On Friday evening, we received word that there was a plane crash in Belize, killing our family friend Jill, her husband Mike and their two children who I photographed this summer, Makayla, 3 yrs and Bryce, 7 months. It still feels like this is just one scary dream. So many hearts are broken over the devestating loss of such a young and wonderful family planning to permanently return to the United States in the near future.
Looking through the photos I took of Makayla and Bryce this summer when Bryce was just 3 weeks old, I can’t help but think of the interaction that went into each image I captured. It turned into more of a shoot for Makayla and we had such fun. She was such a sweet little girl - just like her mom. I feel so fortunate to have captured just a few images of Jill with the kids. I’m so sad we didn’t get Mike in there and the four of them together. They were waiting for this coming summer to take photos of all the grandkids at the beach, so the fact that I got Jill to jump into a few despite her grumbles, is such a blessing. They capture Jill as a mom so perfectly.
Please count your blessings. And keep in your thoughts this young family taken too soon and the family & friends that will miss them terribly.
Michael Casey, 32, his wife, Jillian Schuessler Casey, 32, of Marion, MA and their two children, Makayla, 3, and Bryce, 7 months, were killed when their plane, piloted by Sir Barry Bowen, crashed while approaching San Pedro Airport. Mechanical difficulties led to the crash.
Jillian Casey was the daughter of Linda and the late Dr. Peter Schuessler of Marion.
Michael and Jillian were 1999 graduates of St. Michael’s College in Vt. and left for Belize in 2001 to become leaders of the 75-student Community School located in the rain-forest village of Gallon Jug. Mike was the school’s principal while Jill was the 3rd and 4th grade teacher. They dedicated their professional lives to educating and improving the lives of the children of Gallon Jug, including raising scholarship funds to send some of their better students to American schools.
Mike was a 1995 graduate of LaSalle Institute in Troy, NY where he lettered in varsity hockey. He graduated from St. Michael’s with a dual major in political science and environmental studies. While working in Belize, Mike became president of World’s Windows, Inc. of Albany, a charity that has ties around the world. The organization focuses on “health education and the creation of self-sustaining communities and empowerment for all people.” Mike was dedicated to his family and to the health and education of the world’s children. He was recently accepted by the State University of New York at Albany to pursue an Advanced Graduate Certificate in School Building and Leadership.
Jillian Schuessler Casey graduated from Bishop Stang H.S. in 1995 where she played varsity basketball. She was a dean’s list student at St. Michael’s, graduating with a B.S. in psychology. “Miss Jill” was cherished by the villagers of Gallon Jug for her grace and her loving heart, but especially for her Christmas musical productions which pulled the whole village together. The only thing more important to Jill than the health and safety of her village children was the devotion she had for her own children, Makayla and Bryce.
Mike and Jill were married in a garden ceremony on a hillside in Gallon Jug in January, 2006. They shared an adventurous spirit and spent much of their free time hiking, horseback riding, sailing, and exploring the many habitats of Belize. They were both accomplished skiers and shared a love of bird watching, botany, music, and family vacations. They were devoted to their large families who had looked forward to their permanent return, with their two beautiful children, to the United States.
