U.S. Figure Skating confirms that athletes, coaches, and family members were on American Airlines Flight 5342 that crashed in D.C.

[YukiNieve]

Someone on my X feed summarized a Russian article about quotes from Maxim Naumov's grandmother.

Her son (Maxim's father) has not been found yet. Maxim is currently living with our family friend who is truly like a member of our family. Maxim's parents will be buried in the US, but I cannot visit the US as I cannot leave my husband who is seriously ill.

Мама Вадима Наумова: «Сына еще не достали, его тело до сих пор не обнаружено. Хоронить будут в США»

Об этом сообщила мама фигуриста и тренера Ия Наумова. Наумов погиб вместе с женой Евгенией Шишковой, с которой они вместе выступали в парном катании.

t.co

 

[livetoskate]

The latest verified GoFundMe for a figure skater and her mother (since @ice coverage's post earlier today, quoted below) is titled "In Loving Memory of Lily Li and Angela Yang" (Yang/Sean Kay, both 11, were the Juvenile Dance champions):

Just wanted to note that the umbrella page spotlights a Gofundme that uses Kirsanov's photo, but the funds go to a hockey foundation. They haven't yet added the one that will benefit his wife and daughter, which is this one:

Donate to Remembering Sasha Kirsanov: In Our Hearts Always, organized by Michelle Dumler-McKeever

In memory of Alexandr “Sasha” Kirsanov. We will keep you in o… Michelle Dumler-McKeever needs your support for Remembering Sasha Kirsanov: In Our Hearts Always

www.gofundme.com

 

[livetoskate]

I learned to skate at Fairfax Ice Arena as an adult. Within a year, I was a member of the SC of Northern VA and later joined the Washington FSC as well. When Inna Volyanskaya started coaching at Fairfax, I didn't have a coach at the time. She was willing to teach me on our Monday night club session that was mostly adult skaters, and I thought she was a wonderful coach. I've had coaches that didn't seem that interested in teaching an adult, but I never felt that way with Inna. My first lesson included simple forward stroking but with arm movements from some of her Disney on Ice routines. I was sorry when she left Fairfax but glad I had had the opportunity to have lessons with her. RIP Inna.

Same- I skated at Fairfax Ice Arena from around '96-2001 and joined the Skating Club of Northern Virginia. I think my last coach, Irina Chilova, still teaches there, but Inna wasn't there yet. How wonderful that you got to take lessons from her. Here is Stephanie Haynos' channel and video of a young Cory doing a fun exhibition at Fairfax Ice Arena in 2016:

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

www.youtube.com

 

[Sylvia]

As of now, I believe 28 have been identified as belonging to the figure skating community (of the 60 passengers on the flight):
11 skaters (ranging in age from 11 to 16);
4 coaches;
13 parents.

Golden Skate's alphabetical list of 28 names: https://x.com/goldenskate/status/1885753632244543810
ELITE TRAINING TEAM - NC ("Remembering the bright young skaters, devoted coaches, and loving families lost on flight AA5342."): https://www.instagram.com/p/DFiiR0LxXys/
I've copied out the names listed in the 2nd link above and added some info from other sources online about the survivors.

Angela Yang, 11
Sean Kay, 11
(University of Delaware Figure Skating Club)
Lily Zheheng Li (Angela’s mother)
Julia (Sean’s mother)
Angela and Lily are survived by Angela's father, Jianjun Jacob Wu (who reportedly works in China) and Angela's two siblings, Tiki and Miller.
GFM (verified): https://www.gofundme.com/f/in-loving-memory-of-lily-li-and-angela-yang
Sean and Julia (Ilya and Yulia were their Russian names) are survived by Sean's father, Vitali, and Sean's three siblings - a 14-year-old girl and 2 boys aged 10 & 7.
GFM "started by Anna Ulyanova, a close friend of the family": https://www.gofundme.com/f/a-tragic-loss-help-yulias-children-continue-skating

Alydia Livingston, 11
Everly Livingston, 14
(Washington Figure Skating Club)
Donna Smojice Livingston (the girls' mother)
Peter Livingston (the girls' father)

Olivia Eve Ter, 12 (ION FSC)
Olesya Taylor (Olivia’s mother)
They are survived by Olivia's father, Andrew Ter, her 14-year-old sister, Anne Valerie who is a talented pianist, and Olesya's mother, Olga.
GFM (verified): https://www.gofundme.com/f/donate-in-memory-of-olesya-taylor-and-olivia-eve-ter

Brielle Beyer, 12 (SC of Northern Virginia)
Justyna (Brielle’s mother)
They are survived by Brielle's father, Andy, and her younger brother, age 6.
GFM (verified): https://www.gofundme.com/f/honoring-justynas-devoted-love

Jinna Han, 13 (Skating Club of Boston)
Jin Han (Jinna’s mother)
They are survived by father/husband Joon.

