A private plane crash in upstate New York on April 12 claimed the lives of a family who were traveling to celebrate a birthday and the Passover holiday, leaving behind a legacy of achievements in medicine, academics, and athletics.
Among the victims were former MIT soccer player Karenna Groff, who was celebrating her 25th birthday, her parents, her boyfriend, and her brother. Groff, named the 2022 NCAA woman of the year, had co-founded openPPE, an organization that helped create a new mask design for essential health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, and was studying at New York University’s medical school.
Groff’s boyfriend, James Santoro, was an investment banker. His father, John Santoro, said the two will be greatly missed.
“The 25 years we had with James were the best years of our lives, and the joy and love he brought us will be enough to last a lifetime,” John Santoro said.
Groff’s brother, Jared, 26, was a former basketball player at Swarthmore College who scored more than 1,000 points as a point guard at Weston High School. His girlfriend, Alexia Couyutas Duarte, 24, who had recently been accepted to Harvard Law School, was also on board.
“They were all so accomplished, but it was never about their accomplishments,” John Santoro added, referring to both couples. “Everyone considered them such a bright spot in their life. I’m sad for myself and my family, but I’m sad for everyone else who’ve lost them too.”
Couyutas Duarte’s sister, Maria Claudia Couyutas Duarte, said, “That was her dream—to go to Harvard.”
“We’ve never even met anyone who’s ever gone to Harvard. It was so outside of her reach, and yet she made it happen,” she said.
The aircraft was piloted by Dr. Michael Groff, a distinguished neurosurgeon and experienced pilot who had completed additional safety training for the high-performance aircraft in October, NTSB officials said during a media briefing on April 14.
His wife, Dr. Joy Saini, an accomplished pelvic surgeon and founder of Boston Pelvic Health and Wellness, was also on board the flight.
“Michael and Joy were wonderful, warm parents and distinguished physicians who treasured their children,” family friend Jonathan Becker said.
Weather conditions at the time included a 400-foot ceiling and 93 percent humidity, which NTSB described as “deteriorating” and at the “absolute minimum” for an instrument flight approach landing at that airport.
Inman said during the April 14 media briefing that the NTSB is conducting an investigation and has assembled teams to examine air traffic control records, engine components, and avionics equipment.
They expect a preliminary report on the cause of the crash to be released within 30 days.
