Patricia Trenner June 21, 1949 - October 11, 2022

Patricia Dann Trenner, 73, formerly of Danbury, Connecticut, passed away on October 11, 2022, at her home in Fairfax, Virginia. Born in Danbury on June 21, 1949, she was the only child of the late Frederick J. Trenner and the late Nancy Dann (Wilson) Trenner. She is survived by several cousins and stepsiblings - one of them, Cynthia McCorkindale of Bethel.

Patricia attended Western Connecticut State College, and, for a short time, was a photojournalist for the Danbury News-Times. In the 1970s, she went to work for Conn-Mooney Aircraft Sales and obtained her private pilot’s license. She later went on to Flying Magazine, and in 1986 she was hired onto the staff of the Smithsonian Institution’s Air & Space Magazine, which at the time was planning its inaugural issue. Over the years, she rose up the ranks, and in 2012, retired as Senior Editor.

During her career, Patricia interviewed scores of wellknown aviators and wrote hundreds of articles on virtually every aspect of the industry - from the earliest flights to space travel to more quirky topics such as wing-walking, which she learned to do for the article.

Patricia’s great passions were reading, photography, ballet, movies and lobster rolls from Harris Teeter. She was very loved and admired by her loyal circle of friends, especially for her quick wit and irreverent sense of humor.

In the years after her retirement, Patricia volunteered daily at a local humane society. Because of her lifelong love of rabbits, she focused on caring for the rabbit population at the shelter.

As she requested, Patricia’s cremated remains will be dispersed on the beach at Montauk Point, Long Island, New York.

If you would like to acknowledge Patricia’s passing, please consider a donation in her memory to The Humane Society of Fairfax County, Inc., 4057 Chain Bridge Road, Fairfax, VA 22030.