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On
Saturday, September 18, we all lost a friend. Even though you
may never have met Captain Dennis Beaulieu, his positive
attitude, quick wit, and love of life were infectious and it was
only a matter of time before you too were going to call him your
friend. Dennis fell victim to Multi-Systems Atrophy, a
degenerative neurological malady similar in symptoms to ALS also
known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
Like most of us, flying airplanes was Dennis’s dream job. His
passion began as a young boy, when his father took him flying in
an Aeronca Champ that today sits in the family garage waiting to
someday be rebuilt and flown again by another member of the
Beaulieu family, Dennis’ 13 year old son Austin.
In college, Dennis worked as a member of the United Auto Workers
in Detroit but knew he
was destined to fly and nothing was going to stand in his way.
He began his aviation career as a commuter pilot in Michigan and then
went on to fly for a small cargo airline, Zantop. In November
1978 at age 26, Dennis became a Flying Tiger DC-8 Second
Officer. Dennis would go on to fly the B747, DC-10, B727, and
finally the MD10 and MD11. He circumnavigated the globe many
times in his career and particularly loved flying in
Europe. Those who flew with
him say it was always a pleasure; he was a true gentleman, the
consummate professional, and an excellent Captain. For years
Dennis served his fellow pilots as a member of the FDX MEC
Professional Standards Committee; a position to which he was
well suited.
Dennis loved the water almost as much as he loved the sky.
Racing his Thistle and Catalina sailboats at the
San Diego
Yacht Club became a passion, one he was able to share with his
wife, Marie, and his son Austin.
As a gift to his son, we are compiling stories from the airline
pilot side of Dennis’ life about which Austin knows very
little. If you have any anecdotes or tales from time you spent
with Dennis, please send them to Captain Michael Arcamuzi at
meacpa@saridan.com so they can be
included in this book.
As funeral arrangements are finalized, further details will be
published. Please keep the Beaulieu family in your thoughts and
prayers.
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