Bob Reardon (PDF)

Robert Reardon
The Legend at
Northwest Airlines

N
W
A

Bob Reardon
Through The
Eyes Of Those
That Worked
With Him 


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Stories & Pictures
from those that
flew with Bob

Best Pals
Bruce and Bob

Deanne Mckenney Bob you were on my first flight to
NRT and I was able to have the pleasure of working with
you in First Class. You were very kind and patient with
me as you showed me the ropes with your
professionalism. It was a day I will never forget! Thank
you for that moment.


Anne Kerr

This photo Below was
taken in 1956 0r 1957. I
know, because I took the
photo. 

It is in the galley of a
B-377 Stratocruiser,
either to or from
Washington D.C.

Bob & Anne
Kerr

About 1956-57

Lisa Ferguson
Lamkins
My picture with Bob! I
figure he's going to be
on "The tonight show"
or "Ellen" I wanted to
have a pic with the
"infamous Bob" this is a
few years back on a
Narita flight!

Katy Laura
Henriksen

This the worst pic of me
but Bob you look great!
We were in NRT and I
thought I missed you
then Bobbie Pirnie Towns
called and said, "he's
here! Hurry downstairs!"
And I ran! So glad I
caught you 😄 thank you
for posing with me 


Lisa Ferguson Lamkins

Katy Laura Henriksen

"3

Stories & Pictures from those that

Bonita
Caringola
Caldwell 

I met you once
in NRT and
told you I
hoped to be
Number 1
some day. You
replied "All
You Have to
Do Is Keep
Breathing" I
walked away
with a big
grin on my
face. I only
wish I would
have had the
honor to fly
with you. You
are such an
inspiration!
You are truly
a legend in my
eyes!

flew with Bob


Deanne Mckenney Bob you were on my first flight to
NRT and I was able to have the pleasure of working with
you in First Class. You were very kind and patient with
me as you showed me the ropes with your
professionalism. It was a day I will never forget! Thank
you for that moment.


Theresa Glover
Kutschall 


being told it was time to Neal McMahon One
reapply the lipstick...
of my memories of

Bob I am sure you
know where this
picture was taken! It
was last October when I
had the pleasure of
running into you in
NRT. I only had the
pleasure to fly with you
a couple of times and I
was lucky enough to
work your galley and sit
and talk with you. I
wish more people
would have had the
chance to know what a
great man you are! You
will be remembered
always!

But my fav of you was
in HKG.... We went to
sticky fingers and you
told a cute Mongolian
girl to " Go home, your
mother misses you"
LOL


Martha Nolan
I loved being your
vegetable girl during
the 7 cart service
days!!! I also loved

Theresa Glover




Cathie Hayward


The most senior and
oldest flight attendant
in the world, just
happened to be in
Continuous
Qualification Training
that day. At age 87, this
legendary former
Purser has been flying
for over 60 years,
beginning his career
with Northwest
Airways, Inc.


Cathie Hayward

flying with Bob is on
the HNL layovers at
the Ala Moana hotel.
Bob always requested
a room with a
balcony facing the
water and when the
crew would come
back to the hotel late
at night you could
normally see Bob
sitting out on his
balcony having a beer
looking out over
Honolulu.
Sometimes he would
even wave :-)


Teresa Minnie Kovars
"Look expensive"

"4

Larry Baird

Bob. It has been many years since we have flown
together, but I do remember one trip to NRT I occupied your first class
galley. After we rocked it and the service was over you turned to me
and said, "Well Larry, it's time to go turn this pigeon into a peacock." I
always loved the stories you shared. I just wished we could retire your
number! Enjoy retirement. You will always be #1.


Marilyn Parish

Yes Bob I too enjoyed working with you on many flights,
including Mac charters when you would insist that we unwrap those sandwiches
( remember the frozen bricks that we would reload to cook for the last
service?). and when people ask me what was your beauty secret, I would
always tell them about how you used to tape your face at night. One day you
had a slight rash and were thinking out loud, and wondered why you had
broken out? Later you shared that you used a different brand. tape. I should
have done your beauty regime, I wonder if it is too late.?


