94-year-old Lee Lanzen lives in the Westlake Village Brookdale community. He is a veteran who served in the Navy Air Corps for ten years, including several years during World War II. Lee flew a Corsair Fighter Aircraft for a short time, but due to his exemplary flying skills, was asked to stop flying and begin teaching. He served as a Navy flight instructor until he retired, but has not had the opportunity to fly a plane in nearly 60 years. His Wish of a Lifetime was to get back in the cockpit.
Lee has spent most of his life in Ohio. He was born in Rocky River and used his GI bill to attend college at Case-Western University in Cleveland following his ten years of service in the Navy. After he graduated college, Lee enjoyed a 35- year career as an insurance salesman. In his spare time, Lee loved skiing and golfing with his son. Recently Lee has become wheelchair bound and is unable to enjoy his favorite activities. The activity he missed the most has always been flying, and he was excited to have the opportunity to pilot a plane again.
Thanks to Brookdale and Wish of a Lifetime, Lee’s Wish came true. On November 20th, 2015, Lee and his son travelled to a local flight school, where Lee once again had the chance to fly a plane.
Photos by Ken Love Photography
