Danna M. Henderson

On Sunday, November 20, 2022, Danna Kusianovich Henderson, 88, passed away peacefully at her home in Easton, MD, with daughter Lisa by her side. She was born on May 22, 1934, in Roswell, NM, to Daniel and Marguerite Kusianovich. She married Jack Henderson in 1960, and Lisa was born in 1961. Danna graduated from Capitan High School in 1947 as class valedictorian and enrolled at the University of New Mexico. She graduated in 1955 with a degree in journalism and a minor in archaeology. Danna became a reporter on the Albuquerque Journal and learned to fly at the long-gone West Mesa Airport. In 1959, she went to Washington, DC, as a research assistant to Sen. Clinton P. Anderson. In 1960, Danna became a reporter for Aviation Daily. She then became managing editor of American Aviation. She also worked on convention newspapers, beginning with one for NBAA, and in 1967 published the first (and last) bilingual Convention News at the Paris Air Show in collaboration with Air et Cosmos. In the early 1960s, Danna got her helicopter pilot’s license and joined the newly created Whirly-Girls organization of women helicopter pilots. She went to the White House with other charter members of the Whirly-Girls and met President John F. Kennedy. She also worked as a freelance journalist, working at Transpo ’72 for ALPA and AFA, Convention News at a number of conventions, and producing a newsletter for Indian tribes. In 1973, Danna joined Air Transport World (ATW) magazine as managing editor. She stayed in this role until moving back to New Mexico in 1980, at which point she became a contributing writer for ATW – working on, among other things, the infamous World Airline Report. Danna worked for a number of years on ATW Daily News from its start to her retirement in 2011 after a 50+-year career as an aviation journalist. Danna moved back to Maryland in 2003 to be close to daughter Lisa and grandson Jesse. Other notable interests included: • A love of horses; Danna became a champion barrel racer • Life Master in Bridge • Website committee of her community • With childhood friend Claire started finding and contacting other "Fort Stanton Kids" and asking them to write their memories and share photos. This was the catalyst for two wonderful photo books written by Jim McBride: Fort Stanton Marine Hospital and Children of Fort Stanton. In 2005, the two put together a fabulous reunion attended by more than 60 Fort Stanton Kids and their families. • Wrote for the Fort Stanton newsletter for many years about the history of the Fort and the Fort Stanton Kids who lived there between the early 1920s and 1953. Danna was preceded in death by husband Jack, and her parents Daniel and Marguerite Kusianovich of Albuquerque, NM. She is survived by daughter Lisa Ray, grandson Jesse Ray (wife Lauren), great granddaughter Riley Magnolia Allison Ray, and brother John Kusianovich, LaBelle, FL. A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, December 11, 2022 – 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM at Fellows, Helfenbein, and Newnan Funeral Home, 106 Shamrock Rd, Chester, MD 21619. Donations in Danna’s memory can be made to Talbot Hospice. (https://talbothospice.org/donate/ways-to-give/tribute-gifts/)

Danna M. Henderson

May 22, 1934 - November 20, 2022