Roger Atwood, 88, remembered for his love of flying

By Owen Boss

Staff Writer

NORTHAMPTON - Lifelong Northampton resident and legendary pilot Roger Atwood, 88, founder of the former Atwood Airport, died Thursday after a life spent sharing his passion for flying with others.

A lifelong friend and former business partner, Richard Giusto, said Atwood's love for flying began at a young age, when he moved at age 7 into his Hubbard Avenue home - just a stone's throw away from Northampton Municipal Airport. Atwood lived there for the rest of his life.

More specifically, Giusto said Atwood traced his interest in flying to when he met Charles Lindbergh at Northampton Airport as a young boy.

"Roger and his buddy showed up to see the landing and Lindbergh bounced on the runway," Giusto said. "Roger said he walked over to him, patted him on the head and said, #I guess I disappointed you with that landing.'"

Atwood was no stranger to famous pilots, Giusto said, having met Amelia Earhart, flown for Howard Hughes and John F. Kennedy and taught Boston Red Sox great Ted Williams how to fly before his famed career as a fighter pilot during World War II and the Korean War.

"Roger always had a passion for flying, that was his life, and he was such a dedicated person and a loving husband and father, I can't even begin to tell you," Giusto said. "He had tons of friends, literally anyone who has ever flown locally has heard of Roger, and always, no matter how bad things got, he always had a smile on his face."

At the age of 19, Atwood became the youngest pilot in the nation to receive his commercial pilot's license. When the United States entered World War II, Giusto said officials determined that Atwood was more valuable to the war effort as U.S. Navy captain flight instructor, so he ended up training military pilots at the Northampton Airport from 1941 to 1944.

"He was just a born natural; he was an extremely talented pilot," Giusto said. "Losing him is losing a very large part of aviation history."

After the war, Atwood founded Atwood Airport in 1946 and operated it until 1966. After closing the airport, he returned to Northampton Airport, working with Giusto as partners in buying and selling airplanes from all over the world.

In 2006, Atwood was awarded the Federal Aviation Administration's Master Pilot Award in recognition of his 50 years of safe flying. He managed the former Pilgrim Airport in Whately before its closing.

Truly young at heart, Atwood continued to fly up to the age of 83, drove his car around Northampton up until his passing and was always full of life, according to his friend and business partner.

"He was so well-liked by everyone he met," Giusto said. "He was just a really special guy."

Funeral services for Atwood will be Tuesday at 11 a.m. from the Ahearn Funeral Home, 783 Bridge Road, followed by burial with full military honors at Spring Grove Cemetery. Calling hours are Monday from 5 to 8 p.m. with a wake service at 7:30 p.m.

Owen Boss can be reached at oboss@gazettenet.com.