NJ Spine Doctor, Daughter, Granddaughter Killed In Plane Crash, Police Say

TOMS RIVER, NJ — A well-known spine doctor from Ocean County has died in an upstate New York plane crash, along with his daughter and 2-year-old granddaughter, authorities said.

Gabriele P. Jasper, 70, of Toms River, his daughter, Gabriella M. Hillgrube, 33, and granddaughter Guiliana M. Hillgrube, 2, both of Forked River, were killed in the crash that happened late Monday near the Adirondack Regional Airport in Harrietstown, New York, New York State Police said.

Jasper and his daughter and granddaughter took off from the airport in a 1976 Piper Aerostar at 10:36p.m., NY State Police said. Shortly after takeoff, when the aircraft was estimated to be about 100 feet above the ground, communication with the aircraft was lost.

NY State Police were notified of a downed aircraft near Hearf's Way and State Route 186 at 11:16 p.m. That area is not far from the airport, police said.

Search crews later located the aircraft, which had been destroyed by the impact and post-crash fire, police said.

The New York State Police were assisted at the scene by Saranac Lake fire department, the Saranac Lake Police Department, and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Forest Rangers. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the cause of the crash.

Jasper, an anesthesiologist, was the founder of the Jasper Spine Institute in Brick, which grew out of his interest in treating patients experiencing debilitating chronic pain, according to the institute's website.

He founded the Center for Pain Control in 2002 and expanded to two state-of-the-art facilities in Brick and Milltown, then added the Jasper Ambulatory Surgical Center in 2009 as an annex to the Brick office for "minimally invasive procedures in-house," the website said.

Jasper's public Facebook posts showed he had flown multiple trips to the Adirondacks with his family, and had a passion for fishing and for Formula 1 racing in addition to flying.

Gabriella Hillgrube worked for her father at Jasper Spine Institute, according to online records. Guiliana had just turned 2 in June, according to the family's social media posts.

"Dr. Jasper was a very good friend of mine and also one of the top endoscopic surgeons in the world for spinal stenosis and disc degeneration," wrote Chris Alderucci, a longtime friend and associate. "I worked with him for about 10 years in the early 2000s when I worked for Joimax. I’ve seen him perform hundreds of cases and traveled around the world to help him teach endoscopic discectomy to surgeons from many, many countries around the globe."

"He lived his life in a fast lane as he loved to race cars, ride his motorcycles and boats. He loved his airplane and helicopter. But most of all he loved his life and his family and friends. He was one of the most genuine surgeons that cared about his patients and the staff that worked with him," Alderucci wrote. "There will be many surgeons and patients from around the world that will be sad to hear this news. Love you paisan and will miss you immensely," he wrote.

"A man with a big heart and a kind soul," Galina Pinto wrote. "Great pilot, great friend, great doctor."

"Gabe was one of the most unique people I’ve ever met in my life," wrote Dave Patnaude, calling the news "one of the most horrific phone calls I ever got."

"Last time i saw him was a year ago in NJ and he just messaged me the other day saying that he missed hanging out," he said. "There are so many stories to share about Gabe… . God bless you and your family my friend… you will be missed by your family, your friends and all of your patients that you took such amazing care of."

"He was a really good doctor," one of Jasper's patients said in a public Facebook post. "He helped my husband walk straight after treating him for spinal stenosis and he really helped me walk after he did a complicated procedure on my right knee. What a sad sad day. He will truly be missed by a lot of people. Rest in peace Doctor Jasper fly with the angels."