Bruce R. Kennedy Family Issues Statement About Cashmere, Wash., Plane Crash

    SEATTLE, June 29 /PRNewswire/ -- The family of Bruce R. Kennedy,
 including his wife, Karleen Kennedy of Burien, Wash., issued the following
 statement about his apparent death June 28 in a private plane crash in the
 north-central Washington town of Cashmere:
     "Thursday evening we learned that a plane matching the description of
 that of my husband had crashed at the Cashmere, Wash., airport and that the
 pilot had been killed. Bruce had filed a flight plan for Wenatchee, where
 he looked forward to visiting his grandchildren. His flight plan had not
 been closed as expected.
     "Learning of the crash in Cashmere, my son, Kevin, drove to the airport
 to view the crash site. We have every reason to believe the plane was
 Bruce's Cessna 182.
     "Bruce had flown to Sandpoint, Idaho, to visit Quest Aircraft, of which
 he was proud to be chairman of the Board of Trustees. From Sandpoint, he
 flew to Hot Springs, Mont., one of his favorite aviation destinations. From
 there, his final flight was to take him to Wenatchee via Cashmere.
     "While we are deeply saddened by the loss of someone we love and admire
 so much, we rejoice in the knowledge that Bruce is united with his Lord
 Jesus and take comfort in the fact that he died doing something he loved
 and in which he took great pleasure. We thank God for the 68 years that God
 lent him to us, the 42 years he was my husband, and the 39 years he was
 father to our children.
     "Bruce served at the time of his death as chairman of Quest Aircraft
 Company. Quest was formed in 2000 for the purpose of designing and
 manufacturing aircraft to serve the needs of mission and humanitarian
 flying in challenging parts of the world, as well as for commercial sales.
 The Kodiak, a turbine-powered, single-engine plane being produced at
 Quest's Sandpoint plant, is on the brink of receiving type certificate from
 the FAA.
     "Kennedy served at Alaska Airlines and its predecessor company for 32
 years in management positions, including 12 years as chairman, chief
 executive officer and president. He continued to serve on the board of
 directors of Alaska Air Group, Inc., after his early retirement from the
 company in 1991.
     "Kennedy also served on the board of trustees of Crista Ministries,
 Lynnwood, Wash. He was a member of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian
 Church USA for six years and served on the board of Mission Aviation
 Fellowship for 15 years, eight as chair, during his tenure at and since his
 early retirement from Alaska Airlines. He also served on the boards of
 other Christian organizations. He was awarded honorary degrees from both
 Seattle Pacific University and his alma mater, University of Alaska.
     "Kennedy was born in Denver on Oct. 11, 1938. His family moved to
 Alaska during his high school years. Even though he returned 'Outside' for
 several years, his heart remained in the 49th state and he returned there
 to graduate from the University of Alaska. He received his commission as an
 artillery officer and served his tour of duty at Fort Wainwright, Alaska.
     "During his army tour, he married Karleen Isaacson from Roseville,
 Calif., and they made their first home in Fairbanks. Their two children,
 Kevin (wife, Kelley) and Karin (husband, Ken) Hejmanowski were born there.
 He is also survived and loved by two grandchildren, Hallie and Braden
 Kennedy."
 
 

SOURCE The family of Bruce R. Kennedy