Carnegie Mellon University trustee who traveled to space killed in New Jersey plane crash
A Carnegie Mellon University trustee who had realized his lifelong dream of becoming an astronaut when he piloted the New Shepard Spacecraft with actor William Shatner last month, died in a private plane crash Thursday in New Jersey.
Glen de Vries, 49, a 1994 Carnegie Mellon science graduate who co-founded Medidata, the world’s most used cloud platform for clinical trials, was remembered as a man who had a passion for bringing the power of science and knowledge to others.
When he returned to earth on Oct. 13 after piloting Blue Origin’s spacecraft with Shatner aboard, de Vries described his plan to “make advancing the democratization of space part of my mission for the balance of my life,” said Farnam Jahanian, president of CMU’s board of trustees.
“His passing is a profound loss for this community and for a world that has already benefited so much from his brilliance and compassion,” Jahanian said.
"CMU is devastated by the loss of alumnus and trustee Glen de Vries,” said President Jahanian.
“Glen was one of CMU’s greatest advocates. His passing is a profound loss for a world that has already benefitted so much from his brilliance and compassion." https://t.co/Js6FsyYMF6 pic.twitter.com/VvKSDbaO0e
— Carnegie Mellon University (@CarnegieMellon) November 12, 2021
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash of the small Cessna plane in a wooded area in Sussex County, about 40 miles northwest of New York City. Thomas Fisher, who was de Vries’ flight instructor, also was killed in the crash. FAA records showed de Vries had a pilot’s license.
Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin company tweeted that de Vries “brought so much life and energy to the entire Blue Origin team and to his fellow crew mates. His passion for aviation, his charitable work, and his dedication to his craft will long be revered and admired.”
Before the flight, de Vries said that he had been “passionate about aviation and space for as long as I can remember, so this flight is truly a dream come true.”
De Vries, a native of New York, was a member of the Mellon College of Science Dean’s Council. In 2017, he endowed the dean’s chair currently held by Rebecca Doerge.
Joe Napsha is a TribLive reporter covering Irwin, North Huntingdon and the Norwin School District. He also writes about business issues. He grew up on Neville Island and has worked at the Trib since the early 1980s. He can be reached at jnapsha@triblive.com.
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