91661

Wanting to Be Together

Amy King and Michael Tarrou, United Airlines flight attendants, were on Flight 175 when it crashed into the south tower. Working on the same flight was not uncommon: Ms. King and Mr. Tarrou had been dating for more than two years. They had recently started living together in Stafford Springs, Conn.

"They tried to get the same schedule so they could be together more," Deborah Lloyd, Ms. King's sister, said from her home in Naperville, Ill. "They were supposed to have a long layover in Chicago beginning Sept. 12. We were going to have dinner."

The youngest of three sisters, Ms. King, 29, grew up in a small town near Jamestown, N.Y. In high school, she ran track and cross-country. She liked to paint and was interested in clothing design. She started working for United in Chicago in 1993.

Mr. Tarrou, 38, grew up in Wantagh, on Long Island. He loved flying, but making music was a stronger love. "Originally we started playing in bands in Queens and on Long Island" in high school, said Tom Divine, a friend. "He was great at guitar, bass and keyboards and was pretty much the best vocalist I have ever worked with."

During layovers in the Bay Area, Mr. Divine said, he and Mr. Tarrou would spend time in the recording studio.

So far as anyone knows, Mr. Tarrou never asked Ms. King to marry him. But no one doubts that would have happened.

"They were engaged, in their own way," said Dr. James Tarrou, Michael's father. "We were encouraging him, because she was a remarkable person."

Profile published in THE NEW YORK TIMES on December 3, 2001.


Amy R. King, 29, formerly of 163 Dunham Ave., Celoron, died Tuesday (Sept. 11, 2001) the result of the crash of United Airlines flight 175. She was born Oct. 20, 1971, in Jamestown, a daughter of Stewart ‘‘Stub’’ and Sue Peterson King. She was a 1989 graduate of Southwestern Central School and a 1991 graduate of Jamestown Community College. She was employed by United Airlines as a flight attendant, where she had worked since 1992. She was extremely happy, kind and fun to be around. She was a wonderful daughter, sister and aunt, and had a great love for life. She enjoyed running, painting and traveling. She was especially close to her longtime boyfriend, Michael Tarrou, who also died in the crash, and her two nieces, Melissa and Jacqueline Lloyd, and nephew, Alex Lloyd Besides her parents of Celoron, she is survived by two sisters: Debbie Lloyd of Naperville, Ill., and Kellie King of Mount Prospect, Ill.; and her grandmothers: Ruth Peterson of Celoron and Alice Saxton of Ashville. She was preceded in death by her grandfathers: Stewart King and Everett Peterson. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday in the Lind Funeral Home. The Rev. Angus Watkins, transition pastor of First Presbyterian Church, will officiate. Friends will be received from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday in the funeral home. Memorial may be made to the American Red Cross, 325 E. Fourth St., Jamestown, N.Y., 14701.