Franco Aparicio, 13 (Washington Figure Skating Club), who was born in Chile when his family was living there
Franco’s father, Luciano "Lucho" (a citizen of Argentina working in the D.C. area)
They are survived by Franco's mother, Barbara, and his two sisters.
GFM (verified; "The donations will go towards a college fund."): https://www.gofundme.com/f/remembering-lucho-and-franco-aparicio

Edward Zhou, 16 (SC of Northern Virginia)
Kaiyan Mao, also known as Stephanie (Edward’s mother)
Yu Zhou, also known as Joe (Edward’s father)

Spencer Lane, 16 (Skating Club of Boston)
Christine Conrad Lane (Spencer’s mother)
They are survived by Spencer's father, Douglas, and his 6-year-old brother (both boys were adopted from South Korea).

Cory Haynos, 16 (SC of Northern Virginia)
Stephanie Branton Haynos (Cory’s mother)
Roger Haynos (Cory’s father)
They are survived by his sister, Emily, a college student (both children were adopted), as well as Cory's paternal grandfather who lived with the family in VA.
GFM created by Olga Garrity, founder of the Virginia Ice Theatre, whio coached both Cory and Emily when they were young: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-emily-haynos-in-honor-of-cory-stephanie-and-roger

Coaches (4):

Alexandr "Sasha" Kirsanov, 46
He is survived by his wife, Natalya Gudin, and their daughter, Nicole, who currently competes in solo ice dance.
GFM created by Michelle Dumler-McKeever: https://www.gofundme.com/f/remembering-sasha-in-our-hearts-always

Evgenia Shishkova, 52 (Skating Club of Boston)
Vadim Naumov, 55 (Skating Club of Boston)
They are survived by their son, Maxim, 23.
GFM created by coach Val Prudsky: https://www.gofundme.com/f/remembering-genia-and-vadim-with-love
GFM started by his longterm dentist: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-maxim-a-sons-unthinkable-loss

Inna Volyanskaya, 59 (Washington Figure Skating Club)
She is survived by her daughter Masha and husband Jeremy.


ETA links to GoFundMe pages above as well as to USFS' Family Support Fund, administered by Global Impact: https://ssecure.qgiv.com/for/usfigureskatingfoundation/event/usfigureskatingfund/

 

[FSWer]

Skating lesson has posted that Olivia Ter, 12, and her mother Oleysa, were on the flight.

In response to what you say Rob. I really do believe that one reason this particular plane crash is effecting the skating community so much is because there were some young kid skaters involved that we know would have had a great future if things had gone right. I also caught a glimpse of a youtube news story about a father who was waiting at the airport for his wife and skater (12) who were on the plane, and learned about it when his text went unanswered. Also another reason along with that, that I do believe it effects us, is because from what it sounds like...Those Skaters were almost home. Does anyone else here agree?

 

[Wyliefan]

Saw this sweet note from Tara Prasad in her stories -- after sending support to the families, she writes, "And to the skaters.... May you receive the most perfect ice for all eternity."

Login • Instagram

Welcome back to Instagram. Sign in to check out what your friends, family & interests have been capturing & sharing around the world.

www.instagram.com

 

[ice coverage]

The GoFundMe "umbrella" page for the plane crash has links to verified GFM pages for individual families. ...

* The page "In Memory of Alexandr Kirsanov and the Victims of AA5342" also is in support of the family of a hockey dad who was lost on the flight.​

Another GoFundMe page for Sasha's family is: "Remembering Sasha Kirsanov: In Our Hearts Always." I think it already was posted on FSU earlier. https://www.gofundme.com/f/remembering-sasha-in-our-hearts-always​

Just wanted to note that the umbrella page spotlights a Gofundme that uses Kirsanov's photo, but the funds go to a hockey foundation. They haven't yet added the one that will benefit his wife and daughter, which is this one:

Donate to Remembering Sasha Kirsanov: In Our Hearts Always, organized by Michelle Dumler-McKeever

In memory of Alexandr “Sasha” Kirsanov. We will keep you in o… Michelle Dumler-McKeever needs your support for Remembering Sasha Kirsanov: In Our Hearts Always

www.gofundme.com

In my post about the centralized GoFund Me page, I included the link to the Sasha-only page (which is not listed on the centralized page). Thank you for reiterating the Sasha-only page.

I also gave the title of the Sasha-related link that is included in the centralized page.
Once again, the title is "In Memory of Alexandr Kirsanov and the Victims of AA5342," and I pointed out that this fundraiser also is in support of the family of a hockey dad who was lost on the flight.
My reading of this GFM page is that both Sasha's family and the hockey dad's family will be beneficiaries: "We know some fundraising efforts have been set up for victims, and we at Black Bear Sports Group and Black Bear Youth Hockey Foundation want to aid in the financial support for these families, as well as the other victims of this devastating tragedy."

Anyway ... as an ice monitor, I enjoyed observing Sasha's coaching. I once overheard him chatting with a skating colleague about some of his students, and I can still hear Sasha saying: "I love these kids, I really love these kids."

