A Tribute to Kay Bennett on National Aviation Day
Blue Skies and following winds….
Kay’s Obituary
Kathleen Margaret Bennett passed away peacefully on August 4, 2022 in Reno, Nevada. She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and dear friend to so many in the greater Reno-Carson-Silver Springs communities. Her service to the community was extensive, exemplified in her work on the Carson City Board of Supervisors and the development of the Silver Springs Regional Airport (KSPZ). She passed away at 86 years old after a courageous fight against brain cancer.
Kay, as she was known by all, was born on June 8, 1936 in Flatbush, Brooklyn, New York. The second of 3 children, she grew up in a close-knit, Irish Catholic community. Kay was a proud Brooklyn native and loved sharing stories of her youth; playing stick ball and street hockey on roller skates. Her older brother John recalled that as beautiful as she was, she was known to give a solid check to whoever crossed her. She frequently attributed her grit and tenacity to those formative years growing up in and around New York.
Kay married her first husband, Richard Najarian Sr., in 1957 and the young couple embarked on an adventure moving from New York to California, eventually settling in the San Francisco bay area, where they welcomed 5 beautiful children, Richard, Thomas, John, Kathy and Matthew.
When her youngest son entered the first grade, Kay enrolled in nursing school and spent the next four years raising a family and working to graduate with honors. She eventually became a surgical nurse, working in operating rooms at the dawn of heart transplant and arthroscopic surgery. She worked as a nurse for 13 years, the profession eventually bringing her to the Carson-Tahoe Hospital in 1985 as the hospital's surgery manager.
It was there that she was introduced to Nevada politics through her then husband, Hale Bennett in 1987. She won the 1988 Carson City Board of Supervisors election in the primary, the first women to do so in a Carson City election. She was elected 3 times and served for 12 years representing the Ward 4 district.
Upon retiring from the Carson City Board of Supervisors, she became a licensed pilot and joined her husband Hale in the full-time operation and development of the Silver Springs Airport. She and her late husband, Hale are remembered for their many contributions to Nevada aviation and for the tremendous growth of the Silver Springs Regional Airport in Lyon County. Literally creating a modern, commercial airfield from what had been, a weed filled, single gravel strip.
Kay retired for good in 2020 where she spent the last years of her life in a close and loving relationship with her partner Jim Manly, a decorated military aviation veteran.
Kay is preceded in death by her brother Raymond Cleary, husbands Richard Najarian Sr. and Hale Bennett, her granddaughter Allison Kathryn Najarian and her grandson Joseph Brennen Najarian. She is survived by her brother, John Cleary, her sons Richard, Thomas John and Matthew Najarian and her daughter Kathryn Barnett. She was blessed with many grandchildren; Kristin, Erik, Cassidy, Mark, Sabrina and Ryan Najarian and Megan, Timothy and Christopher Barnett. She was also a proud great grandmother to Vivian Allison Cockerell.
A Celebration of Life event is planned for October 8, 2022 at the Silver Springs Regional Airport, Silver Springs NV. Contact richard.najarian@cox.net for more details.
In lieu of flowers, Kay had asked that a donation be made in her name to either of the following groups that she patronized:
The Reno High Sierra 99s RenoHighSierra99s.org
Sponsoring pilot training & scholarships for young women. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made on behalf of Kay to the Reno High Sierra 99s
Checks may be mailed to: Reno High Sierra 99s, Kay Bennett
PO Box 12863
Reno, NV 89510 Or please contact Stacie Goodwin, RHS 99s Treasurer, at (801) 874-5710.
The Reno Chamber Orchestra renochamberorchestra.org
Donate Here: https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?donation=rco
New Horizons
We are pleased to share a little bit of Kay’s Aviation history from the Reno High Sierra 99s 20th Anniversary Membership Yearbook Published by Lynn Meadows, in 2009:
Private Pilot: December 7, 1990 at the Carson City Airport
Hours: 600
Ratings: ASEL
Joined 99s: – July 1997, Reno High Sierra Chapter
Occupation (2009) Co-Owner / Manager of Silver Springs Airport
Previous Occupations: Elected to Carson City Board of Supervisors (1998-2000), registered operating room nurse (1980-1997)
Flying activities: Lyon County Fly Fest each May, Nevada Airports Association, have flown the west coast from Seattle to San Diego, to Denver.
Non-flying activities: classical music, photography, skiing, biking
Service and or social organizations: Silver Springs Chamber of Commerce, Northern Nevada Development Authority, Nevada Business Council, Lions International, and the 99s.
Flying Story: As a student pilot in 1990, I did my required solo flight into controlled airspace at Reno Tahoe International. After successfully landing and taxiing off the runway, I was asked by the tower controller what my intention was. Thoroughly shook up, I responded in a weak, nervous voice, “I just want to go home!” After a few moments of total silence (I suspect the tower folks were cracking up), a gentle voice came back on and guided me to the proper runway.
Kay - You will continue to live in the hearts and memories of those who knew and loved you.
Your contributions to the Aviation Community will live on through the Silver Springs Airport.
The Nevada Women’s History Project interviewed Kay - Click to watch a snippet or the full interview, or Kay Bennett for the page dedicated to her.
The Silver Springs Airport website also has some of Kay’s history - Click here to visit their history page.