Our Centenarian Editor
Richard Malkin is still writing about air cargo at 102, just
as he did when he invented air cargo journalism in 1942 as editor
of the publication Air Transportation.
We meet with Richard once or twice a week
and take a breakfast in his favorite neighborhood diner near
JFK International Airport in New York City.
Developing a close relationship with someone
who has lived for over 100 years is like no other experience
in the world. We are over the moon to be entering our third
year working with Richard. FlyingTypers has always endeavored to position the story of air cargo from
the people who live it, and that unique perspective has deepened
our relationship with air cargo and its community—we’re
living it, too.
On a lark, we thought we’d share some
‘behind-the-scenes’ words with Richard. You’ve
heard from the man; now you can hear a little more about him
as well.
Here are some comments from a recent breakfast
session on September 2.
 “At
102, I think about my life when I go to bed.
“I put my head down and imagine myself as a great
singer and sing Italian folk songs like 'Funiculì,
Funiculà' and fall asleep.
“I met [my wife Helen] when I was 15.
“She was 14.
“Helen died in 1985.
“We dated for 4 years. I worked at my father’s
store and sold little writing pieces on the side.
“We went out one evening and looked in a jewelry store.
Of course I could not afford to buy a ring. But we decided
to get married anyway,
“I bought a ring for 10 cents at Woolworths and then
we went to City Hall the next morning. Former Mayor Dinkins—who
at the time was the city clerk—married us, at our
$2 (for the license) wedding.
“Our marriage remained a secret for a year.” |
Pictured today, Richard
is currently putting the finishing touches on a landmark series
presented here in 2016.
We are very pleased and honored to share the life
of this remarkable gentleman. Richard told us, as he turned
102 on June 27, that he is happily on his way to 103.
Stay tuned for more . . .
Geoffrey |
