Bette Nash
Bette Nash | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Mary Elizabeth Burke December 31, 1935 |
| Died | May 17, 2024 (aged 88) |
| Occupation | Flight attendant |
| Years active | 1957–2024 |
| Known for | World's longest serving flight attendant |
| Children | 1 |
Mary Elizabeth Burke-Nash (December 31, 1935 – May 17, 2024) was an American flight attendant who was recognized as the world's longest-serving flight attendant in 2022 by Guinness World Records. She worked for various airlines in a career spanning over 65 years.
Background[edit]
Mary Elizabeth Burke was born on December 31, 1935, and raised in Pleasantville, New Jersey, just outside Atlantic City.[1][2] She had two younger sisters.[3] She worked summer jobs on the Boardwalk. She studied business at Sacred Heart College.[4]
Burke married James Nash in 1973, and they had a son.[5] At the time of her death, Nash lived in Manassas, Virginia.[5]
Career[edit]
After working as a legal secretary, she was hired on November 4, 1957, by Eastern Air Lines in Miami.[4][6] After attending its charm school, she became a stewardess in 1958.[7][6] She transferred to Washington, D.C. in 1961.[4] She mostly worked on the Eastern Air Lines Shuttle from Washington, D.C., New York City, and Boston so that she could return home to care for her son, who has Down syndrome and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.[6] From June 1989, she worked for Trump Shuttle after the Eastern Air Line Shuttle's ground rights and 17 aircraft were sold to Donald Trump.[3][8] Just a year later the company was in financial default, with Nash subsequently continuing with its successor US Airways Shuttle, which became the American Airlines Shuttle in 2015 following the merger of US Airways and American Airlines.[9]
For her 50th anniversary as a flight attendant, US Airways honored Nash with a party at Reagan National Airport, including a water salute, typically only reserved for retiring captains or officers.[10] In 2022, Nash was named the longest-serving flight attendant by Guinness World Records.[11]
Death[edit]
Nash entered hospice care after being diagnosed with breast cancer, but never officially retired.[12] She died on May 17, 2024, at the age of 88 after working for 67 years.[13]
References[edit]
- ^ "Betty Burke of Pleasantville, New Jersey at Sacred Heart Junior College". The Gastonia Gazette. May 16, 1957. p. 12. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
- ^ Oldest flight attendant (female), Guinness World records,
b. 31 December 1935
- ^ a b "60 years making the skies a bit friendlier". Waterloo Region Record. November 28, 2017. p. 23. Archived from the original on May 27, 2024. Retrieved May 26, 2024.
- ^ a b c Gannon, Joyce (November 25, 2007). "Flight attendant marks 50 years in her dream job". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Archived from the original on May 26, 2024. Retrieved May 26, 2024.
- ^ a b Risen, Clay (May 29, 2024). "Bette Nash, Longest-Serving Flight Attendant in the World, Dies at 88". The New York Times. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
- ^ a b c Viser, Matt (December 14, 2014). "A lifetime of lessons, from 30,000 feet – The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Archived from the original on May 26, 2024. Retrieved May 26, 2024.
- ^ Cohan, Michelle (December 2, 2016). "Lessons from 60 years as a flight attendant". CNN. Archived from the original on May 26, 2024. Retrieved May 26, 2024.
- ^ "Playboy Interview: Donald Trump (1990)". Playboy.com. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
- ^ Clabaugh, Jeff (October 13, 2015). "As of Saturday, no more US Airways at DCA". Washington Business Journal. Retrieved December 29, 2015.
- ^ Miroff, Nick (November 8, 2007). "A Half-Decade Saving Up Frequent-Flier Miles, Stories". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
- ^ "World's longest-serving flight attendant dies aged 88: 'Fly high, Bette'". The Guardian. May 27, 2024. Archived from the original on May 27, 2024. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
- ^ "Longest-serving flight attendant dies at 88". BBC News. May 27, 2024. Archived from the original on May 27, 2024. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
- ^ Sarnoff, Leah; Sweeney, Sam (May 25, 2024). "Bette Nash, world's longest-serving flight attendant, dies at 88". ABC News. Archived from the original on May 26, 2024. Retrieved May 26, 2024.