Fund Honors Plane Crash Victims From Danville, Alamo And Diablo

DANVILLE, CA — A fund has been established for four people from Contra Costa County who were killed in a plane crash in southern California Sunday afternoon. Scott Shepherd, 53, and Lara Shepherd, 42, both of Diablo, Floria Hakimi, 62, of Danville, Navid Hakimi, 32, of Los Angeles, and Nasim Ghanadan, 29, of Alamo died when the Cessna 414 aircraft they were in crashed near the John Wayne Airport in Orange County, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

Lara Shepherd, Hakimi, and Ghanadan were all realtors at the Danville office of Pacific Union International. Scott Shepherd was Lara's husband and the pilot of the plane, while Navid was Floria's son. The group was traveling to the Tom Ferry Success Summit in Anaheim, according to Pacific Union International CEO Mark A. McLaughlin.

The Cessna 414 aircraft took off earlier Sunday from Buchanan Field Airport in Concord and was registered to San Francisco-based Category III Aviation Corp., according to the FAA. The crash of the twin-engine plane, which was manufactured in 1973, did not injure anyone on the ground in Santa Ana, authorities said.

“Today the community, family and friends of Pacific Union step forward together to embrace the future of those left behind as a result of this recent tragedy,” McLaughlin says. “We all share in the grief of the loss of life. Now we share together in nurturing those left behind.”

The Shepherds leave behind two children 5 and 7 years old. Navid leaves behind a 2-year-old son and a 36-year-old brother. Ghanadan leaves behind her mother, father, two sisters and a brother. The crash is being investigated by the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board.

“The effects of this loss to our community, families, and friends will not go away overnight,” McLaughlin says. “This difficult journey is just beginning for those left behind whose lives have been changed in profound ways. On behalf of Pacific Union International, thank you for joining us in honoring those we hold in our hearts today.”

McLaughlin says Pacific Union International will donate $100,000 to the Pacific Union Community Giving Fund (EIN: 47-2804742), a 501(c)(3) public charity (the “Fund.”) to honor the lives of Nasim, Floria and Navid, and Scott and Lara.

The Nasim Ghanadan Memorial Fund
Established in memory of Nasim Ghanadan. The Ghanadan family will name the beneficiaries of these donations in the near future. Click here to donate.

The Floria & Navid Hakimi Memorial Fund
Established in memory of Floria Hakimi and her son, Navid. The Hakimi family will name the beneficiaries of these donations in the near future. To give, click here.

The Children of Scott and Lara Shepherd
Established in memory of Scott and Lara Shepherd. We are raising money to provide support for the general living expenses and educational needs of the Shepherd’s two young children. To give, click here. Please note that contributions to the Shepherd children are not tax deductible as charitable contributions.

The Moyer Foundation
Selected by Pacific Union International to provide grief counseling to children and adults who have suffered the loss of a child or a parent. Donations are accepted online using a credit or debit card here.

Bay City News contributed to this report
Photos courtesy Shutterstock