Interfaith minister remembers 2 of 7 helicopter crash victims who died in Kenya

MIAMI — On Thursday, in Coral Gables, Rev. Eddie Rodriguez remembered his time with two of the seven victims of the helicopter crash on Wednesday in northern Kenya.

Read more Women in pink rally in support of Lindsay Clancy at her trial for killing her 3 children

Rodriguez, an interfaith minister, said he officiated the wedding of Adam Hlavaty and Henry Parra, a “great couple,” in 2017 at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables.

“There are couples that stand out for you, and they certainly did,” Rodriguez said.

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

Hlavaty, 42, and Parra, 55, were traveling with José Suárez, Roger Duarte, Adam Hlavaty, Henry Parra, Michele Sensi-Contugi, and Stephany Hollihan. The seven died.

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. Parra, a software executive, co-founded Trax USA, a company based in Coral Gables.

Sensi-Contugi, 44, the director of CIES, Ecuador’s strategic intelligence center, and Hollihan, 42, a fashion designer who founded the Sensi Studio in 2010, were also a married couple and close friends of Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa.

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.

Duarte was the entrepreneur behind Hospitality Capital Partners, George Stone Crabs, and the restaurateur who co-founded My Ceviche, Zuuk Mediterranean Kitchen, and El Tropico Cuban Kitchen. He was 42.

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

The Loisaba Conservancy in Kenya released a statement on Wednesday describing the group as “guests” of &Beyond, a travel agency.

Read more County officials tour ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ site to assess damage, environmental issues

On Thursday, the Loisaba Conservancy released a statement on Instagram, remembering Outram, who had worked for the conservancy from 2020 to 2023, was a resident there, and a part of their community.

“He supported elephant rescues, aerial surveillance for our security teams and responses to incidents on the ground, and helped with the work to establish the Loisaba Rhino Sanctuary, including building of the fence,” a spokesperson wrote. “A fourth-generation Kenyan, Josh had been flying across the country’s conservation and commercial aviation sectors for more than fifteen years. His experience was evident to everyone who flew with him: colleagues and clients alike knew him for his skill, professionalism and calm in some of the most demanding flying conditions.”

Related reports

• Noboa reacts to fatal helicopter crash in Kenya: ‘There was nothing more important to them than their children’
• South Florida friends’ trip to Kenya ends in tragedy after helicopter crash
• Safari helicopter crashes in northern Kenya, killing 7 people, including 5 Americans

Noboa reacts to fatal helicopter crash in Kenya: ‘There was nothing more important to them than their children’

Related social media posts on Thursday

Related social media posts on Wednesday

Read the statement

Related reports

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