SwissAir Flight 111 Leaves Several Grieving in Queens

The crash of SwissAir flight 111 off the coast of Nova Scotia, which claimed the lives of several of Queens’ own, sent shockwaves of grief throughout the community last week.
Among the victims of the tragedy was 32-year-old Ingrid Acevedo, a director of public relations at UNICEF, who grew up in Jamaica Estates.
"She was young beautiful and dynamic," explained Anne Marie Kane, a colleague of Acevedo at UNICEF.
Acevedo, a graduate of St. Francis Prep in Fresh Meadows, joined UNICEF in 1995 and was on her way to Geneva to put together a workshop for her organization.
"Just working with her you could tell she was at the happiest time of her life. She had a ton of friends. This not only affects the people that knew her but anyone who knows someone like her," said Kane.
Brother Robert Kent, a teacher at St. Francis Prep remembered Acevedo as "having a bubbling personality."
Brother Kent, who taught freshman algebra to Acevedo added, "I recall her sitting in the first row, third seat and even as a freshman she was involved in volunteer work, she was always very generous."
Bayside resident Christina Caripides lost her entire family when the jet that departed from JFK plunged into the waters off the Canadian coast.
William, 71; Gabriela, 60; and Peter Caripides, 27 were all aboard, on their way to a wedding in Greece, when the ill-fated flight cut their lives short.
The Caripides family lived on 57 Ave. and 224 St. in Bayside until moving to Long Island two years ago.
Christina soon departed for Nova Scotia on Friday (Sept. 4) with her roommate Terri Shevrin after learning the devastating news.
"Just put yourself in her shoes, how do you think she feels," said Lou Shevrin, Terri’s father who attested that his daughter and Christina had been friends for years.
At Unique Image Florists on Horace Harding Expwy. the doors were closed all Labor Day Weekend but not for observance of the holiday.
Florist owner Steve lost his mother Phylis Napoli of Fresh Meadows when the jumbo jet took its deadly plunge.
Also aboard Flight 111 was tax Attorney Stanley Klein of Fresh Meadows who was on his way to Geneva for business according to David Kay.
Kay, a long-time associate, knew Klein for almost 30 years and worked with him at the Manhattan law firm of Brauner, Baron, Rosenzweig and Klein.
"He was a senior partner and had been at the firm for over 30 years," said Kay who added "All of the staff and partners feel like we’ve lost a friend."
"He was a wonderful man," said Bob Stoddard who also worked with Klein at the law firm.