CAlvin Durand Yaggy

Calvin Durand Yaggy, 84, died Tuesday, April 25 at Kendal at Hanover after a short illness. He is survived by his wife, Jane Praeger Yaggy of Hanover, New Hampshire; his son, Donald Durand Yaggy of Richmond, Vermont; his daughter, Ann Yaggy Nelson of Bedford, New Hampshire, and four grandchildren. Born in 1916 in Chicago, son of Arthur and Bertha (Durand) Yaggy, he was the youngest of three brothers. His family soon moved to Carpenteria, California, where Calvin grew up on the family’s avocado ranch. He possessed a lifelong interest in aviation, beginning with his winning of an American Legion essay contest in 1932 and using the prize money to attend the Boeing School of Aeronautics in Oakland, California. He received his private pilot’s license at age 16. This pioneering quality was characteristic of Calvin throughout his life, along with his strong sense of altruism and concern for others. Later, after two years at Lafayette College in Pennsylvania and Occidental in California, he returned to Boeing School for further education in the field of airline management and was subsequently employed by Pan American Airways in Glendale, California as Assistant Airport Manager at that airport. He married Jane Eves Praeger, of Pasadena, California, in 1937; shortly thereafter they were sent to El Salvador, Central America, where at the age of twenty-two he became airport manager at the San Salvador airport. In 1943, Calvin accepted the position of General Manager of Avensa Airlines (a subsidiary of Pan Am) in Caracas, Venezuela. Cal’s work with the airline was crucial for the safe air transport of oil, machinery, diamonds, and rubber for the Allied Forces during World War II. Following the war, his work with Pan Am focused on the re-establishment of airline service to Pacific Rim countries. At different times throughout his career of forty-three years, Cal served as Director of Ground Operations for every division of Pan Am, world-wide, and was instrumental in extending Pan Am’s service to African cities and Russia. He was a primary developer of a parts-pooling agreement between participating international airlines, and also co-wrote an airline safety manual for Pan Am that became a model for the aviation industry. Airline safety was always his major concern; he served on an international commission which investigated airline crashes and established improved safety procedures. Following his retirement in 1979, Cal and Jane moved to River Bend, North Carolina, where Calvin became the new, small Town’s volunteer administrative officer. He was also heavily involved in the fledgling Neuse River Foundation, which he helped develop into a dynamic organization dedicated to the preservation and conservation of the River and surrounding areas. After eleven years in North Carolina, Cal and Jane moved in 1991 to Kendal at Hanover. He has served as President of the Residents Association, was chair of the Energy Conservation Committee for many years, and has served on several other committees. He also worked with the Harvest Partners Garden, sponsored by the Co-Op, as well as several other Upper Valley charitable and environmental groups. Throughout his life, Cal dedicated himself to causes that were important to him, his family and his community. He will be remembered by all who knew him as one who possessed great reverence for the natural world, and a dedicated, creative, generous individual who gave selflessly to all around him. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Contributions may be made, if desired, to Kendal at Hanover Health Center Project or to a charity of one’s choice.