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Wednesday, July 16, 2014

DEATH OF JFK JR.

JFK JR. DIED 15 YEARS AGO TODAY

Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts (JFK+50) Fifteen years ago today, July 16, 1999, John F. Kennedy, Jr.*, the son of President and Mrs. John F. Kennedy, was killed in a plane crash along with his wife, Carolyn Bessette**, and sister-in-law, Lauren Bessette.



John F. Kennedy, Jr.
NASA/KSC Photo, 1998

JFK Jr. was at the controls of his Piper Saratoga II when the private airplane went down off the coast of Martha's Vineyard.


The Piper PA-32R is a 6 seat, single-engine airplane manufactured by Piper Aircraft.  The Saratoga models had improved avionics, engine and interiors.



Piper Saratoga II TC
Photo by en: User: Ahunt (2008)

The wreckage of the aircraft along with the bodies were found on the afternoon of July 21, 1999.  The bodies were cremated and the ashes scattered from the deck of the USS Briscoe off the coast of Martha's VineyardIn the memorial service held on July 23, 1999, Senator Edward M."Ted" Kennedy said...

"We dared to think....that this John Kennedy would live to comb gray hair, with his beloved Carolyn by his side, but like his father, he had every gift but length of years."

...and also like his father, John F. Kennedy, Jr. possessed remarkable grace.

Gary Ginsberg of KSPR wrote today on the 15th anniversary of his passing...

"No one of my generation was born with more privilege or promise than John, yet no one wore it more comfortably."

SOURCE

"Ginsberg Remembers John F. Kennedy, Jr.," by Gary Ginsberg, July 16, 2014, www.kspr.com

*John F. Kennedy, Jr. (1960-1999) was born at Georgetown University Hospital.  He was called "John John" growing up in the White House. 
JFK Jr. graduated from Brown University in 1983 and earned his law degree from the NY School of Law.

**Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy (1966-1999) was born in White Plains, NY and grew up in Greenwich, Connecticut.  She graduated from Boston University in 1988 and worked as a publicist for Calvin Klein.