MARCH, 2011
John Gregory
McFarlane of Palm Springs, California, passed away on
February 27, 2011,
while on a business trip to Toronto, Canada.
Known as "John" to his
friends and colleagues, and as "Gregg" to family
and home-town
acquaintances, John Gregory was born in Del Rio, Texas, on
January 1,
1954. The first baby born in Del Rio that year, his arrival
was a
celebrated event appropriate for the joy that he would bring to so
many
people during his 57 years.
Growing up in Del Rio, John identified his
career direction early in
life. His passion for flying was
documented when as a teenager, he
received his first pilot's license
before he was old enough to hold a
Texas driver's license. More than
a quarter century later, John's
continuing love of flying led him to
enroll at the Sierra Academy of
Aeronautics in San Francisco, aiming to
qualify on twin-engine
aircraft. He was a member of AOPA (Aircraft
Owners and Pilots
Association) for many years, and was looking forward to
returning to
flying, having recently re-qualified for his private pilot
license.
Shortly after graduating from Del Rio High School in 1972,
John set off
for Dallas to attend the Braniff Career Academy. He
thrived at the
Academy, joining Braniff International Airways as a flight
attendant,
where he represented Braniff with distinction until the company
ceased
operations in 1989. While Braniff was undergoing
reorganization from
1982 to 1984, John flew for Piedmont Airlines.
In 1990, John joined
American Airlines, where he was still working out of
the Los Angeles
International Airport base at the time of his
passing. While serving
American Airlines with the same exemplary
service he was known for at
Braniff, John began a secondary career.
In 1992, he became a Licensed
Vocational Nurse, and worked for a time at
St. Mary's Medical Center in
San Francisco.
John's career in
aviation afforded him enough free hours to pursue his
entrepreneurial
ambitions. He was involved with several creative
ventures before
successfully founding HMC Real Estate (Hoban McFarlane
Company) with his
partner Richard J. Hoban. The partners became
licensed California
real estate brokers with operations and agents in
Los Angeles, San
Francisco, Palm Springs and Murphys. Mr. McFarlane was
President of
the company, but more importantly, was the heart and soul
of the
company.
One of the joys of Johns life was his membership in the
Clipped B's, a
social organization for Braniff Flight Attendants.
John loved all his
Braniff girls, as he always referred to them. He
was a very
enthusiastic, active member of the club. He secured and
organized
travel benefits for all members, participated in various fund
raising,
helped organize annual reunions and other events, and was a
friend to
all the club members.
Mr. McFarlane's family and
countless friends loved him as a principled
individual with an abundance
of those human traits that matter the
most. He had a profoundly easy
sense of humor, loyalty, compassion,
courage, industry and an uncanny
ability to spread good humor. He was
the glue that held us together,
whether we were his extended family or
his Braniff alumni. He was
the son who provided comfort, the brother
who was always there, the uncle
who provided hope, the friend who did
whatever had to be done, the guy who
made life fun when he was around.
We shall miss him
deeply.
John Gregory McFarlane is survived by his partner in life,
Richard Hoban
of Palm Springs, his parents Alvis and Evelyn McFarlane of
Del Rio,
Texas, his brother and sister-in-law Harold and Mary Ellen
McFarlane of
Idaho Falls, Idaho, and his nephew Matthew McFarlane of
Boise, Idaho.
A celebration of John's life will be held Sunday, March
13 2011 from 5pm
to 7pm, at Escena Golf Club, 1100 Club House View Drive,
Palm Springs
92262.
In deference to John's nurturing spirit, we
request that in lieu of
flowers, please consider making a donation in his
memory to The Wings
Foundation, Inc., P.O. Box 610563, DFW Airport, TX
75261-0563.
[www.wingsfoundation.com
(memorials)]
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