It is a special 11 years old and concerned for his parents, struggling just to breathe. Over Upon Flight 826's impact with the ground, Baltz was thrown from the plane into a snowbank, where local residents rolled him in the snow to exting… Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. Yes, they would let her get lost. working at a pharmacy there and we met and she told me a bit about that day and steven s bravery . I was a freshman at St. Joseph’s HS, and when the crash happened there were classmates who had lived there and lost everything. He had sung in the First Methodist Church choir. I also remember my grandmother who was in her late 70’s and in very poor health The Dec. 16, 1960, crash of a United jet and a TWA propeller plane was the worst aviation disaster to date, killing 134 people, including 128 people on both planes. I have thought about Stephen many times during the 50 years since the disaster. i’m in my 20s and I’d never heard of this story until today, but I am touched and saddened nonetheless. A large slab of molten metal supposedly fell on top of her It took me years to rid myself of the nightmare. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. You are remembered as a courageous boy whose life was too short. Randee often bore the brunt, since she was just old enough to want to tag along when Billy and Steve went off to the woods to build forts. man, a corporate lawyer or an engineer on the “Canadian Continental Railway.” He would then retire in his late 60s or early And with that comes one last aspiration, expressed by Ms. Quillen as she relived the night with the comic books and the flashlights. To suggest a change to a cemetery page, visit the Cemetery Corrections forum. or don't show this again—I am good at figuring things out. We will continue to publish one item each weekday All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. May he rest in peace. This is a very moving piece, published in The New York Times and written by William Baltz, “A Little Brother Remembers,” in which he writes about his older brother, Stephen. We kept worrying that she might deliver prematurely- but she didn’t. My memories of my brother Steve are distant and vague, but reside in a special and sacred place in my heart. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. Slope, Brooklyn, he told his rescuers he worried that his mother would be waiting without knowing what had happened. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. I was a NYC area kid, nine years old, who had been lucky enough to have You need a Find a Grave account to add things to this site. Make sure that the file is a photo. It was a cold dismal day with snow lightly falling. Park Slope, Kings County (Brooklyn), New York, USA. To suggest a correction or addition, visit the memorial page and click Suggest Edits. and Steve’s father, William S. Baltz (Stan). She and my mother had lived already through some harrowing bombings and stafings at various times during WW II in France. pain and suffering is beyond comprehension. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). The 11-year-old boy from Wilmette, Illinois was flying alone to meet his mother and sister, who flew in the day before; they were planning to spend Christmas in Yonkers with family. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. Stephen Baltz was exactly my age. GREAT NEWS! Stephen Baltz was a sole survivor but succumbed to his wounds a day later -- Esemono 10:43, 26 May 2010 (UTC) Gnassingbé Eyadéma. My mom had married a GI and her sister followed her to the US, with Aunt Susie eventually marrying a young Frenchman she met on a ship bringing her to the States to visit. Please try again later. of Stephen returns. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? There is a problem with your email/password. (Fortunately I got over that fear in time for my first trip to Europe as a college sophomore, partly the result of seeing all the banged-up cars on the shoulders of the Long Island Expressway, and You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. Stephen Baltz. An amazing article. Very poignant article you ran. So God bless, Stephen Baltz. Enter a valid email address and a feedback message. A system error has occurred. his father put him aboard United Flight 826 in Chicago on Friday. We all identified with him and desperately wanted him to make it. anniversary will be the last they have to share him with the public. at nytoday.com or in the morning, on The New York Times homepage or its New York section. That was it. Who would want even to think about it again? “Just once,” Mrs. Baltz told him. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. page photo on the front cover of the New York Daily News the next morning of the still alive young boy lying in the snowbank, nose bloodied, with good folk in the background trying to help him out. I remember sitting in my 4th grade class when the story broke about Stephen and the crash. Hamsters underfoot. A most poignant memory is the full of NBC. Tags: Brooklyn Plane Collision 1960, Park Slope old photos, Park Slope Plane Crash, Plane Crash Brooklyn NYC, Plane Crash memorial New York City, Stephen Baltz Plane Crash. if he was going to die. Today Would Have Been Stephen Baltz’s 60th Birthday. “I’m looking forward to seeing Steve some day and having another giggle with him.”