Richard Rockefeller, the son of prominent philanthropist David Rockefeller, was killed yesterday morning when the small plane he was piloting crashed shortly after takeoff.
Mr Rockefeller (65) was the only person on board the plane, which the Federal Aviation Administration identified as a Piper PA-46. The cause of the crash was not immediately clear. Mr Rockefeller took off from the Westchester County Airport in New York around eight on a rainy, foggy morning. His plane crashed less than a mile from the airport.
Mr Rockefeller, a doctor who lived in Falmouth, Maine, was flying home after visiting his father, David, to celebrate his 99th birthday. David Rockefeller, the grandson of the Standard Oil co-founder John D Rockefeller, is the oldest living member of the storied family.
“The family is in shock,” said spokesman Fraser Seitel. “This is a terrible tragedy. Richard was a wonderful and cherished son, brother, husband, father and grandfather.”
Mr Rockefeller practised medicine in Maine. He also chaired the US Advisory Board of Doctors Without Borders from 1989 until 2010, and served on the board of Rockefeller University until 2006. Mr Seitel said that, most recently, Mr Rockefeller was working to help establish better treatment for those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.