Bartholomew Spano Jr.

SPANO, BARTHOLOMEW JR. (Age 57)

Died on August 25, 2004 in the District of Columbia at his home in Palisades after a long struggle with cancer. Known by family and friends as "Barry" or "Bart", Mr. Spano was a helicopter and fixed wing instructor and commercial pilot and formerly worked for Henson Aviation as a staff pilot. Mr. Spano was a graduate of Bethesda Chevy Chase High School 1964 and enlisted in the United States Marines in 1966. He received his military training at Parris Island and then at Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico where he earned a sharp shooter medal and became a certified air frame and power plant mechanic. He then transferred to the Army Flight School at Fort Rucker, Alabama. Mr. Spano served in Vietnam in 1969 where he served as a helicopter pilot and flew dozens of missions over South Vietnam. He was wounded by enemy fire in the performance of his duty while evacuating wounded under combat conditions. For his extraordinary efforts he was awarded the Purple Heart. He then was restationed to Ashaffenburg, Germany, and entered the Reserves in 1972. In 1975, he received a Bachelors degree at the University of Maryland and was discharged from the United States Army Reserve in 1986. Mr. Spano was an avid motorcycle collector and member of the Washington, D.C. Norton Motorcycle Club.

Survivors include his mother, Pari; siblings, Diana, George, Stephen and Victor and nieces, Madeline and Jessica. Services private.