Jenifer Williamson

TORRANCE: John Zasadny and Jenifer Williamson left strong impressions on those who knew them.
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It's likely if it were any other weekend, John Zasadny and Jenifer Williamson would have been soaring along up in the wild blue, heading for points known and otherwise.
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Life is filled with stereotypical stories of people like Zasadny, 57, and Williamson, 37, but listening to those who knew them offers evidence that there is some truth to every cliche -- sometimes a lot of truth.
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The older brother surveyed the crowd gathered for Zasadny and Williamson and quickly surmised that the whole scene was just so John.
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By all accounts, Williamson was just as full of joie de vivre as her boyfriend.

"Jenifer was a vibrant girl," said Josephine Bradley, a friend of six years and a student pilot.
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Williamson grew up in Torrance, attending Towers Elementary, Bert Lynn Middle and West High schools.

She earned a bachelor's degree in science at University of California, Santa Barbara and worked as a substitute teacher in the Los Angeles Unified, Torrance, Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach and Redondo Union school districts.

She also volunteered at Little Company of Mary Hospital in Torrance as a Eucharistic minister.

His girlfriend, Jenifer Williamson, developed a similar love for flight and took to the skies any chance she could get.
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Williamson, 37, grew up in Torrance, attending Towers Elementary, Bert Lynn Middle and West High schools.She earned a bachelor's degree in science at University of California at Santa Barbara and worked as a substitute teacher in the Los Angeles Unified, Torrance, Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach and Redondo Union school districts.

Williamson was also a special education teacher in the LAUSD, taught English as a Second Language classes and was an amateur artist and writer.

"She was an avid bicycle rider, when she wasn't flying," her mother said."She really enjoyed the outdoors."

Williamson volunteered at Little Company of Mary Hospital in Torrance as a Eucharist minister.

"She was very cerebral," her mother said."She really lived life to the fullest.She appreciated the talents God gave her."

Williamson and Zasadny died aboard his experimental Thorp T-18, an aircraft built in a Torrance hangar just yards from where tragedy struck in November.