Theresa Bartimus Bittner

Craig Ringstad When Bob was looking
we had to only carry 2 trays at a time
in the main cabin. Does anyone
remember that story. But when he
went behind the curtain, of course I'm
sure we carried at least 4 and
sometimes 5 to get the trays to the
galley. Bob your an icon.
Pamela Haller Anderson Bob! I worked
my 1st trip to London/Gatwick in FC
w/u and another classmate in
1981...our 1st international! U were
so kind to us, and so knowledgeable
about the 7 cart service...ud say, "
2nd cart over, 3rd tray down is the
caviar, 4th cart 1st tray is ice
sculpture, etc, put it on the cart
Nelson D Landa

now". We did it and rocked the
service....impressed customers, crew, I
think U :))) anyway, ran into u most
recently in NRT maybe 6-8 months
ago and I told u about working with u
on my 1st international trip EVER!
What did u respond? With ur usual dry
wit, u said, "Was I nice to u?" Yes u
were Bob, yes u were :))).


"5

It’s About Bob

Brandie Lee-Mae During Northwest Airlines Initial Training, January
2008, our instructors, including Philip A. Faggiano, excitedly came
into the classroom and told us that Robert Reardon was in the
building for ART/HOT (annual recurrent training/hands on
training). They told us his story and convinced him to come into
our class and give a little talk and even answer our ridiculous
questions. He did so gracefully. We were in awe of having met the
legend. In the years since, whenever his name would come up in
work conversations, I was always able to proudly say, "Oh, yeah, I
met him. And he seemed really nice."


Sam Ward
I remember
meeting you
for the first
time right out
side of
checkpoint 3
in MSP. I said,
'Bob, I've
heard so much
about you', to
which you
replied, 'the
good or the
bad? It's all
probably
true.'

Christine L'Allier

So many memories with
you, Bob. But one thing
that will always stand
out for me is your
gorgeous"Belgian"
hair!!!!! That, and our
little Japanese man on
the way to Saipan, who
tried to open 1L
because he thought it
was the bathroom! I,
along with countless
others, will miss you.
Jeffrey Gehring I
remember a flight to or
from NRT and I ended up
being your galley in BE
on the 777. I was scared
as hell. I had worked
with you a few times,
but never as your galley.
Well...I screwed up big
time. I miscounted and
we were short 1 beef
and had an extra chicken
instead. It was for a nonrev in the last row of BE
so it was not the end of
the world. I said I would

go explain it to him...and
you said you had it. I
walked over to him as
you were telling him that
I am very junior and
really messed up. Then
you looked at me and
said what can we expect
when a person has only
been here for a mere 25
years. Then you gave
me that famous smile of
yours and I laughed out
loud. I will miss your
quick wit and the banter
we shared. Your endless
stories were priceless. I
only hope you take this
time to put to pen your
life experiences. I look
forward to a party of
your peers for a
wonderful send off of a
wonderful career.
Susan Kaniut Evidenced
from many posts, for
whatever reason F/C
Galley always went junior
when you were

onboard.:) I was a new
hire back in 1985 and
landed the primo spot of
your galley person. You
were such a great
teacher. I knew just to
do everything exactly
like to wanted it - and all
would be fine - and it
was!! Once I got over
the initial nervousness of
flying with our #1
person - I came to
appreciate your
impeccable standards,
truly sarcastic wit, and
your self deprecating
sense of humor. You will
be missed.

"6

Barb Hrebal Thomssen Bob was a legend and
will be missed I remember flying with him and he
always had his 1 liners like this job wouldn't be
bad if it wasn't for the people! Sorry you didn't
get to leave us in NRT but I'm sure your there

Bonita
Caringola
Caldwell 

I met you once
in NRT and
told you I
hoped to be
Number 1
some day. You
replied "All
You Have to
Do Is Keep
Breathing" I
walked away
with a big
grin on my
face. I only
wish I would
have had the
honor to fly
with you. You
are such an
inspiration!
You are truly
a legend in my
eyes!



