LEE VERRONE (Lynchburg College ’90) has two passions – flying and helping others. “I love to fly, and I love to help people. It’s good for the heart and soul.” – Lee Verrone 

He combines those passions most weekends when he donates his time, his aircraft, and his fuel to transport people battling disease to treatment centers and to take animals who have been abused or neglected to permanent, loving homes.

Over the past six years, Lee has logged more than 200 hours in compassion flights with two organizations that help pilots serve others, Pilots N Paws Pet Rescue Service and Patient Airlift Services (PALS). “This is something I have always wanted to do,” Lee said. “Give back and do the best you can.”

Pilots N Paws facilitates the transport of animals all over the country for medical services or to forever homes. Lee rescued his first dog in 2010, and since that time has saved more than 1oo animals. Sometimes transporting as many as 15 animals on a flight, Lee said he is grateful that most of them sleep, lulled by the hum of the engine and movement of the plane. However, there are exceptions; on one occasion, a small dog named Humphry sat on Lee’s shoulder for the entire three-hour flight.

A member of LC’s Alumni Board, Lee rescued a golden retriever puppy on his way home from the April board meeting.

Lee has worked with PALS since 2015 when he flew his first six passengers to medical centers for treatment. PALS arranges free flights for patients who need to reach distant treatment centers but are unable to fly com- mercially. PALS also coordinates flights fur family members of patients who need long term care and wounded veterans and their families. So far, none of Lee’s passengers have been afraid to fly. “Usually, they are really ex- cited and grateful,” he said.

One of Lee’s passengers, a teacher from Mt. Washington, New Hampshire, was recently pronounced cancer-free after multiple flights to Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. “This is so satisfying to me,” Lee said. “I meet really nice people, and this is the best I can do for them.”

Lee has been fascinated with flying all of his life, but it wasn’t until June 2000 that he actively pursued it by taking a 30-minute discovery flight. “I asked 1,ooo questions,” he said, “and the next day I took my first flying lesson.”

After only eight hours of training, Lee went solo. As he took off, his instructor warned, “Don’t break my airplane!” Lee bought his first airplane, a 77 Grumman Tiger NJ84LV, after completing only 12 hours of training. He passed his Private Pilot Certificate check- ride in 2oo1. Within five years, he passed his Instrument Flight Rules checkride, certifying him to fly through clouds using only instruments (flight rules normally require visual reference to the ground and landmarks), and his Formation Flight International check- ride, allowing him to participate in formation flying at events. In 2014 he purchased his Columbia 300 N913GM airplane.

Lee’s family also benefits from his love of flying. His wife, Tiziana; daughter, Samantha; and son, Christian, are treated to fun excursions when Lee isn’t making compassion flights. “We have the opportunity to go to some really neat places that we couldn’t go to without an airplane,” Lee said. “We’ve been to Fr races, SEC football games, day trips to Martha’s Vineyard, and eight Bahamian Islands.”

A computer science major at LC, Lee’s college experience was unique in that he and his two sisters, Michele ’92 and Toni Marie ’93 were all at the College at the same time. After graduation, he was employed by American Cyanamid Chemical Co., M&M Mars Candy Co., and Credit Suisse investment banking before joining MetLife, where he is assistant vice president of user experience.

Lee’s enthusiasm for his volunteer work stems in part from his involvement with Toni Marie’s battle with ovarian cancer, a battle she lost three years ago. “I saw and experienced what cancer does to a family and the challenges of getting to and from treatment centers,” he said. “If I can alleviate just some of the problems and distress for a family, I want to do it. I love to fly, and I love to help people. It’s good for the heart and soul.”

Fall 2016 Lynchburg College MAGAZINE