Michael Tarrou and Amy King:
Wanting to Be Together
Michael Tarrou and Amy King, United Airlines flight
attendants, were on Flight 175 when it crashed into the
south tower. Working on the same flight was not uncommon:
Mr. Tarrou and Ms. King had been dating for more than two
years. They had recently started living together in
Stafford Springs, Conn.
"They tried to get the same schedule so they could be
together more," Deborah Lloyd, Ms. King's sister, said
from her home in Naperville, Ill. "They were supposed to
have a long layover in Chicago beginning Sept. 12. We
were going to have dinner."
The youngest of three sisters, Ms. King, 29, grew up
in a small town near Jamestown, N.Y. In high school, she
ran track and cross-country. She liked to paint and was
interested in clothing design. She started working for
United in Chicago in 1993.
Mr. Tarrou, 38, grew up in Wantagh, on Long Island. He
loved flying, but making music was a stronger love.
"Originally we started playing in bands in Queens and on
Long Island" in high school, said Tom Divine, a friend.
"He was great at guitar, bass and keyboards and was
pretty much the best vocalist I have ever worked
with."
During layovers in the Bay Area, Mr. Divine said, he
and Mr. Tarrou would spend time in the recording
studio.
So far as anyone knows, Mr. Tarrou never asked Ms.
King to marry him. But no one doubts that would have
happened.
"They were engaged, in their own way," said Dr. James
Tarrou, Michael's father. "We were encouraging him,
because she was a remarkable person."
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