. Instead, Offiver in 1959 and was aasigned to the 78th Precinct in Park Slope Brooklyn. After 50 years it was nice to learn more about Stephen and the loving family he left behind. 50 years since the disaster. A small memorial exists in the chapel of Methodist Hospital to Stephen Lambert Baltz and the other crash victims. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. the years, I’ve often mentioned this story to folks from New York – fbut fewer and fewer of them ever heard of the crash, which loomed so large when it happened. I have thought of him at least once a year ever since. Thanks for your help! We’ve updated the security on the site. Probably every kid in Brooklyn at that time remembers Stephen, the one glimmer of hope in a shocking and dissillusioning event. Though alive and conscious following the crash, the boy was burned and suffering from smoke inhalation. based on information from your browser. “Steve’s room was a magnet for the two of us,” Mr. Baltz said. I distinctly remember reading about how Stephen described Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. I was in my Pajamas with my older On impact with the ground, Baltz was thrown from the plane into a snowbank, where local residents rolled him in the snow to extinguish his burning clothing. In July 1961 my mother and sisters “I’ll tell you one thing,” the boy answered. He was supposed to have flown with his sister, Randee, and his mother, Phyllis, a couple of days earlier — they were visiting Mrs. Baltz’s folks in Yonkers — but a sore throat grounded him. But once inside that sanctum: oh, the wonders. “He was almost my twin brother,” she wrote in a seventh-grade essay in January 1963, two years after Steve’s death. Since 1976, Metropolitan Diary has been a place for New Yorkers, past and present, to share odd fleeting moments in the city. Then all of a sudden there was an explosion. I remembered about the young boy who initially survived- he was just about the same age as myself. I felt absolutely terrified for him laying My brother was in his school and saw the low flying plane. Some 6 or 7months pregnant at the time,of We were all shocked You don’t have to read the stories if you don’t want to! It was as if some celestial central casting agency had carefully assigned the role of courageous remember the sterling place plane crash.there was one survivor a 11 year boy named stephen baltz,who was thrown from the plane crash into,a snowbank badly burned,and dies … The Baltz clan at Grand Haven, Mich., where the grandparents lived and many summers were spent. I was the same age in 1960 and perhaps that was the reason the tragedy had such an impact We were unable to submit your feedback at this time. Failed to remove flower. For help using the website visit our help page or contact support@findagrave.com. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? As any youngsters would, she and her brother tried to steal one last glance at their cousin’s bedroom after his funeral. We visted them them frequently Please try again later. But my grandparents lived in Ozone Park and Jamaica, Queens, and we all knew the fantastic new airport at Idyllwild. The coins were found in his pocket, and his father asked that they be put in the chaplain’s poor box. My thoughts and prayers to the Baltz family for it must be hard especially during the holidays. We do not have any photo volunteers within fifty miles of your requested photo location. I really appreciate this positive story because one of them nightmarish memories of my childhood was seeing the newspaper photos of Stephen taken after the plane crash and reading that he asked one of the adults The boy only survived the crash, he lost his battle for life about 26 hours after the crash at Park slope's New York Methodist Hopital, the cause of death was due to burns that covered about 90% of his body. I always thought it was destroyed, but now I’m not so sure. (Even though we were about two Drag images here or select from your computer for Stephen Lambert Baltz memorial. Thank you to the Baltz family for generously sharing their memories of Stephen with us. Stephan was a very brave young boy who left us too soon. I grew up on 2l Street between 6th & 7th Ave. That day everybody had a story of seeing the plane. We have a volunteer within fifty miles of your requested photo location. Stephen Baltz died at Methodist Hospital the following morning. Thank you for this article. His siblings and cousins haven’t reached that age yet, but the time is approaching. Already highstrung and anxious from the war, my Aunt’s nerves were shot for His lungs had been ruined by the smoke and fire. Stephen was, for a day, the only survivor of the air disaster over New York City, the 50th anniversary of which is on Thursday. had asked if he was going to die. The plane came right over the roof of his Patrol car !! Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. It was beautiful, he said. × I held on to my seat and then the plane crashed.” Baltz initially survived the crash, but died from his injuries the following afternoon. Failed to delete memorial. Of course, even Superman needed his Fortress of Solitude. I had read an article about the woman Dorothy Fletcher who was there at the wreckage and comforted the boy in the cold and snow that horrible day . “Everybody said we looked exactly alike. Each time I take on a case involving an aviation accident, the memory He just HAD to, losing wasnt’t an option. According to his Wikipedia page, he was the sole survivor of a 1974 plane crash. It's hard to believe a plane crashed into Park Slope, on December 16, 1960, a United Airlines DC-8 and a TWA Super Constellation collided in midair above New York City. I am happy to see photos of Stephen with his family Note the affection in his sister’s gaze. Half-hour later, I found him by the refrigerator. Send questions or suggestions by e-mail. You can still file a request but no one will be notified. My father went up to NY and got the family to come to our house- and we all spent the Christmas and New Year holidays together. Yes, tears were a distinct possibility. Try again later. My French aunt and uncle and cousin lived on the top floor of one of the buildings damaged by the crash on Sterling Place. I too was 11 years old at that time. “It would sometimes stink up the house,” his cousin William said. A look back at a horrific plane crash over Staten Island and a valiant struggle for life. This entry was posted on January 11, 2016 at 6:53 am and is filed under Brooklyn, Cemeteries, Disasters and crimes, Staten Island, Transit. Tonite I say a prayer This article and the comments above serve as a wonderful memorial to Stephen, his family and all of those who were touched by this disaster. “The devil got at me early today!”, There was a bit of deviltry in Stephen, allowed his cousin William M. Baltz of St. Petersburg, who was known in the family as Billy, to distinguish him from Steve’s brother, William A. Baltz (Willy), Eleven-year-old Stephen Baltz had been traveling from Illinois to visit family for Christmas in Yonkers. Thank you for this very sad and tragic article..I remember that day very well and how sad for the little boy and his family. the 15 minute TV national news. ). You see, my brother will always be in my heart, wherever I go.”, Steve included her in his projects, she said, as long as his friends weren’t around. of the collapse of the Twin Towers, I volunteer my time as atoru guide at ” Ground Zero “. May 20, 2013 at 11:33 PM Post a Comment. • Pillar of Fire: Recalling the Day the Sky Fell, December 16, 1960 by Nathaniel Altman, from the Park Slope Reader years different.) Also an additional volunteer within fifty miles. America met Stephen L. Baltz on Dec. 16, 1960, held him in a collective embrace for a day and then, grieving, let him go. If you have questions, please contact support@findagrave.com. Video: Plane crash at Tripoli Airport. He had been plucky enough to be traveling All by Himself. Add to your scrapbook. first poster, had read that Stephen (in the ambulance on the way to the hospital?) I thought you might like to see a memorial for Stephen Lambert Baltz I found on Findagrave.com. You can find the latest entries at nytimes.com/diary and on our New York section online. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. The merriment had started early. Sorry! He had served devotedly as a Boy Scout. very sad. The initial survival of the lone child, Stephen, was on everyone’s Badly burned, he died the next day. dining room table. Oops, we were unable to send the email. But Randee Kadziel, who now lives in Park City, Utah, recalled Steve as much more than her tormentor. survivor to an 11-year-old boy whose life — had it been spared — would have lent to the senseless wreckage one single note of grace. And he was so protective. Penalties for unauthorized entry included being chased around the house, Ms. Kadziel remembered. The family was planning to spend Christmas in Yonkerswith relatives. Stephen later died of his injuries in Park Slope's New York Methodist Hospital. I wanted to meet the Steve Baltz of Dec. 15. I lived in Chicago, too. I have thought about Stephen many times during the For Edits select Suggest Edits on the memorial page. And cool model airplanes overhead. Rips the heart out of me. I began my fan’s love affair with the Dodgers as a result of these visits to Brooklyn- still following them- literally and figurtively- to CA when they left (breaking her heart when they did and those also receive it via email. Grandma spoke often of that day and took the memories to her grave. //ashcourtz.blogspot.com/2010/09/1960-new-york-air-disaster.html, I remember the day like yesterday. some time after all that. time for those involved. Falling From The Sky Brooklyn New York Staten Island Boys … Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. I lived in the neighborhood when it happened and, being a 10-year old New Yorker, I honestly thought that he would win the fight to stay alive. 70s. Though no longer on City Room, New York Today continues to appear every weekday morning, offering a roundup of news and events for the city. Phil told me he had just turned his Patrol car from Flatbush Ave on to 7th ave to go to tye Purity Diner ( 7th Ave / Union St Please reset your password. “How do you feel?”, they asked. “I “Generally,” Billy Baltz said, “it didn’t come out unless I was around.”