HOUSTON -- Martin Shugrue, an airline pilot who rose to lead both
the old and new Pan Am, died March 7 at his home here. He was 58.
The cause of death was believed to be a stroke.
In addition to his stints at Pan Am, Shugrue's career also
included the top executive post at Continental as well as a period
as the court-appointed trustee presiding over the liquidation of
the assets of the bankrupt Eastern Airlines.
After serving as an aircraft carrier Navy pilot, Shugrue began
flying with Pan American World Airways in 1968. When furloughed in
1969 he continued working for the airline in various management
positions and rose through the ranks to become senior vice
president for marketing and sales and then, in early 1983, vice
chairman.
Shugrue left Pan Am in 1988, well before that airline's demise,
to become president of Continental Airlines.
After that, he was appointed Trustee-in-Bankruptcy of Eastern
Airlines, but his efforts to revive the ailing carrier were
thwarted in part by the Gulf War, which escalated oil prices, and
Eastern went out of business early in 1991.
Shugrue launched the "new" Pan Am with his own capital and other
financing support, but it too failed in 1998.
During his last year Shugrue had a business relationship with
Aviation Management Services, a consulting firm specializing in
aviation in Latin America.
Shugrue was a former national chairman of the Travel Industry
Association and a frequent speaker at travel industry events.
"He had a great love of aviation. Kerosene ran in his blood,"
said Jeff Kriendler, a public relations executive who started his
career at the old Pan Am at about the same time as Shugrue and
later worked with him at the "new" Pan Am.
He is also fondly remembered by travel agents who knew him.
Among them is Francis Goranin of Vega Travel and Cruises in
Chicago, who served as ASTA president from 1988 to 1990. Goranin
praised Shugrue as a man who knew the airline business from the
cockpit and the boardroom, saying, "He knew more about the workings
of the technical side than any salesman."
Goronin also recalled, "He understood agents. It was always a
pleasure working with him. He was a person who always tried to
understand you."
Phil Davidoff, owner of Belair/Empress Travel and Cruises in
Bowie, Md., got to know Shugrue well when Davidoff chaired ASTA's
aviation committee, 1988-1990 and then served as ASTA president
from 1990 to 1992.
Davidoff said, "I was a big fan of his. He thought the travel
agency distribution system was essential. It wasn't just lip
service; he provided real support. Through his whole career he was
energetic and vibrant."
Kriendler noted that Shugrue, who had a sister who was mentally
disabled, was "very supportive of Special Olympics International"
and while at Pan Am helped the organization get started.