Maurice Wallerson

Maurice is survived by Dena Porter Wallerson, his wife of 35 years, his mother Catherine Wallerson, and countless extended members of the family and dear friends.

Maurice, born in London, England, moved to the United States as a teenager to learn to fly airplanes, which became his passion and career. During his transition to the United States he was reared by his mother, grandfather (Venture Alexander Wallerson), and aunt and uncle (Ethel and John Beckles). He attended Brooklyn Technical High School, where he studied aeronautics and architecture. While there, he was on the cross country team, and was an avid soccer and belying his roots, a cricket player as well. He attended the Academy of Aeronautics in Queens and completed his first solo flight at Teterboro Airport in New Jersey. To build his flying hours, he was a personal pilot for architect Toshihiko Sakow, one of the designers of balloon and airship exhibits at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC. He continued his corporate flying with the General Foods Corporation, and then flew for passenger airlines New Air and Eastern Airlines. He spent the rest of his career with Fedex, domiciled in Anchorage and Los Angeles as a captain on the MD-11 airplane.

His “need for speed” extended outside the cockpit. He was an avid skier, cyclist, sports car driver and motorcyclist. He followed the Formula 1 race car circuit, and a highlight of his life was meeting the current Formula 1 race car champion and fellow Brit, Lewis Hamilton. Although he loved flying and seeing the world, his fondest memories were of simple get togethers with family and friends.

A celebration of his life will be held in the spring in New York City and one on Martha’s Vineyard this summer. In lieu of donations, Maurice would have loved if you “pay it forward” to help someone in need as he would have done.