. Stephen Baltz was thrown from the plane on impact and fell into a near by snowbank. It haunted me as a little kid, probably because he was without family during the crash. And I answered, if only you hadn’t changed the flight. So very sad…still after all of these years. traveling from 19th ST to Methodist Hospital to pay her respects to the young boy and his family. Tags:Brooklyn Plane Collision 1960, Park Slope old photos, Park Slope Plane Crash, Plane Crash Brooklyn NYC, Plane Crash memorial New York City, Stephen Baltz Plane Crash Posted in Brooklyn, Cemeteries, Disasters and crimes, Staten Island, Transit | 3 Comments » “Steve’s room was a wondrous place for me, though I was forbidden to go into it on my own,” his brother William recalled in an essay written for City Room, “A Little Brother Remembers.” Try again later. The Dec. 16, 1960, crash of a United jet and a TWA propeller plane was the worst aviation disaster to date, killing 134 people, including 128 people on both planes. Eleven-year-old Stephen Baltz became the story in the wake of the crashes; he was the only person who was taken alive from the scenes of the crashes. Equestrian, fisherman and aspiring F.B.I. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? ). We have a volunteer within ten miles of your requested photo location. on me. I don’t remember much else about the crash, except what I’ve studied since, but in the 50 years of a million or so other Brooklynites). could turn stouthearted defender. An email has been sent to the person who requested the photo informing them that you have fulfilled their request, There is an open photo request for this memorial. Or field inquiries every year from reporters, descendants of those who had mobbed the family at Steve’s funeral and camped out around the Baltz house for days. Resend Activation Email. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. He was rubbing whipped And that was the one time I thought Stan was going to whack me. Suspended by wires from a sky-blue ceiling were a dozen or so warplane models that Steve had made and painted. The apartment lost, the family moved to another part of Brooklyn- and eventually back to France. Even in the ordeal that unfolded, Stephen seemed to be guided by the Scout Oath. Sad, sad, sad. Oops, something didn't work. I was one of two Pan American Airways representatives that had volunteered that day to take under privileged kids through Macy’s , each with a five dollar bill, to buy a holiday present for someone else such Later, when his father arrived, he tried to smile, but he was too badly burned to do so. as their mother. Steve told his fellow fifth graders in May 1960 that he planned to be an F.B.I. You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 20 photos to this memorial. Stephen and William A. Baltz, with hamsters. Also an additional 2 volunteers within fifty miles. in the snow, and so saddened after he died. That was the Stephen L. Baltz whom America enshrined. Stephen and a friend tried to make a business of breeding hamsters and selling them to friends, but supply got ahead of demand. On Dec. 16, 1960, tragedy struck over New York City when two planes collided mid-air and came crashing down to the streets below. Then the plane fell from the sky. It has been 56 … To this day I am terrified to open my Kindle on a plane. The only initial survivor of the tragedy was 11-year-old Stephen Lambert Baltz (born January 9, 1949) of Wilmette, Illinois. City Room®, a news blog of live reporting, features and reader conversations about New York City, has been archived. He had played Little League. I remember this crash very well. thinking “You really are safer in the air than in a car.”) For me, the plane crash and Stephen’s dying were/are as unforgettable as the assassination of JFK just three years later. The feelings were so strong it was as if I knew the boy. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? English We have set your language to So the beauty and fear of air travel was still fresh in our minds, some 6 months since the NYC crash. that have past, I have thought about Stephen many times. up, because his cousins were Catholic. The plane started to fall and people started to scream. Not only was the modern miracle of jet travel unsafe, we were unsafe on the ground. When he was 6, she took him to task over a repeated offense. New York Today is still going strong! Stephen was conscious, and was briefly interviewed by rescuers. Ms. Kadziel said. I held onto my seat and then the plane … Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. I was emotionally saddened by the events of that unforgetable day. My mother told us that the air collision had happened near her and my grandparents’ neighborhood. Untouched and off limits, Steve’s bedroom embodied an indelible sense of loss. The plane started to fall and people started to scream. Location of plane crash. We read local newspapers and watched Try again later. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. I lived in Chicago, too. before the tragedy. ... 1960-- Stephen Baltz, an 11-year-old from Illinois, was the only survivor when two passenger jets collided over New York. Place the pin on the map to plot a location. “Steve confronted him — and that took care of that.”, Ms. Quillen, who was raised Catholic, remembered him springing into action on another occasion. In one of the girmmest ironies of the two-plane crash, the name of the church demolished in Brooklyn was The Pillar of Fire Church. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. GREAT NEWS! There was an error deleting this problem. Stephen Baltz. Year should not be greater than current year. Eleven-year-old passenger Stephen Baltz described the scene: “It looked like a picture out of a fairy book. Then all of a sudden there was an explosion. If you notice a problem with the translation, please send a message to feedback@findagrave.com and include a link to the page and details about the problem.