Karenna Groff, the 2022 recipient of the prestigious NCAA Woman of the Year award, was one of the six victims who lost their lives in a plane crash in Copake, New York, on Saturday, April 12, 2025.
According to the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), she was on a holiday celebration with her family when the tragic incident happened.
In a heartfelt statement, the family identified the victims as Karenna Groff; her parents, Dr. Michael Groff and Dr. Joy Saini; her brother, Jared Groff, and his partner, Alexia Couyutas Duarte; as well as Karenna’s partner, James Santoro.
Her father was an experienced pilot. NTSB official Todd Inman reported that the twin-engine Mitsubishi MU-2B was severely damaged in a muddy agricultural field near Craryville, New York.
He noted that air traffic control repeatedly attempted to contact the pilot but received no response or distress call.
The crash occurred around midday while the family was heading to Columbia County Airport.
The aircraft was operated under instrument flight rules (IFR) rather than visual flight rules (VFR), though investigators have not yet determined whether weather-related visibility issues contributed to the incident.
Todd added that the plane had an upgraded cockpit with modern technology, certified to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) standards.
The NTSB’s investigation is ongoing, and a final report, including the probable cause, is expected within 12 to 24 months.
We mourn the tragic loss of Karenna Groff, medical student at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, and former member of our lab. Karenna was a brilliant and kind physician-scientist in the making, set to join the NYU Neurosurgery program in 2026. She was also an amazing student-athlete: captain of the soccer team at her alma mater, MIT, and NCAA athlete of the year in 2022. She touched many lives with her smile and kindness. And inspired us all. We will miss you, Karenna.
Placantonakis Lab
Karenna Groff’s Partner, James Santoro, Was With Her During The Crash
Karenna Groff and James Santoro met at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and began dating.
James grew up in Califon, New Jersey, and his parents moved to Florida. He graduated from Delbarton School in 2018.
James was an All-American soccer player who studied biomedical engineering. He was also a math major from New Jersey and played lacrosse.
Moreover, he was a vice president of the MIT Sloan Business Club and studied finance and economics with a minor in literature and creative writing.
He lived in Cambridge with friends, balancing his academics with his life. While he isn’t representing SBC, he loved playing attackman for MIT’s varsity lacrosse team.
He was the president of GPS and Scholars of Finance and MIT chapter president of First Generation Investors, a non-profit focused on teaching high school students in underserved communities about personal finance.
Furthermore, his favorite SBC memory is getting morning dumplings in Boston with the finance initiative and learning how to use chopsticks.
He moved to Manhattan with his girlfriend and worked as an investment associate for Silver Point, a hedge fund based in Greenwich, Connecticut.
Unfortunately, he passed away alongside Karenna and her family while on vacation to celebrate her 25th birthday on April 12.
They were a wonderful family. The world lost a lot of very good people who were going to do a lot of good for the world if they had the opportunity. We’re all personally devastated.
James’s father, John Santoro
Karenna Groff‘s Parents Were Prominent Doctors
Karenna Groff was the daughter of Dr Michael Groff and Dr Joy Saini. Her parents raised her alongside her brother, Jared Groff.
Jared worked as a paralegal and was about to join Harvard Law School. He had a girlfriend, Alexia.
Dr. Michael Groff was a distinguished neurosurgeon and visionary leader in spinal care, and Dr. Joy Saini was an NWH UroGyn physician.
Michael served as Division Chief of Neurosurgery Spine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) from 2011 to 2024 and was also vice chair of Neurosurgery.
Similarly, he was an Associate Professor of Neurosurgery at Harvard Medical School.
In 2024, he became the Executive Medical Director of Neuroscience Rochester Regional Health, continuing his HMS affiliation during this period.
He was the doctor’s doctor, a testament to his clinical excellence and trusted expertise. He was a globally renowned thought leader regarding spinal problems.
His leadership extended to serving as Chair of the Spine Section of the AANS/CNS and guiding the Neurosurgery Research and Education Foundation, where he shaped the future of neurosurgical innovation and training.
Beyond his professional achievements, Michael was cherished for his compassion, surgical brilliance, and charismatic presence. His qualities inspired colleagues and transformed patient lives.
His legacy reflects both exceptional medicine and profound humanity.
Nonetheless, the Groff family asked for privacy during the difficult time and will soon announce their funerals and memorials to close friends and family.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Karenna Groff was an incoming PGY1 neurosurgery resident at New York University.
- She was a two-sport athlete, playing soccer and basketball throughout her high school and college athletic career.
- She majored in biological engineering and worked as a research assistant at Boston Children’s Hospital and as an EMT with MIT’s emergency services.
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