 

[YukiNieve]

The GoFundMe "umbrella" page does not seem to include the one for Maxim Naumov, "Remembering Genia and Vadim with Love." so here it is:

Donate to Remembering Genia and Vadim with Love, organized by Val Prudsky

In loving memory of Evgenia "Genia" Shishkova and Vadim Naumov. Their memory will li… Val Prudsky needs your support for Remembering Genia and Vadim with Love

www.gofundme.com

In loving memory of Evgenia "Genia" Shishkova and Vadim Naumov. Their memory will live on in the hearts of the many people who had the pleasure of knowing them.
All funds will go to son Max Naumov.

​

 

[overedge]

Thank you for posting the list @Sylvia .

 

[Sylvia]

The "Remembering Genia and Vadim with Love" GFM was created by Val Prudsky (he and his wife coached their daughter in pairs years ago: https://usfigureskatingfanzone.com/...aleksandra-prudsky-and-daniel-tioumentsev/447) so it should be legitimate. Prudsky's wife competed in pairs in the same era as Shishkova/Naumov: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elena_Nikonova

Thank you for posting the list @Sylvia .

It's still unofficial because the flight manifest has not yet been released, AFAIK.

 

[Sylvia]

The Kirsanov-only GoFundMe (that's currently not listed in the umbrella page of verified GFMs) was started by Michelle Dumler-McKeever who appeared in a local news story with her husband, Joel McKeever, on Friday: https://6abc.com/post/delaware-father-speaks-son-wife-killed-dc-place-crash/15853202/

And another GoFundMe was created for Alexandr "Sasha" Kirsanov, a former coach of the University of Delaware Figure Skating Club. He also died in the crash leaving behind his wife and teenage daughter.
"There's a lot of broken people. Just a grief I've never seen," said Joel McKeever.
"There's a gaping hole in our skating community," said Michele Dumler-McKeever
Both Michele Dumler-McKeever and her husband, Joel McKeever, are high-performance coaches at the Fred Rust Arena, where Kirsanov coached.
"He came here as a young Russian with just the clothes on his back," said Joel McKeever.

A memorial service for Sasha, Sean, and Angela will be held at Fred Rust Ice Arena at the University of Delaware on Sunday at 10am (and on zoom) for those interested.

UD Figure Skating Club Team on Instagram: "A memorial service will be held on Sunday 2/2 honoring Sasha, Sean and Angela at 10 am EST. If you would like to attend, it is at the Fred Rust Ice Arena and there will be a table available for cards, flower

1,497 likes, 15 comments - udfigureskating on January 31, 2025: "A memorial service will be held on Sunday 2/2 honoring Sasha, Sean and Angela at 10 am EST. If you would like to attend, it is at the Fred Rust Ice Arena and there will be a table available for cards, flowers & candles. If you are...

www.instagram.com

I caught the end of this memorial service on the University of Delware FSC's Instagram account - Amanda Evora (current acting president of USFS) posted her thanks for the stream in the comments of the UDel FSC's IG Live.

Here's Johnny Weir's personal tribute to Sasha Kirsanov:

JOHNNY WEIR on Instagram: "2.February.2025 Alexandr Kirsanov I started skating at the University of Delaware in the mid-90’s when I was 12. When my journey began I only wanted to learn jumps and the artistry & skating ability were secondary to me. M

johnnygweir on February 2, 2025: "2.February.2025 Alexandr Kirsanov I started skating at the University of Delaware in the mid-90’s when I was 12. When my journey began I only wanted to learn jumps and the artistry & skating ability were secondary to me. My coach had the most difficult time...

www.instagram.com

 

[Sarah]

I caught the end of this memorial service on the University of Delware FSC's Instagram account - Amanda Evora (current acting president of USFS) posted her thanks for the stream in the comments of the UDel FSC's IG Live.

I caught most of it on the IG Live as well. The zoom filled to capacity to UD FSC streamed on IG Live. There were over 150 on the IG Live. I was hoping to go in person but got tied up. It was a very lovely memorial with nice tributes to Sasha as well as Angela and Sean.

 

[Sylvia]

Alydia Livingston, 11
Everly Livingston, 14
(Washington Figure Skating Club)
Donna Smojice Livingston (the girls' mother)
Peter Livingston (the girls' father)

USA Today article on the Livingston family that was published yesterday (Feb. 1):

'They're very rare': Family lost in DC plane crash dedicated lives to figure skating

Peter, Donna, Everly and Alydia Livingston devoted their lives to figure skating before the devastating plane crash near Reagan National Airport.

www.usatoday.com

Excerpts:

A Virginia family of four who dedicated their lives to figure skating and each other were among the victims who died in Wednesday's devastating plane crash near Reagan National Airport.
Business executive Donna Livingston and husband Peter Livingston, who worked in real estate, were both onboard American Airlines Flight 5342 alongside their daughters Everly, 14, and Alydia, 11. The family was returning from a figure skating event in Wichita, Kansas, and heading to their home in Ashburn, Virginia, when their airplane collided in midair with an Army helicopter in an accident that left 67 people dead.
The young sisters spent a bulk of their lives on the ice, with Everly and Alydia's skating careers beginning before they turned 5, according to Donna's close friend Dalal Badri, who talked to USA TODAY about the family.

