South Florida friends’ trip to Kenya ends in tragedy after helicopter crash

MIAMI — A group of friends from South Florida was among the seven who died after a helicopter crash on Wednesday in northern Kenya, according to relatives and colleagues of the victims.

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The pilot of a single-engine helicopter with Lady Lori Helicopters was flying a group of six tourists from the Suyian Conservancy to Mount Ololokwe when they crashed in Samburu County, according to Kenya’s Civil Aviation Authority and the helicopter operator.

The seven victims were José Alberto Suárez, Roger E. Duarte, Adam Hlavaty, Henry Parra, Michele Sensi-Contugi, Stephany Hollihan, and Josh Outram.

Suárez, who grew up in Coral Gables, was the president and general manager of the Telemundo-owned stations in Orlando, Tampa, and Fort Myers. He was 55.

Hlavaty was a real estate executive. He was the vice president of development for Benihana and served as a board member of the Coral Gables Art Museum. He was 42.

Parra was a software executive. He was 55. Parra and Hlavaty were married and lived in Coral Gables.

Duarte was the entrepreneur behind Hospitality Capital Partners, the owner of George Stone Crabs, and the co-founder of My Ceviche. He was 42.

Duarte’s family was “devastated and heartbroken by the tragic helicopter accident in Kenya … the magnitude of this tragedy is impossible to comprehend, and there are no words to express the depth of our pain,” a spokesperson wrote in a statement.

Authorities in Ecuador identified Sensi-Contugi, 44, as the director of CIES, the country’s strategic intelligence center, and a close ally of Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa. Hollihan, 42, a fashion designer, was married to Sensi-Contugi.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the Latin American Fashion Summit described Hollihan, the founder of Sensi Studio, as “a true visionary and an extraordinary force” who celebrated Ecuadorean artisans’ work with “paja toquilla.”

Harpers Bazaar reported Hollihan was born in Ecuador’s port city of Guayaquil and served as a proud ambassador of her country’s artisans in the U.S. and Europe.

The spokesperson for Duarte’s family identified Suárez, Hlavaty, Parra, Sensi-Contugi, and Holliham as “dear friends” and Outram as the pilot based in Kenya.

“I am hugely passionate about flying, and what Kenya has to offer, especially the North, are some of the most diverse landscapes,” Outram told a writer for Elewana last year, adding that he also provided aerial support for wildlife monitoring.

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The Loisaba Conservancy released a statement describing the victims of the helicopter crash as “guests” of &Beyond, a travel agency.

In a statement, NBCUniversal executives described Suárez as ”a deeply respected leader and beloved friend and colleague” who “brought energy, humor, warmth, and a strong sense of purpose to his work.”

Suárez, a Coral Gables High School alumnus, started his journalistic career as a reporter and anchor. He served as president of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. He was with NBCU for about two decades, leading stations in San Antonio, Sacramento, Fresno, Salt Lake City, and Las Vegas.

During his time with WUPW Fox Toledo, Suárez won three Emmys for Outstanding Daily Newscast and several Associated Press Awards, according to his biography with NBCU.

Suárez’s career also included programming, digital and creative leadership for the Telemundo Station Group, NBC6, and Telemundo 51 in Miami.

Duarte’s friend Lee Schrager, a businessman known for his work with the Food Network South Beach, said he wasn’t surprised when Forbes recognized Duarte in the 30 under 30 list.

“He had such an incredible work ethic,” Schrager said.

Duarte is survived by his two sons, Roger and George, and his wife, Nicole Valls, whose family founded Versailles, the iconic Cuban restaurant in Miami’s Little Havana.

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Local 10 News Assignment Editor Carson Merlo contributed to this report.