Canadian Aviatrix #49 – Tosca Trasolini (1910-1991)

Tosca Luisa Trasolini was born on 26 June 1910 in Vancouver, BC to Luigi Trasolini (a building contractor) and Marie Raffella Raino (also known as Louis and Mary, depending on the record).

Tosca was a talented sportswoman, including lacrosse, golf, javelin, discus, and shot put. She was called a “muscle moll” for her skills in weight events. In 1933, she competed in the BC Women’s Championships in Penticton – her trip funded by donations from the Viking Athletic Club. From 1934, she was head of the women’s baseball team.

Tosca was also active in the Italian community in Vancouver – attending and helping out at many social events, as well as being President of the Young Canadian-Italian Athletic Association. She even found time to appear on stage – in musical comedies, together with her brother, Norman.

Tosca was employed as legal stenographer and secretary for Angelo Branca (Canada’s most famous criminal defense lawyer).

On 12 August 1936, Tosca passed her flying test and received PPL #2151, making her the 49th female pilot in Canada. She was 26 years old.

Photo: Family archives via https://evelazarus.com/

In 1936, the Flying Seven were formed. Tosca’s involvement in the group will be part of a separate article. (In the photo below, she's second on the left.)

Photo: Canada Aviation and Space Museum – CAVM-22374

After the war, Tosca moved to America – getting her citizenship in 1955.

On 7 October 1961, Tosca married Leland Harvey Tenoff in Nevada. The couple divorced in June 1968.

She worked for Pacific Motor Trucking in LA for 20 years, then was a receptionist for the Tri-Palm Estates for 10 years.

Even in retirement, she was still highly social – managing the weekly bingo games at the Tri-Palm Estates Country Club.

Tosca died in 1991, aged 81.