the article shown above is from Dec 27, 1974, El Paso Herald-Post
Dr. Ann Brennan Damiani was born and raised in El Paso. She was the daughter of James and Lilian Brennan. Dr. Damiani graduated from the Texas Medical School in Galveston. Damiani became a neuropsychiatrist and was one of the handful and the first women psychiatrists in El Paso. Damiani specialized in children psychiatry. She was a member of the Texas Medical Society. Damiani married, divorced, and had two children. In 1961 Damiani testified for 15-year-old, Cory Bearden, who was convicted with his father for hijacking a Continental Air Line plane that was traveling from Phoenix to El Paso. It landed in El Paso and after the nine-hour confrontation with authorities, they were able to subdue the Beardens. Dr. Damiani testified that Cory was a confused young man, who was confused by his father. She also said he was torn between the loyalty to his mother and father. Clearly, the defense was trying to the make things easier for the young Bearden, blaming his father for masterminding and recruiting him. Mr. Bearden wanted to use the plane to go to Cuba and then he would have sold the plane to Fidel Castro and in return, he would be allowed to live in Cuba. Dr. Damiani died in Big Spring, Texas in 1974.
Her obituary read:
Dr. Ann B. Damiani, of 1501 Avalon drive, died Wednesday, in Big Spring, Tex. She was 54, and a lifelong resident of El Paso.
Dr. Damiani was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. She had been engaged in the practice of neuropsychiatry, and was a graduate of Texas Medical School, in Galveston. She was a member of the American Medical Society. Dr. Damiani served in the WASP during World War II.
Survivors are her daughter, Mrs. Victor Kimbell, Ft. Hood, Texas; a son, Michell Stewart Damiani, Houston; two grandchildren, a sister, Mrs. Mary A. Whitten, of El Paso; a brother, M. Brennan, Staten Island, N.Y., and several nieces and nephews.
Rosary services will be held today at 7:30 p.m., in Martin Chapel. Funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m., tomorrow, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. Rev. John J. Finnegan will officiate. Burial will be in Restlawn Memorial park Cemetery.
Joseph Longo,
EPHS Curator
