The great-grandson of Standard Oil Company founder John D. Rockefeller was killed in a single-engine plane crash in Purchase Friday morning.

 

Richard Rockefeller was a medical doctor, husband and father of two grown children. The 64-year-old practiced and taught medicine in Portland, Maine until 2000, then remained involved in a number of health-related nonprofits since then.

 

He was chair of Doctors without Borders and served on the board at Rockefeller University in Manhattan. A family spokesperson says Rockefeller was also an experienced pilot.

 

Rockefeller had been in Westchester to visit his father, David, for his 99th birthday at their Pocantico Hills estate.

 

"The family is in shock," said a family spokesperson. "It's a terrible tragedy. Richard was a wonderful and cherished member of the family. He was an experienced pilot and a medical doctor."