Lulu Baurle

Lauren Hernandez Look expensive",
he said as we took this. Well, I
looked like hell. But Robert Reardon
looked great at 84 years old. At the
end of the trip, he asked, "So, how
was I?" I had long heard rumors
that he was kind of a curmudgeon. I
told him he was wonderful. He
replied, "shh, don't tell anyone. I
have a reputation to protect.

Robert Reardon

Tucker Sibley George

DC Bails-Forbes

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Stories & Pictures from those that

flew with Bob


Somber Picture By

Brendan O'Callaghan
Deanne Mckenney Bob you were on my first flight to

Kind of

NRT and I was able to have the pleasure of working with
you in First Class. You were very kind and patient with
me as you showed me the ropes with your
professionalism. It was a day I will never forget! Thank
Says
it all
you for that moment.


The legend 

Glover
Mr RobertTheresa
Reardon
Kutschall 


oldest flight attendant
in the world, just
happened to be in
Bob I am sure you
Continuous
know where this
Qualification Training
picture was taken! It
was last October when I that day. At age 87, this
legendary former
had the pleasure of
Purser has been flying
running into you in
for over 60 years,
NRT. I only had the
pleasure to fly with you beginning his career
with Northwest
a couple of times and I
Airways, Inc.

was lucky enough to
work your galley and sit
and talk with you. I
Neal McMahon One
wish more people
of my memories of
would have had the
flying with Bob is on
chance to know what a
great man you are! You the HNL layovers at
will be remembered
the Ala Moana hotel.
always!

1924-2016

Bob always requested
a room with a
balcony facing the
I loved being your
water and when the
vegetable girl during
crew would come
the 7 cart service
back to the hotel late
days!!! I also loved
being told it was time to at night you could
normally see Bob
reapply the lipstick...
sitting out on his
But my fav of you was
balcony having a beer
in HKG.... We went to
looking out over
sticky fingers and you
Honolulu.
told a cute Mongolian
Sometimes he would
girl to " Go home, your
even wave :-)

mother misses you"

Martha Nolan

LOL




Cathie Hayward

The most senior and

"8

John Fords 

Robert about
20 years ago
we worked
together and
you gave me a
clean tie
because mine
was soiled. I
still have that
tie it will
always
remind me of
that good
experience.




Armando Perez 2008
Jeffrey Elder I flew with Bob on the first day wearing the

Delta uniform. It was a rare event to see him on a domestic
flight. I think it was a DCA turn. I asked him when was the
last time he worked in coach. His reply? "As far as I'm
concerned, there isn't a cabin past that curtain!" Another
funny Bob quote!

Troy Idom

Krista File

I only flew with Bob one time, MSP
NRT. I was Economy Galley
Coordinator and Bob worked
upstairs. I will always remember
the respect everyone had for him
once we were at the hotel in NRT.
The flash of camera's was as if it
were a Rockstar concert and Bob
was the star. Looking back, you
actually were a Rockstar with a
wealth of knowledge and an
amazing career.

Bob, I had the pleasure of flying
with you back in 2003. I was
furloughed and going to
Bejing...you made some great jokes
and you sure made my trip a lot of
fun! You sure were nice when a lot
of the senior fa's were not too nice
to us new hires... wont forget that

John Frasca

Picture DaleandLinda Stayberg

Bob--I flew with you several times
from both JFK and DTW and
worked 1D for you at least two
times. I learned a lot from you and
I am so proud that you stuck it out
for so many years. I retired a
couple of years ago and while I
don't miss the work I do miss the
people! It is great to have to as a
member of our little group. I have
been trying to decide if that was a
Stratocruiser galley or a
Constellation in your photo.

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