Kenneth Edward Seder
b. September 7th, 1951 - d. August 25th, 1977

Kenneth E. Seder, son of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Seder, was born in Woodbury, New Jersey on 7 September 1951. He attended Woodbury High School and graduated in June 1969. During high school, he was president of his class for three years and president of the Student Council during his senior year.

In June 1969, he entered the United States Air Force Academy. During his four years at the Academy, he was a member of Cadet Squadron 35 and was on the Superintendent’s List, Dean’s List, and Commandant’s List for academic and military excellence. On 6 June 1973 he graduated with a B.S. in Aeronautical Engineering, which was presented to him by Senator Barry Goldwater. Immediately following graduation, he attended Purdue University and received a M.S. in Aeronautical and Astronomical Engineering in May 1974. Captain Seder took his pilot training at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi and received further pilot training in the RF-4C.

In January 1976, he was assigned to RAF Alconbury, United Kingdom where he flew the RF-4C. On 25 August 1977 Captain Seder was killed in an RF-4C aircraft accident in Thuine, North Germany. He is survived by his parents, older brother, Walt, and two sisters, Angeline and Maria Kathy. May he rest in peace.

The following quotes were taken from a six-page letter written to the parents of Kenneth E. Seder on 25 August 1977 by Guy F. Munder, Capt. USAF.

“I would like to tell you about your son Ken as I saw him from my positions as his flight commander and friend.
…I think professional and outstanding aviators, by their nature, are not braggarts, and people like Ken get embarrassed to have their abilities expounded in public. I can tell you now, your son was an absolute gem. I am not exaggerating when I compare him to a diamond in the middle of a coal field. Everything he has done here at Alconbury has been accomplished with a professionalism and dedication…
…I considered him to be the finest officer and pilot that I knew. I felt that Ken best embodied the abilities and spirit of a true aviator…
His personality was such that he was well liked and respected at all levels in the Wing. I never heard one derogatory remark about Ken the entire time he was in the squadron.
…when Ken died, he took a sizeable chunk of my heart, as well as those of his fellow pilots, with him.
…I can say without reservation that you can be very proud of your son. I know that I am very proud of Ken. In every way that you can measure a man’s worth, Ken would rank in the top one percent. It was an honor to work with him, fly with him, and to be his friend. I will miss him very much…and I will never forget him.”

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