All Victims ID'd In Deadly Massachusetts To NJ Plane Crash
By Steve Patterson and Elizabeth Hur
LONGPORT, N.J. (CBS/AP) --- All of the victims from the deadly plane crash in Massachusetts this weekend have been identified.
The chief pilot was James McDowell, of Georgetown, Delaware, authorities said. Spouses identified two of the crew members Monday as flight attendant Teresa Benhoff, 48, of Easton, Maryland, and co-pilot Bauke "Mike" de Vries, 45, of Marlton, New Jersey.
Anne Leeds was also on the plane that crashed killing seven, including philanthropist Lewis Katz.
The last communication Longport, New Jersey Town Commissioner James Leeds heard from his wife was a text message sent just minutes before she was killed. The text read, "We're at the airport, getting ready to go."
"She was a very kind person. She never said anything bad about anyone," said Leeds, speaking of his wife. "I am going to fall apart very quickly. It's been hard."
Leeds says his wife met with Philadelphia Inquirer co-owner Lewis Katz on the beach near both of their properties.
The two friends flew to Boston to attend a fund raising event. The plane crashed on the way back.
"She was well known and well liked for her work here," Leeds said.
The 74-year-old Leeds decided to go on the trip at the last minute.
Marcella Dalsey, 59, was also on the plane. She served as the executive director of the Drew Katz foundation and president of the Katz Academy Charter School.
Susan Asbell, 68, was the wife of former Camden County prosecutor Sam Asbell. She was also on board. She is now being remembered as someone special by her friends at the Boys and Girls Club in Camden.
Anne Leeds and Lewis Katz had strong religious ties to South Jersey. Anne was a trustee at Holy Trinity Parish, a network of Catholic churches along the shore.
Katz not only helped establish the Boys and Girls Club in his hometown of Camden, NJ, but also donated tremendous amounts of money to First Nazarene, a predominately black Baptist church.
"It was a tragedy. I was knocked off my feet," says Pastor J. A. Jones, a good friend of Katz. Katz would often attend service at his church. "Not only was Lewis kind to this congregation, he was kind to this city of his birth," Jones said.
For James Leeds, the moment where it all falls apart hasn't happened yet. "I'm still waiting for her to come home."
That text message from Anne Leeds came less than ten minutes before she died.
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