Moya Lear

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Moya Marie Olsen Lear (March 27, 1915 – December 16, 2001) 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. Though famous by both marriage and birth, she was considered down-to-earth by those close to her. Lear received a bachelor's degree from Ohio State University and earned a total of six honorary doctoral degrees, and 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, but 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, the intentionally humorously-named Shanda Lear, David, and Tina.