Dane County,Wisconsin Libertarian leader dies in plane crash

[Galileo Galilei]

Dane County,Wisconsin Libertarian leader dies in plane crash

January 5th, 2009 · 2 Comments

Stu Seffern, the former leader of the Dane County Libertarian Party in Wisconsin, tragically died in a plane crash in Illinois on the night of January 1st. The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported here.

The Dane County chairman of the Wisconsin Libertarian Party died with his wife in a fiery plane crash last night in Joliet, Ill., according to a man who works for the chairman’s Madison business and a member of a Madison flying club.

Investigators today are trying to determine the cause of the crash Thursday night at the Joliet Regional Airport.

The crash killed Stuart D. Seffern and his wife, Debbie, Joshua Stabenau said. Stabenau manages Stuart Seffern’s business, Madison Area Carpet Cleaning.

Seffern owned the carpet cleaning business for 29 years, Stabenau said. Stabenau said he was told about the wreck by the Dane County Sheriff’s Department.

Reader Rolf Lindgren knew Stu Seffern personally and has written an obituary for him over at the “Pro-defense” Libertarian Republican group blog, run by Eric Dondero.

Our condolences to the Seffern family.

Filed Under: Libertarian Party

2 responses so far ↓

http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/2009/01/dane-countywisconsin-libertarian-leader-dies-in-plane-crash/

Stu Seffern supported the Ron Paul campaign in 2007 and 2008.

Remembering Libertarian Stu Seffern
http://libertarianrepublican.blogspot.com/2009/01/pro-defense-libertarian-killed-in.html

NTSB: Plane landed for fuel, crashed on takeoff
January 2, 2009 at 4:38 PM | Comments (39)
http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/01/2-fatalities-possible-in-joliet-plane-crash.html

[decatren]

seems like all libertarians and whistle blowers die in plane crashes.

[Galileo Galilei]

seems like all libertarians and whistle blowers die in plane crashes.

FYI - I appreciate your concern. Please read through all the comments from the chicagobreakingnews article. Some people and pilots who spoke with Stu just before the accident left their remarks. This crash is a terrible tragedy, but there is nothing suspicious about it. Stu was a great pilot for many years, and it seems that it might have been frost on the wings that caused the crash. My guess is that Stu checked for frost, but may have missed some in the dark. He had landed at the airport and then had dinner. Another pilot who landed at the same time as Stu said he took off only about a half hour later and had to clear frost that had already formed. Remember, this was a small aircraft and no pilot is perfect.

[Galileo Galilei]

Celebrating Stu & Debbie's Life



"Friends may call from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and a service at 2 p.m. to celebrate Stuart and Debbie's life on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2009, at the CRESS FUNERAL HOME."



Seffern, Stuart D.
MADISON
Stuart D. Seffern, age 50, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009, with Debbie Loiselle, his partner of 30 years in a tragic airplane accident. He was born March 20, 1958, in New York City, the son of John J. and Billee (Riley) Seffern. He was also the stepson of Carl H. Ludders Jr. and Arlene (Stillman) Seffern.

http://www.madison.com/obits/print.php?refDate=2454840&refPage=listing&ad_number=1332027



Loiselle, Deborah A. "Debbie"
MADISON
Deborah A. (Debbie) Loiselle, age 52, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009, with Stuart Seffern, her lifelong partner in a tragic airplane accident. She was born on March 12, 1956, to Harold and Betty (Bambrough) Loiselle. She grew up in Madison and graduated from West High School.

http://www.madison.com/obits/print.php?refDate=2454840&refPage=listing&ad_number=1332042

[Galileo Galilei]

Burr Oaks neighbors honor Seffern, Loiselle

GENA KITTNER
608-252-6139
January 11, 2009

More than eight years ago, Stuart Seffern helped start neighborhood patrols to address crime, drugs and prostitution in his South Side neighborhood.

On Sunday, more than 50 Burr Oaks neighbors, Madison community members and family members participated in a similar walk, this time in honor of Seffern, 50, and his partner Debbie Loiselle, 52, who died Jan. 1 when Seffern's single-engine plane crashed south of Chicago.

"Stu was the real reason the walk started," said Ruth Ann Bauhs, treasurer for the Burr Oaks Neighborhood Association. Only eight people signed up for the first walk in the fall of 2000, she said, but "that Friday night when we walked 42 people showed up."

....

Seffern, 50, owned Madison Area Carpet Cleaning, was active in the Libertarian Party of Wisconsin, the Burr Oaks Neighborhood Association and many other organizations and boards throughout Madison, according to his obituary.

....

MORE: http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/local/432054

Burr Oaks Neighbors Walk In Memory Of Community Activists
http://www.channel3000.com/news/18459485/detail.html

A vote for Ron Paul is a vote for James Madison.

[Galileo Galilei]

http://www.expressportraits.net/tools/get.php?id=307&code=43rc3

In 2002, Stu with Libertarian Ed Thompson (both long time Ron Paul supporters).

Ed Thompson is the brother of Tommy Thompson.

direct link to photo:

http://www.expressportraits.net/tools/get.php?id=307&code=43rc3

In 2002, Ed was campaigning for governor.

An article about Stu Seffern will appear in the next issue of Libertarian Pledge magazine.

[Paulitician]

Wow, that sucks.

[Galileo Galilei]

Update on Stu:

NTSB: Small plane stalled before fatal crash

June 30, 2009 12:25 PM

The small plane that crashed at the Joliet Park District Airport killing its two occupants the night of Jan. 1 stalled during takeoff and hit the ground with its left wing before catching fire and flipping over in a field, according to a report released by the National Transportation Safety Board.

But the report didn't say what caused the plane to stall.

The report also found the plane flow by Stuart D. Seffern, 50, of Wisconsin, was slightly over the allowable maximum weight limit.

A pilot of another airplane who landed earlier that night reported having to wipe frost off his wings and tail before taking off again, according to the NTSB. Another person reported seeing deer on the runway earlier in the day. However, the investigation could not determine whether deer were on the runway at the time of the accident, the report said.

Seffern had been flying from Orlando, Fla., back to Wisconsin with his long-time partner, Deborah A. Loiselle, 42. They landed at about 6 p.m. with four to five gallons of fuel. Seffern attempted to locate fuel before siphoning fuel from another plane at the airport and leaving a note and money. No one was working at the airport due to the New Year's holiday.

The two-seat single-engine plane was an amateur-built Lancair 360 built by the flying club Lantzair Flyers, Inc., of which Seffern had been president for the past three years. He also was chairman of the Wisconsin Libertarian Party of Dane County.

--Caroline Smith

http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/06/cause-revealed-on-plane-crash-which-killed-2.html

[Galileo Galilei]

More Details on Stu:

Cause of Joliet plane crash unknown
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/heraldnews/news/1644930,4_1_JO30_PLANE_S1-090630.article

[ClayTrainor]

too bad... RIP Stu.