Written by Cheri Cimmarrusti
I want to take a little time to pay tribute to my friend Steve Danz. Yes, he was a Command Pilot and a dedicated Board Member — but more than that, he was my friend.
Steve joined Angel Flight West in 1998 and flew his first mission in 2000, piloting a Cessna 340 out of Van Nuys. Once he began flying missions, there was simply no stopping him. By the time he completed his final mission in late 2019, Steve had flown an extraordinary 1,186 missions, totaling nearly 3,000 hours in the air. His donated flight time represented over $2.7 million in aircraft costs, and he personally purchased an additional $45,000 in airline tickets for those in need. To this day, he still holds the record for the most missions flown in our organization’s history.
Steve was the first to be honored at the Endeavor Awards for reaching 1,000 missions — a milestone that speaks to both his dedication and his heart. Even when he was quite ill, he continued to attend Endeavor events with his family, faithfully supporting the mission he loved.
Steve always flew with a co-pilot. He actively recruited young pilots eager to log twin time, inviting them to fly alongside him — on family vacations, work trips, and Angel Flight missions. In doing so, he opened the door for many aspiring aviators to discover the impact of charitable flying. At his memorial service, I met one of those young pilots. He shared that without Steve’s mentorship, it would have taken him years longer to achieve his goal of becoming an airline captain. Today, he flies for United — part of Steve’s living legacy.
Steve had a presence that could light up any room. His smile was immediate and infectious, and you couldn’t help but feel better just because he walked in.
I’ve known Steve since his early days at AFW, and our relationship deepened when he joined our Board of Directors. He served multiple terms and eventually as Chair. With our office located at the Santa Monica Airport, he would occasionally stop by just to say hello or to help navigate an Angel Flight situation — sometimes offering wise legal counsel when we needed it. And for those of you who knew him, you might remember that for a man who specialized in workplace law, he could tell a joke that might be just a little inappropriate — but still pretty funny!
Steve’s generosity knew no bounds. Beyond his remarkable flying record and hundreds of volunteer board hours, he contributed a significant amount in financial donations. And my personal favorite role of his? My corporate pilot.
Steve flew me — and many of our staff — to board meetings, camp missions, annual retreats, and, with great compassion, to several Angel Flight–related funerals. N5931M truly became my home away from home. I flew with him nearly 24 years ago, when his son Greg was still in a car seat. Today, Greg flies missions for us — another beautiful continuation of his father’s spirit.
Steve used to tease me because I always chose the seat with the big A/C vent blowing on it, and shortly after takeoff, I would open a book and start reading. On one flight back from Denver, we hit significant turbulence. I know he was certain he’d turn around and see that I had finally put my book down — but even bouncing around in the sky, I kept reading. When I looked up, there was that big grin of his.
He also hosted staff lunches and created awards to recognize the team’s hard work each year — quiet gestures that meant so much.
Steve stepped down from AFW in mid-2020 due to health issues, and he was deeply missed by all of us. While he battled his illness privately, I would occasionally send him a note to remind him how much he meant to me. In 2022, I wrote to wish him a Happy New Year and told him how much I missed flying with him.
His reply was classic Steve:
“Greetings don’t get better than that, Cheri, and you were my favorite passenger!”
Well, Steve — you were my favorite corporate pilot.
Today, we salute you.
Fly on, old friend. Blue skies and eternal tailwinds.
Ciao,
Cheri
Update: In a tragic turn of events, I am so saddened to announce that Margie Danz, Steve’s wife, passed away peacefully on February 15. Our condolences and love go out to Greg, Ryan, and the Danz family.