Badri said she watched the girls grow up at Virginia's Ashburn Ice House, where her son Adam was paired as Alydia's skating partner since she was 3. The sisters followed in the footsteps of their father Peter, who previously skated at the Fairfax Ice Arena, about 25 miles southeast from the Ashburn rink.
"Everly was such a shy girl, but so focused and she just opened up and lit up when she got on the ice," Badri said. "Alydia was just always laughing and joking and smiling. She would always pop a joke, even if she had a straight face and was the kind of person that always wanted to make others laugh."

"He was such a dedicated father. No matter what. He would always, always make time for them so they can skate," Badri told USA TODAY. "You can't find a lot of dedicated skating families. They're very rare. But Donna was willing to do anything. And if we couldn't figure out how we're going to do this she was like, 'Don't worry. We'll make it work.''" [...]
Badri recalled speaking to Donna about 48 hours before the flight, revealing that Alydia had completed a high-development camp and would be progressing to a training camp ahead of the next competition stage.
"They would travel everywhere, just for the kids. I can't tell you how dedicated of a family they were, just for the kids," she said. "The skating community lost by losing the Livingstons."

Dalal Badri, who is quoted in the above article, must be the mother of Adam Esfandiari, now 12, who skated with Alydia ("Liddy") for a short time and paid tribute to his partner and the Livingston family: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFgLEMjJ5iW/

You were taken away way too soon. But I will always remember your bubbly personality. You don’t know how much you affected me. You did open me up, to be less serious about things and laugh a little bit more in life.
You came into this so afraid and not knowing, but you just dove right in. In my heart I knew this was going to work, but things changed and I know you wanted to continue but the distance was too long. In my heart, I knew it wasn’t the last time we would skate together, but fate had different plans for both of us. Last time I saw you, we were trying to make up a hand shake, laughing so hard because we couldn’t remember what we did.
Thank you Miss Donna and Mr. Peter for all the roadtrips to allow Liddy to skate with me. It was hard, it was long, but you sacrificed so much.
Thank you Liddy for being my partner, for letting me hold your hand and dance with you, I hope you are up there dancing, smiling, and laughing like I will always remember you.
May Liddy, Evy, Mrs. Donna, and Mr. Peter rest in peace as well as all of the others on that flight.

Adam's older sister, Mina, shared her anguish in this video post (excerpt below): https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFd3OJCy99G/

My brother skated with Alydia for over 3 months, when we moved from NJ to Michigan, the partnership had to end due to Liddy not being able to train here full time. When we had asked them to tryout at the beginning, Liddy was only doing solo dance. When the partnership had ended, she was blessed to have found a new partner and went to the High Development Camp, her dream. My mom and Donna (their mom) talked almost every other day, we’ve grown up with that whole family.

Another video of Liddy & Adam, filmed by "Mr. Peter" at the Reston Town Center outdoor holiday rink and shared by the Esfandiaris: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFibPQpuYy9/

This Feb. 1st local article on the Livingston family has more about Alydia's brand new ice dance partnership: https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/...heir-home-rink-before-tragedy-struck/3833083/

Her [Alydia's] new partner, 15-year-old Matt Jacoby, released a statement through his mother, Liz Abercrombie, saying "words cannot express" his sorrow at the loss of his partner and friends on Flight 5342.
He said Alydia's "passion for skating and bubbly personality brightened the rink and she will be greatly missed."
Abercrombie, in a brief telephone interview with NBC News, said the Livingstons were "a loving family who dedicated their lives to their girls and ice skating.”

Alydia and Matt had announced their new ice dance partnership on January 20, 2025 and were invited to USFS' High Performance National Development Camp. Their new "team_alydiamattsk8" account on Instagram has 2 posts - this was the final one of them together 4 days ago at the Wichita Ice Center: https://www.instagram.com/p/DFarYToxU8p/

We survived @usfigureskating National Development Camp and had so much fun! We learned from the best coaches while making new friends and spending time with old ones. Thank you to our amazing coach @slavauchitel1314 for making it all happen. We can’t wait to get stronger as a team this season.
@phillyskating
#figureskating #highperformanceteam #goals #team #icedance

Everly & Alydia Livingston's "ice_skating_sisters" Instagram account has 23.3K followers as of today: https://www.instagram.com/ice_skating_sisters/

ETA - posted by Sofia Bezkorovainaya: https://www.instagram.com/p/DFeRDAdudNl/

I’m okay physically, I wasn’t on that plane. But my coach [Inna Volyanskaya] and my best friends [Everly & Alydia] were. I’m still processing everything and will be spending time with my family. Thank you all for your calls, messages, and support—it means the world to me right now. #lovethemforeverandalways

 

[Debbie S]

Dalal Badri, who is quoted in the above article, must be the mother of Adam Esfandiari, now 12,

Yes, she is Adam and Mina's mother.

