Essendon DFO crash widow Denni Washburn thanks Victorians in an emotional letter

THE wife of a US tourist killed in the fiery DFO plane crash has thanked Victorians for their kindness during “the most difficult days’’ of her life. Read her emotional letter.

THE widow of an American tourist killed in the fiery DFO plane crash has broken her silence, writing a heartfelt letter of thanks to Victorians.

Denni Washburn, the wife of John, was one of five women who lost her husband in what remains the state’s worst civil aviation accident in 30 years.

Exactly a year on from the nine second nightmare, Ms Washburn told the Herald Sun she wished to thank all those who comforted her during that “shocking and sad time”.

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“Thank you, Melbourne, for taking care of me during the most difficult few days of my life,” she said.

“While, to be sure, many of the emotions I’ve felt over the last year have not always been pleasant, the only emotion I have ever felt toward the people of Melbourne is gratitude.

“I hope to be back some day and want you to know that you’ll always have a friend in me here in Texas.”

READ MS WASHBURN’S EMOTIONAL LETTER IN FULL BELOW

John Washburn, 67, was killed in the Essendon DFO plane crash on February 21, 2017. Picture: Supplied

Ms Washburn and her husband of 45 years were on the “trip of a lifetime” with three other couples from their Spicewood neighbourhood.

The women had planned a trip on the Great Ocean Road while the men chartered a plane to take them to a popular King Island golf course.

Tragedy struck when the plane plummeted seconds after takeoff from Essendon Airport.

Mr Washburn, 67, and friends Glenn Garland, Russell Munsch and Greg DeHaven, as well as their pilot, Max Quartermain, were all killed.

John Washburn, Glenn Garland, Russell Munsch and Greg DeHaven at Cape Kidnappers golf course in New Zealand. Picture: Facebook

The flower memorial set up for the plane crash victims. Picture: Sarah Matray

Ms Washburn said in the days that followed, it was the simple things like flowers and a hand to hold that brought her the most solace.

A hug from a bellman at the Park Hyatt hotel was another small act of kindness that she continues to treasure.

“I could not face going in person, but I saw on television the lovely flowers you left at the accident site,” she said.

”They were beautiful and I thank you for taking your time, energy and funds to honour all those who lost their lives there.

“I can truly say that Melbourne is a beautiful city with the loveliest of people.”

Other than her family, Victoria Police Detective Inspector Stephen Cooper was the person Ms Washburn was most grateful for during her darkest days.

“He spent countless hours helping guide a grieving family through a horrible time, often at the expense of time with his own,” she said.

“Thank you, Coop. You are a gentleman of the highest order and I can never repay the debt.”

The Washburn family. Picture: Supplied

John Washburn was a successful executive and general counsel at Sammons Enterprises. Picture: Supplied

She also wished to thank the US Consulate, Park Hyatt Melbourne, St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Tobin Brothers Funerals.

In the days after the crash, Mr Washburn was remembered by his two children as a “hell of a dad” who adored his family.

“He was an excellent father, who was kind and generous and always put his family first,” they said.

“Everyone noted how smart he was, and that he worked very hard. But he was also at every single sporting event (often as a coach), recital, or play his children performed in growing up.”

The son of a church minister and a nurse, in his younger years Mr Washburn worked several jobs and gambled on games of pool so he could afford to wine and dine his beloved Denni.

He went on to become a successful executive and general counsel at Dallas holding company, Sammons Enterprises, before retiring a few years ago.

An open letter to the people of Melbourne

February 17, 2018

In anticipation of the anniversary of the Essendon Airport crash that took my husband, John Washburn, from me, certain Melbourne media have requested my thoughts.

My immediate reaction was to decline, but I changed my mind because I would like to say something to the people of Melbourne. Something that I know my husband would want me to say. Something that my children echo. And something that I think is part of the healing process.

And that something is: Thank you.

Thank you, Melbourne, for taking care of me during the most difficult few days of my life. While to be sure many of the emotions I’ve felt over the last year have not always been pleasant, the only emotion I have ever felt toward the people of Melbourne is gratitude.

I could not face going in person, but I saw on television the lovely flowers you left at the accident site. They were beautiful, and I thank you for taking your time, energy and funds to honour all those who lost their lives there.

It feels unfair to thank specific individuals, but there are a few I still think about often.

They took care of me during a shocking and sad time, and they remain important to me.

Thank you to Michele Ehlers and the staff at St. Patrick’s Cathedral for holding my hand when the facts of the crash were sparse and for seeking out information that I desperately needed.

Thank you to manager Brett Sweetman and the entire staff of the Park Hyatt Melbourne for giving me a safe, comfortable haven — particularly the bellman who asked if he could give me a hug and who wished me a safe trip home as I left 10 days after the accident.

Thank you to the American Consulate, specifically Christopher Henricus, Cecelia Coleman, and Migael Penix for your immediate readiness to help and your graceful manner.

Thank you to David Stevens of Tobin Brothers for leaving your own vacation to address sensitive matters with kindness and warmth and for ensuring that I received my husband’s wedding ring from the wreckage of the plane.

And finally ... but MOST IMPORTANTLY:

Here at home, we often refer to our policemen, firemen and soldiers as our finest, and I had the privilege of meeting many of yours. One of them, Detective Inspector Stephen Cooper of the Victoria Police, spent countless hours helping guide a grieving family through a horrible time — often at the expense of time with his own. Thank you, Coop. You are a gentleman of the highest order, and I can never repay the debt.

To finish, despite the events that lead me to write this letter today, I can truly say that Melbourne is a beautiful city with the loveliest of people. I hope to be back some day and want you to know that you’ll always have a friend in me here in Texas.

With love and gratitude, Denni Washburn and family

Essendon Fields CEO Chris Cowen said every airport in Australia would learn from the disaster.

“Most people have taken it for what it was — a tragic accident,” he said.

“It was a significant event and it had a significant impact on our staff that attended (the scene) as it did on everyone that was effected.”

A private ceremony will be held at Essendon Fields today to mark the one year anniversary of the crash and to remember those who lost their lives.

A preliminary report released last March found that there were no signs of engine failure or major faults with the plane, other than a broken cockpit recorder.

The Herald Sun last week revealed the Australian Transport Safety Bureau plans to launch a separate probe into the deadly crash.