Profiles of Aspen Crash Victims
William J. Meyerbeck
businessman. A third was a talented television station assignment editor who
dreamed of appearing in front of the cameras himself.
Several of the victims of the plane crash at Aspen, Colo., were members of a
talented group of friends who had stayed close since attending Bancroft
Junior High School in Hollywood.
The group, joined by their girlfriends and family members, often got
together for vacations, like the Aspen ski weekend they had planned to
celebrate the birthday of one member of the group.
Mario Aguilar, a businessman and aspiring actor, planned to celebrate his
birthday along with brothers Joe and Joey, his mother, Maria Valanzuela, and
an aunt, said an acquaintance. All five died in the crash Thursday.
The party had been planned by Mario Aguilar's business partner, Robert New,
who also died in the crash, said brother Jonathan New.
Among the others killed was Elena Bernal, 29, of El Monte. She was Joe
Aguilar's girlfriend and was studying photography at Pasadena City College.
Another passenger was Mirweis Tukhi, 26, of Buena Park in Orange County, who
``died with 10 of his best friends,'' his brother, Jawad Tukhi, told the Los
Angeles Times.
Mirweis Tukhi was a television news assignment editor for KTTV News.
``He was torn,'' said professor Pete Weitzner of Chapman College, where
Tukhi studied. ``He wanted to be on the air, but he was doing so well behind
the scenes.''
Tukhi's girlfriend, Marissa Witham, 22, of Los Angeles, was an aspiring
newscaster who also worked at the station as a production assistant.
Ori Greenberg, 23, of Hermosa Beach, was a fledgling filmmaker who had won a
directing award at the Moxie!/Santa Monica International Film Festival for a
short film he produced about a homeless woman.
``I think Ori would have made it big in filmmaking,'' said Harry Cheney, a
teacher at Chapman College, which Greenberg also attended.
Greenberg's girlfriend, Elizabeth Ann Smith, 21, often helped Greenberg with
his films, particularly with costumes.
Members of the group were described as hardworking, grounded young
professionals.
``You talk about your cigar-chomping, arrogant Hollywood types. These kids
were anything but,'' said Victoria Greenberg, Ori's mother. ``They were so
centered and solid, and they had their heads on straight.''
Another friend, Eugene Kaplansky, 26, of Hollywood, had passed the first
part of the exam to become a certified public accountant.
The friends were ``a great bunch of guys ... they really cared about each
other and stuck together,'' said Roman Kaplansky, Eugene's brother.
Also killed were two other passengers and the three crew members.
Louis Epstein
: LOS ANGELES (AP) - One was a promising young filmmaker. Another an actor and
: businessman. A third was a talented television station assignment editor who
: dreamed of appearing in front of the cameras himself.
I already posted this story on one of the older threads about the crash.
William J. Meyerbeck
mine deducted.
"Louis Epstein" <l...@put.com> wrote in message
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