Tom Flying "The Rat"

Tom & Elaine with the Bobcat

Memories of Tom & Elaine

My most memorable memories of Tom were my pilot checkouts for United Parachute Club and my instrument rating.

Tom was my instructor for several of my ratings.  On one of my check rides the “Huffer” went to the head administrator at the Allentown FAA and challenged the flight test as it was given and told the administrator that his examiner didn’t know how to fly an airplane.

~ Jack Bartman, pilot for United Parachute Club

We got a Lodestar to jump out of.  Tom was the pilot.  We took off at Pottstown Regional Airport with a full load.  One engine blew as we lifted off.  Tom brought it around and landed it.  The FAA said that there was not anyone else who could do that.  he saved our lives for sure.

~ Dave DeWolf

When Tom & Elaine “merged” he insisted on keeping and using his washer and dryer.  Months later, when Tom was away, Elaine hired two guys to bring her washer & dryer from storage and replace his!  He never noticed and it was a sworn secret for those of us who knew.  One reason that they were such a terrific couple is that Elaine could “handle” Tom and knew which battles to fight.  I’ll miss them dearly and very happy for the time we shared.

~ Kathy Vanmann

Elaine and I raced in 2012 – we had the best time.  She was so wise and kind.  She could tell you that you were wrong and you would thank her.  Conversely Tom would tell you that you were wrong and you would want to smack him – LOL. 

Tom and Elaine would come down to my house for the annual 99s Christmas party and spend the night.  It was great to be with them.

~ Mary Wunder

I had a ride with Tom in the “Yellow Rat” at Sentimental Journey 2012.  What a fantastic flight!  The rat is the most unique airplane I have ever flown in and Tom the most unique pilot as well.  Tom & Elaine will be deeply missed by all of us at Piper Memorial Airport and Sentimental Journey Fly-In. 

~ Ed Watson, Airport Manager KLHV, VP Sentimental Journey Fly-In

Thomas Y. Huf – aka Smutley, aka Jocko – They threw away the mold when you were created. 

RIP my friends.

~ ONA

When I first met Elaine, I was a stay at home Mom with a husband, two boys, a dog and a houseful of cats and did volunteer work around our town.  Elaine, on the other hand, flew airplanes, was a cop, had a horse and cats, jumped out of airplanes and even did SCUBA diving.  What a great life, I thought.  The kicker is, years later, she said she envied me at this time!!  She became whole when she and Tom finally got together permanently!

~ Unsigned

My favorite times with Elaine were when she was with the police department.  Our house was always open for her on her coffee breaks.  She never seemed to finish a cup of coffee for the call to duty always interrupted.  Our house was always safe – for her police car made many visits – for coffee!

We babysat her cats, Monte, Jambu, Zuni, Myshka and Oliver.  They too always had our home at their beck and call – all were welcome.  Elaine went through some trying times on the force, but she stuck with it!

~ Unsigned

My favorite times were with Elaine & Tom at the drop zone with the Bucks County Skeydivers.  She was all seriousness, he was all antics.  This was the early 1970’s.  They were meant to be together and I called them Charles & Amelia.

~ Cindy Jones

The day Elaine brought over three kittens and her older cat for me to “cat sit” for several days.  She told me the 3 kittens were born at the Beltzville airport and needed a home.  I told her I just put my 18 year old cat to sleep and I’m sorry, I wasn’t ready to adopt again for a while.  Needless to say, Elaine convinced me that this was just a “cat sitting” job, nothing else.  When she picked up the cats after several days, she left with her older cat, one kitten (Cameo) and I kept the two other kittens, Lewis & Clark, now 16 years old and the loves of my life!  Thank you Elaine for knowing I was ready for two little guys in my life.  I wasn’t just cat-sitting that weekened… Elaine was introducing me to my new best friends!!

~ Eileen Kulesza Wiklin

Two of my fondest memories were when Elaine presented us a receiving blanket she knitted when Lisa was born.  The second fondest memory was her being with Carol, Lisa and I when Stephen was born.

~ Raymond Schmidt

My favorite memory of Aunt Elaine was of her teaching me how to sew quilts for my dolls and making my Halloween costumes for me as a child.

~ Lisa

Last to talk to them when refueling his T50 on his & her way home.  Left for home at 7:30pm Monday night, 38 minutes for home.

~ Ray

One day, after an evening of wine and brandy and cigars, Tom called to tell me how much he enjoyed the evening.  I told him it was always a pleasure to talk to someone old enough to have a license signed by Orville Wright.  He said “That’s right.  I taught Glenn Curtiss how to fly.”

~ Unsigned

Only had met Tom a few times, however, the first time was definitely a treat.  I’ve had the opportunity to see his planes.  Probably one of our fondest moments is watching him teach us how to stitch up Super Cub wings.  The aviation community has suffered a great loss however the angels in Heaven will learn to be better pilots!

~ Jonathan & Angela Stewart

Flying with Tom in our C-47 – Tom was being his usual joking self.  I told him if he didn’t behave, he would lose his landing!  He laughed!

~Naomi Wadsworth

Every flight I had with Tom was a blast.  Whichever seat you were in, he made you think you were a flying genius.

~ Austin Wadsworth

Have a good ride, Jocko.  Elaine, keep him straight.

~Joe Kaminskas

Such a loss of two wonderful people!  They were a good fit for each other.  Remember back in the early 70’s when I bought a Globe Swift, needed a check out for insurance, Tom showed up in a foot cast.  A mutual friend asked him “How are you going to fly with that on?”.  His response “He’s flying the plane, I’m just going along for the ride, A-hole”.  Also, when he and I flew my cardinal down to Sun-N-Fun back in 1999, our mutual friend had a place in Leeward Air Ranch in Ocala, FL, where we stayed.  I don’t know which hurt worse, my sun burn or my sides from all the laughing!

~ Alan Moyer

Tom & Elaine were my good friends.

~ EC Brener

The first time I met Tom, he was working on the Twin Cessna and I stopped in to introduce myself.  He had just purchased the Huf Airport.  After about an hour he was ready to put the cowl back on.  As he held up the cowl, he asked me to go grab a screwdriver.  I asked, with a wink, a flat one or a pointy one?  He looked at me kind of dubiously and said a common…  My master plan worked.  He never asked me to help with the plane again.

~ Unsigned

I’ve been a friend of Tom’s since we were both 15 at George School in Bucks County.  He was a great athlete in football and baseball and an accomplished violinist in the orchestra.  I loved his parents, Elle Mae and Harry Huf and spent endless hours and days on their farm in Hatboro, PA, working on our Model “A’s” and flying in and out of the airstrip behind the farm house.  Tom got me to take lessons at Warrington Airport.  I got to meet Elaine at our 50^th reunion and found that she grew up in Richboro as did I during the teen years.  Tom and I would play piano and violin duets at the farm house and his parents and mine were dear friends.

~ Harry Danner

 

Elaine & Noel

One thing that I always looked forward to at Huf airport was a visit from Elaine & Noel.  I'd see them both walking across the runway to visit us in our hangar.  Noel would run ahead of Elaine, excited to see us and trying to herd me and Charlie by running circles around us.  Elaine would tell us her latest adventures with her airplane, the house or her travels.  It will be hard to look at their house, knowing they won't be coming over for a visit.

~ Desiree House

Remembering Tom & Elaine Huf

Hello, friends.  I thought that creating a blog would be a great way for all of Tom & Elaine's friends to share memories of them.  Tom & Elaine had friends across the country, many of us who don't know one another.  I plan on adding stories and pictures as they're provided to me.

~ Desiree