Julian Nardi was an engineer.
A University of Illinois graduate, Julian Nardi was chief mechanical engineer with the Manhattan-based firm of Ford, Bacon & Davis. A 24-year veteran of the company, he had expertise in coal-slurry pipelines and had given a technical presentation to the American Society of Civil Engineers.
He lived on Cedar Lane in Sands Point, Long Island with his wife Edith.
He was on his way to visit his son in Charlottesville, Frank J. Nardi, who was then an engineer with the company known as Sperry Marine, according to a contemporary account in the Daily Progress.
He was also survived by a daughter, Mary Liddle Nardi, and two step-daughters, according to a New York Times story following the the crash.
A terrible time in the life of my Aunt Edith, he was her glue and he took his job very serious. She never really got over his death nor did my husband, Frank or I forget him. Today we often comment on things that happened in our time with him. We lived in one of the towns near Sands Point and would visit them often. He even babysat for my daughter, Cindy shortly before he went on that business trip to DC. In regards to his being on that plane since he finished his business in DC on Friday, the logical thing to do (and Uncle Julian was certainly logical in everything) was make a visit to Frank and Mid and see his grandchildren which was why he was on that plane. I feel that as a pilot himself and his preciseness (in everything) he knew that that plane was in trouble when it turned too soon. I remember vividly the rainy weekend and the day I heard of his accident and that evening, all these small children coming around trick or treathing when I was so sad. Uncle Julian’s death is one of those occasions where you can remember exactly where you were when you heard and a vivid recollection of events that followed. Frank missed his fixing up buddy and I missed an Uncle whom I was growing very close to.