Read Sara Hoagland Hunter’s article on Edward Rowe Snow ’32, from the January-February issue of Harvard Magazine, about the life of the Winthrop High School teacher and maritime writer turned “Flying Santa,” known for his annual holiday flights throughout New England during which he dropped bundles of presents to lighthouse keepers and their families. Then visit the Friends of Flying Santa website, formed in 1997 to help ensure the future of annual Christmas flights to New England lighthouses, to view videos of Snow and his team in action, including a 1946 helicopter flight to Martha's Vineyard; aerial footage of Snow dropping packages at Nauset Light, Great Point Light, and Sankaty Head Light; Snow in full Santa attire preparing for flight at an airport; a 1967 interview; Snow and daughter Dolly delivering gifts by boat to Ken Black and crew at Boston Light; and other aerial footage.
"Flying Santa" Edward Rowe Snow in action (video)
Edward Rowe Snow ’32 dropped bundles of presents to lighthouse families around New England every holiday season.
Greetings from Boston Light (1958) | Photograph courtesy of Dolly Snow Bicknell
You might also like
How AI Is Reshaping Supply Chains
Harvard Kennedy School lecturer on using AI to strengthen supply chains
This Astronomer is Sounding a Warning on ‘Space Junk’
As debris accumulates in low Earth orbit, the danger of destructive collisions continues to rise.
Understanding AI Vulnerabilities
As artificial intelligence capabilities evolve, so too will the tactics used to exploit them.
Most popular
Explore More From Current Issue
From competing in youth gymnastics to studying tetrapods, the Harvard curator has always chased her curiosity.
The Gretel and the Great War author on how the Lampoon derailed his science career—and set him on a literary path.
But it can’t replace human connection.