Albuquerque lauds woman killed on jet
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Anew Mexico bank executive who died on a Southwest Airlines flight was remembered Wednesday as a dedicated mother of two who helped others find jobs, volunteered around Albuquerque and brought often-fractious sides together.
Jennifer Riordan’s family said in a statement that the 43-year-old community leader died Tuesday on a flight heading from New York’s Laguardia Airport to Dallas that made an emergency landing in Philadelphia after its engine blew in midair and shrapnel hit the plane.
A retired registered school nurse said she performed CPR on Riordan, who passengers say was partially blown out of a damaged window on the jet.
Riordan was killed by blunt-impact trauma to her head, neck and torso and her death was ruled accidental, according to James Garrow, spokesman for the Philadelphia Department of Health.
Riordan’s death generated an outpouring of grief and sympathy from Albuquerque business leaders, state elected officials, educators, writers and activists — all of whom portrayed Riordan as gracious and selfless.
The Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce held a moment of silence Tuesday night during a reception for new University of New Mexico President Garnett Stokes.
Albuquerque’s former poet laureate and slam poetry champion Hakim Bellamy posted on social media that Riordan was a friend.
“It doesn’t seem fair,” he said in a tweet.
Erin Muffoletto said Riordan was a fellow Chi Omega sorority sister whom she contacted during the economic crisis in 2008 as Muffoletto struggled to find steady employment.
“She encouraged me to get out of my comfort zone, looked over my resume and really pushed me,” said Muffoletto, who eventually became a sought-out lobbyist in the New Mexico Statehouse.
Muffoletto said she spoke with Riordan just days ago.
“The last thing she told me was, ‘I’m proud of you,’” Muffoletto said.
At the time of her death, Riordan was a vice president for community relations with Wells Fargo.
She oversaw the company’s corporate giving program in New Mexico and volunteered her time with a number of area nonprofit groups and boards.