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Margo Kurtz
Margo Rogers Kurtz was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska. While attending the University of Southern California, she met Frank Kurtz, then a daring young aviator and diving champion. After a long ...view moreMargo Rogers Kurtz was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska. While attending the University of Southern California, she met Frank Kurtz, then a daring young aviator and diving champion. After a long courtship which saw them separated for lengthy periods given Frank’s flying jaunts and obligations as an Olympic-level athlete, they were married in June 1939.
In witty dinner table repartee, she was the foil to her celebrated husband, and his staunch ally in every other aspect of life. She was the model wartime bride in the 1940s: industrious, beautiful, capable -- the perfect combination of stiff upper lip and fire engine red lipstick. She could pilot a small airplane, feed a small army, and fit nicely into those tailored peplum skirt suits that were all the rage.
Newspapers and newsreels couldn’t help noticing her as Frank Kurtz flew higher and farther, collecting scars and medals. Together they joined a host of celebrities on cross-country War Bond drives. Every time he and his celebrated B-17, The Swoose, made it home in one piece, it was a stunning blow in the cause of hope, and during World War II hope was highly prized.
So when it was put to Margo that she should write a book, she took it on as both self-expression and patriotic duty. She’d proven her writing chops with a number of articles for local papers and military publications, and Frank’s exploits had generated some buzz the previous year in the book Queens Die Proudly by W. L. White. G.P. Putnam’s Sons welcomed Margo’s home front side of the story and published her memoir, My Rival, the Sky in 1945.
Now in her late 90’s, Margo lives with her daughter, actress Swoosie Kurtz, in Southern California. They share this precarious time that is bittersweet and occasionally overwhelming, but every precious day is oxygenated with laughter, love and remembrance.view less