Three generations of a South Jersey family were killed when a small plane crashed in upstate New York leaving patients, colleagues and loved ones mourning a doctor remembered for helping people around the world.
Dr. Gabriele Jasper, 70, died Monday, July 13 when his Piper Aerostar crashed shortly after taking off from an airport in the Adirondacks. Also killed were his 33-year-old daughter, Gabriella Hillgrube of Lacey Township, NJ, and her 2-year-old daughter, Guiliana.
Surveillance video captured the sound of the plane and a brief glimpse of it as it went down before catching fire.
Dr. Jasper was a spine specialist with a practice in Brick Township, where patients gathered to offer condolences to his staff following the crash.
“It’s a loss for a human race, so let me tell you, to have a good man like that. It’s just a loss, a shame and his loved ones, his daughter their granddaughter, make it even worse,” patient Robert Jandoli said.
A colleague and close friend, Chris Alderucci, said Jasper was internationally known for teaching minimally invasive spine procedures to doctors around the world. Patients traveled from across the country and abroad to seek his care.
“His family meant the world to him, the world,” Alderucci said. “I mean, you don’t even know how far this reaches with him dying. I mean, his practice was huge.”
Jandoli said Jasper made a lasting impact on countless patients.
“He was great. He’s helped many, many people. People talk about him. He’s like a legend around here, believe me,” Jandoli said.
Off camera, Jasper’s son called his sister “the most special person in the world” and said his father was “a hero without a cape.” He also said the family plans to keep the medical practice operating with new doctors and continue Jasper’s legacy.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating what caused the crash.
This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC Philadelphia. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC Philadelphia journalist edited the article for publication.