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| Captain of the 1957 Plane Crash - Published September 2008 |
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What is known about Captain Kafader who died in the 1957 Gustavus plane crash?
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The Fact of the Matter Is. . .
From the Files of Gustavus Historical Archives & Antiquities (GHAA)
www.GustavusHistory.org
Q. What is known about Captain Kafader who died in the 1957 Gustavus plane crash?
A. Well, first of many things, is that his family—two children, ages 2 & 3 at the time of his death, grew up to be delightful, wonderful adults with spouses and children that would give credit to any man! And most of you know by now that they were all here this past month—making friends and spending cherished moments at the plane crash site.
Bob E. Kafader was born a twin 7/23/20 in Selma, California. That twin sister, Betty, is alive and well (age 88) to this day. He joined the United States Air Force in August of 1940, and married Geraldine Quinn in 1953 while stationed in Japan. He and Geraldine had 2 children, Madeleine (1954), and Robert (1955). Sadly, Bob and Geraldine enjoyed only 5 years of a wonderful, adventuresome marriage when Captain Kafader died in the plane crash November 23, 1957 deep in the woods of Gustavus, Alaska.
Geraldine Kafader dedicated her life to raising her 2 children as an independent, committed single parent. She never remarried and died just 2 years ago on October 21, 2006. She loved music, studied dance and was a skilled ballroom dancer. The broad education of her children was very important to her. Her eulogy reads that of all her talents and impressive career path, her “favorite job title as ‘mother’ was the most gratifying”. The Kafader and Pavel family members regret that their mother never knew that the plane’s remains where her beloved husband died still exist. She most certainly would have wanted to come and see for herself. The family found out only this year by googling their father’s name and finding the Gustavus history website.
Geraldine described her husband, Captain Kafader, as “charismatic, ambitious, smart, ruggedly handsome, adventurous, funny, and family oriented”. He treated his own mother with great respect and attention, an attribute that was particularly attractive to Geraldine. She also reported that the Captain was popular, a “people magnet”. He often wore his wife out on weekends with his multiple social obligations, parties, and his “tons of friends”. It was said that they brought out the best in each other, and as a couple “they planned a wonderful married life together”. Those plans so hopefully made were altered forever in the snowstorm that brewed over the Gustavus Flats that fateful winter’s night. It was Geraldine’s brand new (long awaited for) wash machine and dryer being brought by the Captain that was reported aboard the plane. Some of the Christmas presents strewn here and there were for Madeleine and Robert, gifts from their father that were never received.
Now when you or your guests visit the site of the plane crash, keep in mind the story of the Captain and honor the memory of the men who died, and the families left behind. Bob Kafader was reported to be an extremely conscientious pilot who would have done everything he could that night to save his plane, his crew and all of his passengers. While 4 of the crew died, all the passengers survived. For his heroic efforts GHAA pays tribute.
Our Captain Kafader is also a bit of a VIP on another score—and this one simply by birth. He was the great-great grandson of Zachary Taylor, the 12th President of the United States of America!
P. S. There were 13 children who lost a father that night. Perhaps the other 11 will one day discover the online information and visit us as well.
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| Captain of the 1957 Plane Crash - Published September 2008 |
|
What is known about Captain Kafader who died in the 1957 Gustavus plane crash?
|
The Fact of the Matter Is. . .
From the Files of Gustavus Historical Archives & Antiquities (GHAA)
www.GustavusHistory.org
Q. What is known about Captain Kafader who died in the 1957 Gustavus plane crash?
A. Well, first of many things, is that his family—two children, ages 2 & 3 at the time of his death, grew up to be delightful, wonderful adults with spouses and children that would give credit to any man! And most of you know by now that they were all here this past month—making friends and spending cherished moments at the plane crash site.
Bob E. Kafader was born a twin 7/23/20 in Selma, California. That twin sister, Betty, is alive and well (age 88) to this day. He joined the United States Air Force in August of 1940, and married Geraldine Quinn in 1953 while stationed in Japan. He and Geraldine had 2 children, Madeleine (1954), and Robert (1955). Sadly, Bob and Geraldine enjoyed only 5 years of a wonderful, adventuresome marriage when Captain Kafader died in the plane crash November 23, 1957 deep in the woods of Gustavus, Alaska.
Geraldine Kafader dedicated her life to raising her 2 children as an independent, committed single parent. She never remarried and died just 2 years ago on October 21, 2006. She loved music, studied dance and was a skilled ballroom dancer. The broad education of her children was very important to her. Her eulogy reads that of all her talents and impressive career path, her “favorite job title as ‘mother’ was the most gratifying”. The Kafader and Pavel family members regret that their mother never knew that the plane’s remains where her beloved husband died still exist. She most certainly would have wanted to come and see for herself. The family found out only this year by googling their father’s name and finding the Gustavus history website.
Geraldine described her husband, Captain Kafader, as “charismatic, ambitious, smart, ruggedly handsome, adventurous, funny, and family oriented”. He treated his own mother with great respect and attention, an attribute that was particularly attractive to Geraldine. She also reported that the Captain was popular, a “people magnet”. He often wore his wife out on weekends with his multiple social obligations, parties, and his “tons of friends”. It was said that they brought out the best in each other, and as a couple “they planned a wonderful married life together”. Those plans so hopefully made were altered forever in the snowstorm that brewed over the Gustavus Flats that fateful winter’s night. It was Geraldine’s brand new (long awaited for) wash machine and dryer being brought by the Captain that was reported aboard the plane. Some of the Christmas presents strewn here and there were for Madeleine and Robert, gifts from their father that were never received.
Now when you or your guests visit the site of the plane crash, keep in mind the story of the Captain and honor the memory of the men who died, and the families left behind. Bob Kafader was reported to be an extremely conscientious pilot who would have done everything he could that night to save his plane, his crew and all of his passengers. While 4 of the crew died, all the passengers survived. For his heroic efforts GHAA pays tribute.
Our Captain Kafader is also a bit of a VIP on another score—and this one simply by birth. He was the great-great grandson of Zachary Taylor, the 12th President of the United States of America!
P. S. There were 13 children who lost a father that night. Perhaps the other 11 will one day discover the online information and visit us as well.
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Copyright 2007. Gustavus Historical Archives & Antiquities.
P.O. Box 14, Gustavus, Alaska 99826 (907) 697-2242. All rights reserved.
No part of this webpage of Gustavus, Alaska History may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or
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