Ben Abruzzo

Ben Abruzzo
Ben Abruzzo, 1981
Born	(1930-06-09)June 9, 1930 Rockford, Illinois,United States
Died	February 11, 1985(1985-02-11)(aged 54) Albuquerque, New Mexico,United States
Cause of death	Aircraft accident
Resting place	Gate of Heaven Cemetery Albuquerque, New Mexico
Education	B.S.Business Administration
Alma mater	University of Illinois
Occupation	Chairman & president>br>Real estate developer
Employer(s)	Alvarado Realty Company Sandia Peak Ski Company
Known for	First Atlantic ocean crossing by balloon in theDouble Eagle II First Pacific ocean crossing by balloon in theDouble Eagle V
Spouse	Patty Abruzzo
Children	4, includingRichard
Awards	Congressional Gold Medal FAI Diplome Montgolfier ballooning's highest honor FAI Gold Air Medal

Benjamin L. "Ben" Abruzzo(June 9, 1930 – February 11, 1985) was an Americanballoonistand businessman who helped makeAlbuquerque, New Mexico,into an international ballooning center.He was part of the balloon crews that made the first Atlantic Ocean crossing by balloon in theDouble Eagle IIand the first Pacific Ocean crossing by balloon in theDouble Eagle V.

The gas balloon Double Eagle II over Presque Isle, Maine, attempting to cross the Atlantic

Double Eagle Gondola

Life

Abruzzo was born inRockford, Illinois.He graduated from theUniversity of Illinoiswith a BS in business administration in 1952 and commissioned as a lieutenant in theUnited States Air Force.Abruzzo was stationed atKirtland Air Force Base,New Mexico;adopting New Mexico as his home state after leaving military service in 1954. After working at Sandia Corporation, he became chairman and president of Alvarado Realty Company and started working with the local ski resort. Abruzzo became chairman and president of Sandia Peak Ski Company, Sandia Peak Tram Company, and Sandia Peak Utility Company. He also developed the Sandia Heights subdivision of homes around the base of the Sandia Tram.

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

Abruzzo took an interest in hot air ballooning in the early 1970s. In 1972, Abruzzo and other local balloon pilots held the firstAlbuquerque balloon fiestawith just thirteen balloons launching from a shopping mall parking lot. TheAlbuquerque International Balloon Fiestais now the largest ballooning event of its kind in the world, with over 600 balloons participating each October.

Double Eagle

Ben Abruzzo, Maxie Anderson, and Larry Newman of the Double Eagle II

In 1977 Abruzzo and fellow balloonistMaxie Andersondecided to attempt a crossing of the Atlantic Ocean in a helium filled gas balloon named theDouble Eagle.The balloon was named in honor of Charles Lindbergh, who in 1927 was the first person to cross the Atlantic Ocean in a small single engined aircraft alone. The flight of theDouble Eagleoccurred fifty years after Lindbergh's feat, and was the eleventh recorded attempt to make the crossing, which had been an open challenge in ballooning for more than a century. The balloon launched from Marshfield, Massachusetts on September 9. After being blown off course by stormy weather, the team was forced to ditch three miles off the coast of Iceland on September 12,65+1⁄2hours after taking off. Abruzzo sufferedexposureandfrostbiteduring the flight and was forced to abandon the attempt.

Double Eagle II

The Abruzzo and Anderson team, this time withLarry Newman,made a second attempt in theDouble Eagle IIin 1978. The team took off fromPresque Isle, Maineon August 11 and made a successful landing inMiserey, Francesix days later.ABC Sports aired a short form documentary special about the flight hosted by Bob Beatty entitled "The Spirit of '78: The Flight of DOUBLE EAGLE II". For their efforts, the team was awarded theCongressional Gold Medalin 1979. Later that year, Abruzzo and Anderson piloted together to win the first sinceWWIIInternational Gordon Bennett Racein the balloon “Double Eagle III”. The Bennett race was suspended in 1939 due to hostilities, not resuming until 1979, with officialGordon Bennett Cup (ballooning)restart in 1983.

Double Eagle V

Abruzzo was also on theDouble Eagle Vteam. TheDouble Eagle Vwas the first team to cross thePacific Oceanin a gas balloon in November 1981. This flight also set a record for longest trip by a team in a balloon.

Death and legacy

Ben Abruzzo died on 11 February 1985 when theCessna 421he was piloting crashed near Albuquerque.Abruzzo's wife and four others also died in the crash.Abruzzo's son,Richard Abruzzo,was also a noted balloonist. He too died in an aviation accident.

Creating a foundation, the Abruzzo and Anderson families partnered with the City of Albuquerque and constructed theAnderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museumnext to the launch field of theAlbuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.The World's most photographed event, Fiesta is held the second week of every October.

Abruzzo had partnered with Robert Nordhaus, a retired lawyer and fatherof Nobel Prize-winning economistWilliam Nordhaus,to purchase the La Madera Ski Area, now known asSandia Peak Ski Area,from the Albuquerque Ski Club in 1958. Together, they oversaw many improvements to the resort. Two entities at the resort are named for his famous balloon: aski run,Double Eagle II;and theski lodge,Double Eagle II Day Lodge.