| Year Honored | |
|---|---|
| 2009 | |
| Honoree | |
| Masaaki Suzuki | |
| Agency | |
| Avera St. Lukes CareFlight | |
| Agency City | |
| Aberdeen | |
| Agency State | |
| SD | |
| Last Call | |
| 9/9/02 | |
| Cause of Death | |
| Medical Aviation Accident | |
| Biography | |
| Masaaki Suzuki was a gentleman who gained the respect of his friends and co-workers as a pilot and businessman. He taught many students to fly and was the most popular flight instructor in his school. He grew up in Tokyo and in February of 2002, he and his wife moved to Aberdeen, South Dakota. He took a job with Omniflight, the company that employs pilots and mechanics for Careflight. He was always excited to fly the Avera St. Luke's CareFlight helicopter.<br /> <br /> On September 9, 2002, Masaaki died in the line of duty as a pilot involved in a medical transport of a critically ill patient. He was headed for the Heart Hospital of South Dakota in Sioux Falls, when the transmission went down. The wreckage was found the following morning in a soy field.<br /> <br /> He received his flying license in Corvallis, Oregon in 1990. Then he returned to Japan where he received his commercial helicopter license. In 1992 they moved to Seattle where he became flight instructor and manager of Alpha Aviation. In 1994 they went to California where he managed Kyodo Flight School and in 1997 went to Portland, Oregon to manage the Japanese department of Hillsboro Aviation.<br /> <br /> Masaaki enjoyed riding motorcycles, downhill skiing and woodworking. He had made a doll house for his daughter. He developed a web site for pilots and flight students in Japan. He loved his dogs, Miffy, Muffy and Casper. Most of all he loved his wife and little girl.<br /> <br /> Honored 2009 |
The United States Official National EMS Memorial Service
