Gene, or Generino as Debi Van Nostrand liked to call him, was an Air Force veteran of the Korean War and a frequent flyer at Max Westheimer Airport.
Gene, however, wasnât flying a plane to the airport. He was coming to eat at Ozzieâs Diner, where Debi would brew him a pot of coffee, and he could watch the planes takeoff and land on the runway.Â
The 800-square-foot restaurant tucked into the corner of the airport was a hidden gem, a popular spot to eat both for its food and for its view. Ozzieâs was owned and operated by the Van Nostrand family â Debi, her husband Mart and their son Derek. Together, the family ran the restaurant for 34 years.