 

[DreamSkates]

Kalle rushed to Reagan Airport when he heard about the crash, and he was at the staging area the whole night, together with Brielle's dad. Kalle left the camp on Tuesday because he needed to prepare things for his wedding next week.

This article hit me really hard as Kaiyan is my best friend, in and out of skating. I last saw Kaiyan at the hotpot dinner with some boys at the camp and their parents (see Spencer Lane's Instagram photos) Tuesday night. When I first heard of the explosion, I called Kaiyan but it went to voice mail. Sent her a text but no response. Kalle called me at midnight asking for contact info of the relatives of the Zhou's as authorities needed to contact relatives.

The hardest part of this tragedy is losing the people you have personally known and cherished for years.

Hugs and prayers for you.

 

[Sylvia]

Cory Haynos, 16 (SC of Northern Virginia)
Stephanie Branton Haynos (Cory’s mother)
Roger Haynos (Cory’s father)
They are survived by his sister, Emily, a college student (both children were adopted), as well as Cory's paternal grandfather who lived with the family in VA.
GFM created by Olga Garrity, founder of the Virginia Ice Theatre: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-emily-haynos-in-honor-of-cory-stephanie-and-roger

The GFM (link now added to my post) says Emily is a "19-year-old college nursing sophomore."

Matthew Sperry used to be a member of the SC of Northern Virginia before he moved to Michigan to continue his ice dancing career and was close to the Haynos family. He has shared 6 throwback photos and included a link in his Instagram profile to the same GFM: https://www.instagram.com/p/DFg0ofGRMFH/

Cory, you were my little buddy growing up. I remember carrying you around on my back while you yelled for me to “go faster!” all throughout the lobby at Fairfax. We’d mess around on the ice trying cool tricks and new skills. You loved playing tag on the ice with me so much. You were such a wild, crazy, fun loving, goofball kid. When you joined theatre on ice I was so happy since I saw so much of myself in you. You played Mikey so well! Watching you compete as you got older I remember being astounded over and over again as you improved, and grew so quickly. Keep on skating

Stephanie and Roger, thank you for always helping to take care of me at the rink and at competitions. You were loving and devoted skater parents which is no easy task. I fondly remember your involvement in the theatre teams for all those years.

And Emily, I’ve known you for over half my life. My heart goes out to you.

And in case you missed seeing @oleada's post on Thursday - here is a gifted link to read this Jan. 30th New York Times article by Juliet Macur about Cory Haynos "The Skater Who Stuck a Triple Axel Before Boarding the Flight" and some of the others who were on that plane: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/30/...ytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare
Excerpts:

He had done it. Haynos had landed a triple axel, one of skating’s hardest jumps. At the perfect time, too. He had landed his first clean one at the age of 16 in December, but this time the camp’s coaches, there to scout and nurture the nation’s future elite champions, saw him.
“I’d been watching him work on it all week, just fighting to do it,” Mark Mitchell, one of U.S. Figure Skating’s coaches at the camp, said Thursday in a telephone interview. “So when I saw him, I just said, ‘Oh, my gosh! Cory just landed the triple axel!’ And he was so happy, just so happy.”
The “level of excitement was off the charts,” Mitchell said, at the camp held in the three days after the conclusion of the U.S. Figure Skating national championships on Sunday. That made Wednesday night’s news all that more gut-wrenching, he said.

Haynos’s training friend, Edward Zhou, was on the plane, too. According to neighbors and co-workers of the family, both of his parents also died. Like Haynos, Zhou had executed a triple axel at the camp, Mitchell said. [...]
“They left the house at 5 in the morning,” said Edward Haynos, Cory’s grandfather, who lived with the family in Annandale, Va. “Every time there’s a competition, they go.”
Stephanie Haynos’s sister, Lesley Tranby, said the Haynoses became parents later in life when they adopted Cory and his older sister, who was away at college when the plane crashed.
Ms. Tranby said the parents “put their hearts into raising and supporting their children in their dreams.”

 

[sk8pics]

The Kirsanov-only GoFundMe (that's currently not listed in the umbrella page of verified GFMs) was started by Michelle Dumler-McKeever who appeared in a local news story with her husband, Joel McKeever, on Friday: https://6abc.com/post/delaware-father-speaks-son-wife-killed-dc-place-crash/15853202/

That is good to see. I knew Joel very well when I was skating and he was always so kind to me, well when he wasn’t teasing me or something, so this is in character for him and I am glad to see it.

I caught the end of this memorial service on the University of Delware FSC's Instagram account - Amanda Evora (current acting president of USFS) posted her thanks for the stream in the comments of the UDel FSC's IG Live.

I was there and it was packed on one side of the rink, in the larger bleachers. It was good to see so many people, and Joel and Michelle did a great job, as did all the speakers.

