Craig MacCallum, of Montclair, N.J., died May 31, 2013, in an airplane accident.
Craig was raised in New Hartford, N.Y. An Eagle Scout and graduate of New Hartford High School, he entered Princeton with the Class of ’77 and graduated with ’78. He majored in economics at Princeton, earned an MBA from New York University, and had a career in real-estate asset management, turnarounds, and banking.
At the time of his death Craig was doing what he loved: flying. He earned his pilot’s license before his driver’s license, became a flying instructor, and once issued an ultimatum to his future wife: “If you want to be with me, you also get my airplane.”
Craig crashed soon after taking off from Linden Airport when the Diamond DA20 he was flying struggled to gain altitude. To minimize loss of life, he steered the plane away from congested areas and it nose-dived into an empty lot. Craig died a hero.
A devoted husband and father, Craig is survived by his wife, Carol Schlein; children Margaret and James; mother Janet MacCallum; and his four siblings and their children. A large contingent of classmates attended his memorial. The class sends deep sympathy to all.