Michael C. "Mac" Tarrou

Wanting to Be Together
Amy King and Michael Tarrou, United Airlines flight attendants, were on Flight 175 when it crashed into the south tower. Working on the same flight was not uncommon: Ms. King and Mr. Tarrou had been dating for more than two years. They had recently started living together in Stafford Springs, Conn.

"They tried to get the same schedule so they could be together more," Deborah Lloyd, Ms. King's sister, said from her home in Naperville, Ill. "They were supposed to have a long layover in Chicago beginning Sept. 12. We were going to have dinner."

The youngest of three sisters, Ms. King, 29, grew up in a small town near Jamestown, N.Y. In high school, she ran track and cross-country. She liked to paint and was interested in clothing design. She started working for United in Chicago in 1993.

Mr. Tarrou, 38, grew up in Wantagh, on Long Island. He loved flying, but making music was a stronger love. "Originally we started playing in bands in Queens and on Long Island" in high school, said Tom Divine, a friend. "He was great at guitar, bass and keyboards and was pretty much the best vocalist I have ever worked with."

During layovers in the Bay Area, Mr. Divine said, he and Mr. Tarrou would spend time in the recording studio.

So far as anyone knows, Mr. Tarrou never asked Ms. King to marry him. But no one doubts that would have happened.

"They were engaged, in their own way," said Dr. James Tarrou, Michael's father. "We were encouraging him, because she was a remarkable person."

Profile published in THE NEW YORK TIMES on December 3, 2001.


Michael C. "Mac" Tarrou, 38, of Stafford Springs, Connecticut, was a flight attendant with United Airlines on UA Flight 175.

He was born and raised in Wantagh, New York. He attended college on Long Island and then relocated to Florida where he also attended school for electrical engineering.

Mac enjoyed writing and recording music. He played many instruments including the guitar, bass, piano and drums. He was also an excellent martial artist. He liked golf, too!

He was employed by United Airlines in 1991, was based in Boston, and resided in Stafford Springs with his girlfriend Amy King (who was also on Flight 175).

He will be very sorely missed by his daughter, Gina; his parents, Dr. James and Patricia Tarrou; his brother, Charles Tarrou; his sisters, Gigi Hintz and Demetra Lumia and their families; Jill Tarrou (Gina's mom); and the hundreds of friends he's known along the way.