Here's Johnny Weir's personal tribute to Sasha Kirsanov:

JOHNNY WEIR on Instagram: "2.February.2025 Alexandr Kirsanov I started skating at the University of Delaware in the mid-90’s when I was 12. When my journey began I only wanted to learn jumps and the artistry & skating ability were secondary to me. M

johnnygweir on February 2, 2025: "2.February.2025 Alexandr Kirsanov I started skating at the University of Delaware in the mid-90’s when I was 12. When my journey began I only wanted to learn jumps and the artistry & skating ability were secondary to me. My coach had the most difficult time...

www.instagram.com

This is such a sweet tribute and I can imagine the scene just the way he describes it. I saw Johnny at UD today, as well as Kimmie Meissner and a lot of other coaches and skaters I know from my time skating there.

 

[Sylvia]

Olivia Eve Ter, 12 (ION FSC)
Olesya Taylor (Olivia’s mother)
They are survived by Olivia's father, Andrew Ter, her 14-year-old sister, Anne Valerie who is a talented pianist, and Olesya's mother, Olga.
GFM (verified): https://www.gofundme.com/f/donate-in-memory-of-olesya-taylor-and-olivia-eve-ter

Thank you @barbk - I was going to ask for a gift link to this Washington Post article:

Unbearably sad, but beautifully written.
(gift article) https://wapo.st/3WLMB1L
The last time Andrew Ter spoke to his 12-year-old daughter Olivia was over WhatsApp. She was with her mom, playing with a century-old typewriter at the Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum.
Olivia marveled at the fact that there was no backspace. Her mom marveled at her. Her daughter had just participated in the elite U.S. Figure Skating National Development Camp and was already nailing tricky moves like triple toe loops and triple salchow jumps.

Excerpts:

Andrew Ter, 51, didn’t join his family on the trip. He wanted to go, he said Friday, but was overseeing the construction of a new house he’d designed to accommodate the needs of his two growing daughters and extended family. The house was nearing completion and he was eager to get the project done.
That was before his immediate family would be ruthlessly cleaved in half, like the airplane itself.
“I don’t know what to do right now,” Ter whispered near the special plates his wife had hand-selected for the new place. “I don’t need that house anymore.”
Ter, an Armenian refugee from Azerbaijan, devoted much of his adulthood to succeeding in his IT job so his wife could stay at home with the kids. He and Taylor, originally from Mykolaiv, Ukraine, wanted to provide Olivia and her sister, Anne Valerie, 14, with every opportunity the United States had to offer.

One of the last things Olivia Ter did in her life was write on the typewriter at the Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum. The museum staff collected even the scrap pages on which she tested out various keys, said museum director Eric Cale. Ter had written a letter on the typewriter. The museum stamped it and put it in the mail for the next day.
When they heard the news, they quickly retrieved it, realizing this was likely a precious final remnant of her young life. The staff plans on sending it to her father, Cale said.
As for the new house, Ter is unsure of what’s best for the family now. And for himself.
“I don’t need an 8,000 square foot house, but I cannot be in this house here. I can’t,” he said. “I am lost.”

 

[Sylvia]

Re-posting here from Max Naumov's fan thread...

In an interview with PEOPLE, Olympic gold medalist Ekaterina "Katia" Gordeeva mourned her late teammates Evgenia and Vadim Naumov, killed in the Jan. 29 crash (Feb. 2):

Skater Maxim Naumov, 23, Who Lost Both Parents in D.C. Plane Crash, Now with Family Friends ‘24 Hours’ a Day (Exclusive)

In an interview with PEOPLE, Olympic gold medalist Ekaterina 'Katia' Gordeeva mourned her late teammates Evgenia Shiskova and Vadim Naumov, killed in the Jan. 29 crash. She revealed their son Maxim Naumov, 23, is being supported by a close family friend around the clock.

people.com

“I know a couple who is with him right now,” Ekaterina "Katia" Gordeeva, a Russian teammate of Zhenya [Shishkova] and Vadim Naumov at the 1994 Olympics and friend of the couple, tells PEOPLE. She says the woman looking after Maxim was “a very dear friend” to his late parents.
“They weren't even in Washington yet, but … that morning [of the plane crash], we all connected right away, all the people from Simsbury,” says Katia, referring to the town in Connecticut where she lives [correction: used to live] and where Zhenya, Vadim lived.
Katia says that the family friend supporting Maxim and his parents used to be “together all the time. So she is like a godmother to him, and she is with him right now there and her husband.”
According to Katia, the couple has known Maxim since he was born and were “very supportive to Vadim and Zhenya all the time” with their son. “I know that Maxim has someone with him 24 hours,” she tells PEOPLE.

Katia also shares that she and Zhenya bonded over their pregnancies with her daughter and Maxim as they were pregnant at the same time.
“I know that my daughter reached out to him because they are closer to her in age,” she says. Regarding the plane crash that claimed Zhenya and her husband’s life, she continued, “My daughter was so devastated yesterday. She was like, ‘I have to go. I have to go see him right now.’ ”

Liza Kulik was born on June 15, 2001 and Max on August 1, 2001.

 

[Viktoria]

This was shared with me via a mutual friend who was a skater with Emily. Not on the GoFundMe verified page.

