Vasilios Greek Orthodox, American Legion Post # 22 and committed to his community.

Dino will be remembered for his kindness, generosity and adventurous spirit. His legacy lives on in the countless photographs, the flights he shared, the cars he loved and the many lives he touched.

He is survived by his daughter, Katherine Vlahakis and grandson, Luca Vlahakis, nephew Thomas Belkakis (Donna), nephew-in-law Richard Guillemette and daughter Natalie (Jordan) Denyse. Dylan (Kayla, Eliza, Alex and Matthew) Kane who was like a son.

A viewing will be held at Ricker Funeral Home, Lebanon, NH on Thursday, February 6, from 4-7 pm. The funeral service will be held on Friday, February 7, at St. Vasilios Greek Orthodox Church in Newport, NH at 10 am with interment following at 12 pm at the Veteran’s Cemetery in Boscawen, NH.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Vasilios Greek Orthodox Church, 45 Winter Street, Newport, NH 03773 or the American Legion Guyer-Carignan Post #22, 189 Mechanic Street, Lebanon, NH 03766. An online guest book is available to leave a message of condolence for Dino’s family by visiting www.rickerfuneralhome.com

Blue skies and tailwinds, Dino – your journey continues beyond the horizon.

DIANA RIVERA WIGGINS
September 5, 1946 – February 23, 2025
Miami Chapter

It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Diana Rivera Wiggins, on February 23, 2025. Born September 5th, 1946 to Thomas and Grace Rivera, Diana lived life as a globetrotter, a wonderful chef, a devoted wife, and a proud mother and Abuela.

Diana was known and respected for her strong will, determination, and love and support for her family and the World Wings community. She was a Renaissance woman, gaining a law degree after her Pan Am career ended, and after the birth of her daughter, founding International Children’s Foundation (ICF), a non profit adoption agency. Diana’s legal career in probate and guardianship and ICF’s work were the strongest reflections of her core values; providing unwavering advocacy for those who cannot advocate for themselves.

After the death of her first husband, Bob, Diana was fortunate to find love again, and for the last few decades she and her husband Norman split their time between Miami and Idaho. When they weren’t home, the pair loved to take cruises. Diana is survived by Norman, her daughter Meredith, and her grandchildren, Ophelia and Atticus.

At Diana’s request, no service will be held. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation to World Wings International, the philanthropic organization of former Pan Am flight attendants. Donate to World Wings International