May God bless you and your...
I met Vicki briefly while I worked at Vredenburg, she was very polite and had this positive glow about her that I still remember to this day 21 years later.
Joel
September 09, 2022 | Work
Springfield, Virginia
Vicki Yancey was on her way to Reno for a business conference but hadn't planned to be on Flight 77, which crashed into the Pentagon on Tuesday.
Yancey, a former naval electronics technician, worked for a defense contracting company and had planned to leave Washington earlier, but ticketing problems delayed her departure, her husband, David, told the Washington Post. She called her husband 10 minutes before the flight boarded, to tell him that she got a seat on the plane.
Profile courtesy of THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE.
Vicki Yancey, 43, mom who loved politics
Vicki Costanzo Yancey loved politics; it says so on her Web site. And she loved her family, figure skating, her four cats and making a difference.
Mrs. Yancey, 43, who grew up in New Jersey, was a typical middle-class mother of two, according to her husband, David -- but a mom who testified before the Senate Finance Committee, who once gave CNN's "Quote of the Day" and who was involved in activities from her daughters' schools to national politics.
An electronics technician and Navy veteran who lived in Springfield, Va., she died on Sept. 11 when American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon.
"I think she was the epitome of a middle-class woman who loved her kids, loved politics and loved life," David Yancey said. "She cared for all human beings."
Mrs. Yancey's life took her from New Jersey to Hawaii -- where she met and married her husband -- to Capitol Hill.
Her Senate appearance, which she called on her Web site "the most interesting thing I have ever done," came in 1991 after she wrote to the Washington Post lamenting the loss of the one-income family.
She was asked to speak at a tax reform hearing about the struggles of the middle-class family. She delivered the CNN "Quote of the Day," led the Headline News, and was profiled by CNN and PBS.
Her quote: "Diving deeply into debt in our middle age is a very unappealing possibility."
"She referred to that as her 15 minutes of fame," her husband said.
She created her own Web site after that, filling it with photos and commentary on her many passions: daughters Michelle, 18, and Carolyn, 15; figure skating, which she loved to watch; travel, and politics.
"She was a good American citizen," said her father, Salvatore Costanzo of Hamilton Township.
Born in Kearny, Mrs. Yancey lived there until age 15, when her family moved to Hillsborough. She graduated from Hillsborough High School in 1974.
At 22, she joined the Navy, becoming an electronics technician. She served for six years, four at Pearl Harbor. She and her husband married in Honolulu, where their first daughter was born.
At the time of her death, Mrs. Yancey worked as a Department of Defense contractor with Vrendenburg Co. in Washington, D.C. She was en route to a conference in Reno, Nev. She was supposed to take an earlier flight but had to switch because of ticketing problems.
"It breaks my heart that she left before any of us got up. We said our goodbyes the night before," her husband said. Their last conversation was before takeoff, when they said "I love you," and he wished her a safe trip.
One thing David Yancey said his wife would not want now is for her death to cause any abuse to Arab-Americans.
"That's not how she lived her life and that's not what she wants," he said.
In addition to her husband, daughters and father, Mrs. Yancey is survived by a sister, Gloria Snekszer of Acworth, Ga.; three brothers, Ronald of Edison, Raymond and Richard, both of North Carolina; and several nieces and nephews.
Memorial services with military honors were held at St. Bernadette's Catholic Church in Springfield.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Pentagon Relief Fund.
Not sure what to say?
I met Vicki briefly while I worked at Vredenburg, she was very polite and had this positive glow about her that I still remember to this day 21 years later.
Joel
September 09, 2022 | Work
Vicki, this year is the 20th anniversary of Flight #77 being crashed into the Pentagon. Sarah Dixon's daughter had her 4th birthday a few days ago and Sheila Hartman passed on. I still miss your smiling face and think about you often. Hope your Family is doing well.
Bob Schultz
September 11, 2021
Vicki was taken 20 years ago, but she will always be loved and always be remembered. RIP
September 11, 2021
Vicki, 19 years have passed. I finally retired last year. Do hope your Husband and Children are doing well. We all miss you.
Bob Schultz
September 11, 2020 | Spotsylvania, VA
We send our deep sympathy. May God give the help needed with each new day. Vicki is still missed and is remembered lovingly.
The Kindred Family
February 03, 2020
May Vicki find peace & joy...
Alex lai
December 20, 2019 | ON
I never met Vicki, or simply Yancey, as we knew her on the Time Politics message board, but I always enjoyed her posts. She was funny and smart and wanted only the best for our country.
I remember how proud she was that she got on CSPAN once.
Ray Wulfe
September 11, 2019 | Indianapolis, IN
Vicki,
17 years have passed and many of us still remember and miss you. I am still working with the Marines at Quantico. Hope your Family is well. Miss you!
Bob Schultz
September 11, 2018 | Spotsylvania, VA | Coworker
Vicki, 16 years have passed since that fateful day. I am still working, except now I am with the Marine Corps in Quantico; the commute to the Navy Yard was to much. Do hope your Husband & Children are fine...many of us miss you!
Regards,
Bob Schultz
Spotsylvania, VA
September 11, 2017