Donate to Support Emily Haynos in honor of Cory, Stephanie, and Roger, organized by Olga Garrity

On Jan 29th, Emily Haynos lost her entire immediate family on… Olga Garrity needs your support for Support Emily Haynos in honor of Cory, Stephanie, and Roger

www.gofundme.com

 

[livetoskate]

More local news coverage focusing on Kirsanov:

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

youtu.be

 

[Sylvia]

This was shared with me via a mutual friend who was a skater with Emily. Not on the GoFundMe verified page.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-emily-haynos-in-honor-of-cory-stephanie-and-roger

Thank you @Viktoria. The GFM for Emily Haynos was created by Olga Garrity, founder of the Virginia Ice Theatre, who coached both Cory and Emily when they were young. I was able to edit this link (and other GFM links) into my post #274 above before the editing window expired tonight.

More local news coverage focusing on Kirsanov: https://youtu.be/3S0AsmNLGM4?si=92DET8usY1sjGG3T

Thanks @livetoskate! Here's the article that goes with the CBS Baltimore local news video (more from the UDel memorial service, including Yang/Kay, will be on the 11 pm news broadcast:

Beloved Maryland figure skating coach killed in D.C. plane crash remembered for perseverance

A beloved Maryland figure skating coach who was killed in the midair plane crash over the Potomac River was remembered for his drive, determination and work ethic.

www.cbsnews.com

ETA:

Tomorrow (Monday, Feb. 3) many clubs and ice rinks around the country will be holding a 5-minute vigil at 3:35-3:40 pm Eastern/2:35-2:40 Central/12:35-12:40 Pacific time - facing their rink's LiveBarn camera (if they have one) or sending in photos and/or video recordings from their rinks to USFS to be compiled into a montage video and shared more widely.

 

[Sylvia]

USFS' tribute video for all the figure skaters & coaches was posted on Instagram 6 hours ago:

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

USFS' 2-minute tribute video also has been uploaded on YT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5CMlicf1cc

USFS' statement (copied out below) published on Sunday, Feb. 2:

Recognizing the 28 Lost on Flight 5342 | U.S. Figure Skating

www.usfigureskating.org

Since the tragic crash of American Airlines Flight 5342 late Wednesday night, U.S. Figure Skating has been connecting with the loved ones of those who lost their lives, offering the support of our extended community while remembering the light they brought to us all.  

We can confirm that we have lost 28 members of the figure skating community on this flight. They were incredible athletes, caring and supportive family members, and coaches who worked tirelessly for their athletes. They were beloved members of our global skating community, and we mourn their loss together. 

In the hours and days since the crash, we have provided and continue to offer counseling services, both virtually and in Washington D.C.  We also established the U.S. Figure Skating Family Support Fund to provide support to those U.S. Figure Skating families directly impacted by the tragedy – to contribute, please click here: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/usfigureskatingfoundation/event/usfigureskatingfund/

During the coming days and months, there will be many tributes to honor the victims. Our partner skating clubs, many of whom lost athletes who graced their ice, will be holding tributes and moments of silence. Additionally, on March 2, we have partnered with the Washington Capitals to hold a tribute at Capital One Arena, with all proceeds going to the U.S. Figure Skating Family Support Fund. 

Those whom we lost dedicated their lives to perfecting the sport of figure skating, many with the goal of one day becoming Olympians. We will never forget them. May their passion and excellence inspire us and give us strength in the days ahead. For now, our hearts are heavy with sorrow, and we stand with their families and friends as we grieve this unspeakable loss.   

Samuel Auxier 
Interim CEO of U.S. Figure Skating

 

[Sylvia]

USFS has published tribute pages for each of the 5 clubs affected (11 skaters, 4 coaches, 13 parents = 28 total) - the 5 individual links, along with the same tribute video, were posted on USFS' X account today at 7 am Eastern time: https://x.com/USFigureSkating/status/1886384339136491684

SC of Northern Virginia (3 skaters & 5 parents died): https://www.usfigureskating.org/new...-lives-we-lost-skating-club-northern-virginia

Washington FSC (3 skaters, 1 coach & 3 parents died): https://www.usfigureskating.org/new...-lives-we-lost-washington-figure-skating-club

Skating Club of Boston (2 skaters, 2 coaches & 2 parents died): https://www.usfigureskating.org/news/article/remembering-lives-we-lost-skating-club-boston

University of Delaware FSC (2 skaters, 1 coach & 2 parents died): https://www.usfigureskating.org/new...-lost-university-delaware-figure-skating-club

ION FSC (1 skater & 1 parent died): https://www.usfigureskating.org/news/article/remembering-lives-we-lost-ion-figure-skating-club

ETA - all the individual names match those listed in my post #274 - R.I.P.

ETA 2: Franco Aparicio's age is listed as 14 by USFS (I've seen 13 listed for him in many articles).

 

[BittyBug]

USFS' 2-minute tribute video also has been uploaded on YT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5CMlicf1cc

All that joy and young lives, extinguished.

