Moya Lear
Encyclopedia
Moya Marie Olsen Lear was an American
businesswoman and the wife of aviation
pioneer Bill Lear
. Her father was vaudeville
genius John "Ole" Olsen
, whose Depression-era show Hellzapoppin' was the longest running Broadway
hit in history.
Her mother was Lillian, a strong and practical woman. Moya earned her bachelor's degree
at Ohio State University
and the Pace Institute in New York.
Moya was introduced to Bill Lear by her father in his dressing room in 1938 while she was writing "The Book" for the play. She told Victor Boesen that she
Lear courted her and they were married "on a Sunday in 1942 when Son's 'o Fun was heading for a second run". In 1946 the couple moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan
where Lear conducted his avionics
manufacturing and development. In 1967 the Learjet company was sold and the old Stead Air Force Base near Reno was acquired. Moya became active in the Nevada Opera Association, the Nevada Festival Ballet, and the Sierra Arts Foundation.
Though famous by both marriage and birth, she was considered down-to-earth by those close to her. She received a total of six honorary doctoral degrees
. She devoted a substantial amount of time to philanthropy
in the Reno, Nevada
area. After the death of her husband, Lear attempted with investors to complete his innovative lightweight turboprop
airplane, the LearAvia Lear Fan. The project ultimately failed to obtain FAA
certification because of a gearing problem, and never went into production.
Moya and Bill Lear had four children: well-known pilot
and UFOlogist John Lear, Shanda Lear, David, and Tina.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businesswoman and the wife of aviation
Aviation
Aviation is the design, development, production, operation, and use of aircraft, especially heavier-than-air aircraft. Aviation is derived from avis, the Latin word for bird.-History:...
pioneer Bill Lear
Bill Lear
William Powell Lear was an American inventor and businessman. He is best known for founding the Lear Jet Corporation, a manufacturer of business jets...
. Her father was vaudeville
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
genius John "Ole" Olsen
Ole Olsen (comedian)
John Sigvard "Ole" Olsen was an American vaudevillian and comedian.Born in Peru, Indiana, he graduated from Northwestern University in 1912 with a degree in music and hit the Vaudeville circuit...
, whose Depression-era show Hellzapoppin' was the longest running Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
hit in history.
Her mother was Lillian, a strong and practical woman. Moya earned her bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
at Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
and the Pace Institute in New York.
Moya was introduced to Bill Lear by her father in his dressing room in 1938 while she was writing "The Book" for the play. She told Victor Boesen that she
- had dreamed of being a famous dancer, in the mold of Anna PavlovaAnna Pavlova (dancer)Anna Pavlova was a Russian ballerina of the late 19th and the early 20th century. She is widely regarded as one of the finest classical ballet dancers in history and was most noted as a principal artist of the Imperial Russian Ballet and the Ballets Russes of Sergei Diaghilev...
and Nijinski, only to be told by her teacher that she would make a good jitterbug.
Lear courted her and they were married "on a Sunday in 1942 when Son's 'o Fun was heading for a second run". In 1946 the couple moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
where Lear conducted his avionics
Avionics
Avionics are electronic systems used on aircraft, artificial satellites and spacecraft.Avionic systems include communications, navigation, the display and management of multiple systems and the hundreds of systems that are fitted to aircraft to meet individual roles...
manufacturing and development. In 1967 the Learjet company was sold and the old Stead Air Force Base near Reno was acquired. Moya became active in the Nevada Opera Association, the Nevada Festival Ballet, and the Sierra Arts Foundation.
Though famous by both marriage and birth, she was considered down-to-earth by those close to her. She received a total of six honorary doctoral degrees
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
. She devoted a substantial amount of time to philanthropy
Philanthropy
Philanthropy etymologically means "the love of humanity"—love in the sense of caring for, nourishing, developing, or enhancing; humanity in the sense of "what it is to be human," or "human potential." In modern practical terms, it is "private initiatives for public good, focusing on quality of...
in the Reno, Nevada
Reno, Nevada
Reno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The city has a population of about 220,500 and is the most populous Nevada city outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area...
area. After the death of her husband, Lear attempted with investors to complete his innovative lightweight turboprop
Turboprop
A turboprop engine is a type of turbine engine which drives an aircraft propeller using a reduction gear.The gas turbine is designed specifically for this application, with almost all of its output being used to drive the propeller...
airplane, the LearAvia Lear Fan. The project ultimately failed to obtain FAA
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...
certification because of a gearing problem, and never went into production.
Moya and Bill Lear had four children: well-known pilot
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
and UFOlogist John Lear, Shanda Lear, David, and Tina.
External links
- Phyllis R. Moses If Bill Could See Me Now
- Jim Street (1999) Embry-Riddle Scholarships from Aviation Week
- Lady of Perpetual Motion in Aviation Week
- Sweetheart Award 1999 from Nevada Women's Fund
- Aviation Pioneer and Philanthropist from Nevada Senate 2003
- The Big Payoff from aerotalk.com