Oral surgeon logging night flight hours when plane crashed into lake
GODERICH When his plane crashed into Lake Huron last week, oral surgeon Edward Grodecki was logging nighttime flight hours to fulfil his dream of better serving remote Indigenous communities, colleagues say.
Edward Grodecki, 62, of Oakville, was one of two people killed after witnesses reported seeing a small airplane flying in distress near the Goderich airport. The other person killed was 36-year-old Veronica Draghici of Brampton, who is listed as an instructor with the Brampton Flight Centre.
Though the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario lists a dozen locations where Grodecki practised, the accomplished oral and maxillofacial surgeon most often worked in North Bay, travelling to Timmins and Sault Ste. Marie to treat patients, said his colleague Rachelle Wright.
“He was everywhere. He just wanted to keep working and it wasn’t for the money, he wanted to just help as many people as he could,” she said. “He was an amazing person.” His dream, and the reason the longtime pilot was logging night flying hours, Wright said, was to travel to remote Indigenous communities in Northern Ontario with his team and treat patients who need it most.
Draghici had been part of the Brampton Flight Centre for nine years, said colleague Nanci Soldo. Though flying was one of her passions, Soldo said Draghici was a dedicated mother and wife.
“When Veronica talked about her family she exuded happiness,” she said in an email. “Veronica was such an inspiration. She was always willing to lend a helping hand.”
An online fundraiser for Draghici had raised nearly $30,000 by Tuesday evening. The GoFundMe account had a $15,000 goal to help support her husband and threeyear-old son. A visitation and funeral for Draghici is being held in Brampton Thursday.
The cause of the crash is being investigated by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada, OPP and the coroner.