 

[Sylvia]

Today ESPN.com published an evocative feature article titled "The triumphant final days of the skaters killed in D.C. crash" (Sam Borden, Elaine Teng and Maria Lawson are named among "multiple contributors") that spans from January 4 to Wednesday, January 29, the night of the crash, and the immediate aftermath:

The triumphant final days of the skaters killed in D.C. crash

This is the story of a week of joy and hope for young skaters chasing their dreams -- before a tragic end.

www.espn.com

ETA one excerpt from the night of the crash:

Minutes later, news broke that a plane on approach for landing and a helicopter collided in Washington, D.C. When it became clear that the plane originated in Wichita, skating communities everywhere were jolted. In Boston, a makeshift phone tree developed among members of the Skating Club to figure out who had made it home and who might be on the plane.

"I was just shaking all night," said [Jared] Sedlis, the skater who had eaten cake with Jinna [Han]. "That was such a fearful moment, connecting those dots."

[Coach Kalle] Strid received a call from Brielle's dad, Andy, who was in the airport cell phone lot with his son, Kallen, waiting to pick up his wife and daughter. He couldn't reach them. Andy knew in his gut that his wife and daughter were gone. He started trembling.

Strid and his wife immediately drove to the airport to be with him and Kallen. The four of them stayed for hours in a big-windowed lounge filled with families waiting to have their worst fears confirmed.

"Everyone was sitting up there more or less in silence, all the families," Andy said. "You could see all the flashing lights out there and stuff, and I couldn't bring myself to look out there but it was just constant -- the flashing red in the room. I think we were probably in there until 3 in the morning.

"They brought in some police officer or something and basically told us there were no survivors."

In Boston, Mitrofanov and Efimova found Joon Han, Jinna's father, at the rink. After learning that his wife and only child were on the plane, he didn't know where else to go.

They took him to the home of their coach, Olga Ganicheva, where they could be with several other skaters, including Max Naumov, who had returned home without his parents.

"We spent all night watching the news and making phone calls to American Airlines to try and find out if somebody is alive or not," Ganicheva said. "Max was very quiet and strong. He just went to the basement and sit there. [But] when on the TV they're showing how [the plane] blow up in the air, he couldn't hold it in anymore."

Around 2:30 a.m., Mitrofanov said, two skaters -- Sedlis and Spencer Howe, who lives with Max -- volunteered to drive Max and Joon to Washington. They didn't want to leave them.

 

[Sylvia]

Jackie has confirmed that it was ESPN's Sam Borden who reached out to him:

Sharing a post from Jackie Wong:

"Skating fam: A request

A major media outlet reached out to me to help with identifying friends of the victims; they want to help tell the victims’ stories and celebrate their lives

If you were particularly close to any of them and you would like to speak to this outlet, can you DM me please?"

From the ESPN.com article, in the section titled "Tuesday, Jan. 28 -- Day 2 of National Development Camp":

At one point, Edward and Franco skated by the coaches and pointed at them, smiling so wide and dancing. Moved, Cain and Mitchell started dancing back.
"Everybody was so happy, and letting loose and giving us so much energy and willing to be vulnerable in front of us," Cain said.

Ashley Cain had shared a 30-second video of this moment after the crash ("I will cherish this video for forever. I wanted to share this to show a beautiful moment we had with Eddie Zhou and Franco Aparicio at camp. They are #37 and #23. ..."):

Ashley Cain on Instagram: "I will cherish this video for forever. I wanted to share this to show a beautiful moment we had with Eddie Zhou and Franco Aparicio at camp. They are #37 and #23. At the end of a very long day for these kids we had the oppo

icegirlash on January 30, 2025: "I will cherish this video for forever. I wanted to share this to show a beautiful moment we had with Eddie Zhou and Franco Aparicio at camp. They are #37 and #23. At the end of a very long day for these kids we had the opportunity to do an interpretive class...

www.instagram.com

 

[Spiralgraph]

I thought I couldn't cry anymore about this tragedy and the loss of all those young (and older) lives. I was wrong. Emotionally
riveting article.

 

[TanithandBenFan]

I had one of my USFS T-shirts on today when I went to the eye doctor. My doctor, who is such a sweetheart, talked to me for 15 minutes about the accident and skating, and I was proud I held it together. I purposely did not read the ESPN article before I left to go there.

 

[Moto Guzzi]

Same- I skated at Fairfax Ice Arena from around '96-2001 and joined the Skating Club of Northern Virginia. I think my last coach, Irina Chilova, still teaches there, but Inna wasn't there yet. How wonderful that you got to take lessons from her. Here is Stephanie Haynos' channel and video of a young Cory doing a fun exhibition at Fairfax Ice Arena in 2016:

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

www.youtube.com

Irina still coaches at FIA. I haven't skated in years (I decided I was getting too old to be injuring myself after breaking both bones in my left wrist in multiple places) and have moved away from the area, but I still miss it.

Thanks for posting the video of Cory.