Alumnus Bruce Kennedy, former Alaska Airlines CEO, dies in tragic crash

Submitted by Carla Browning
Phone: (907) 474-7778
07/02/07

The University of Alaska Fairbanks community mourns the death of Alaska aviation industry leader and UAF alumnus, Bruce Kennedy, who died in a plane crash last week.

According to the Associated Press, Kennedy was piloting his single-engine plane June 28 when it crashed in a school parking lot in Washington state. Kennedy was 68 years old.

Kennedy--the former chairman, president and CEO of Alaska Air Group, the parent company of Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air--received an honorary doctorate of laws from UAF in 1998 and a distinguished alumnus award from the Alumni Association in 1989. He earned his bachelors of business administration degree from UAF in 1963.

Kennedy was elected to the board of directors of Alaska Airlines in 1972, serving as chief operating officer and senior vice president of properties until 1979, when he became CEO and president. He served alongside Ron Cosgrave, a friend and fellow UAF alumnus. In 1985 he became president and CEO of Alaska Air Group, where he remained until his resignation in 1991.

Kennedy stepped down from Alaska Air Group to focus on humanitarian endeavors. He and his wife Karleen, who also attended UAF, volunteered to teach English at a school in Wei Fang, China, 270 miles southeast of Beijing, and also sheltered refugees in their own home as part of their work with the World Relief organization.

His latest project involved a newly designed plane named KODIAK, a bush/utility airplane developed by Quest Aircraft Trust, which Kennedy had chaired since 2001. Motivated by the need for a 21st century airplane in humanitarian service, the turbine-powered Kodiak is being developed entirely with donated funds. The plane needs only one pilot and can take off and land on short runways.

He is survived by his wife Karleen Kennedy, his two children, Kevin Kennedy, Karin Hejmanowski and two grandchildren.