In Memoriam
David Mauritson, our dear friend, hero, and volunteer Southwings pilot, died during an angel flight when the plane he was flying crashed in Mobile, AL on Monday, February 1st, 2016. David took on most of Atchafalaya Basin Keeper’s monitoring flights after fellow pilot, Dan Luke, injured his back and could no longer fly. David, a cardiologist and an attorney, was one of the most beautiful people we have ever met, volunteering much of his time to help his fellow humans and to protect our planet for future generations. What a loss for humanity and the planet! He is a beautiful angel that will live forever in our hearts.
David Mauritson (left) was a cardiologist and attorney who lived in Fairhope, Alabama. He began flying in 1965 and had over 11,000 flight hours in more than 50 different models of aircraft. He owned a Commander 114 since 1982. His flight ratings included ATP and CFI-I. His CFI ratings included single and multi-engine land and sea, glider, helicopter, and gyroplane. He was a past president of the Flying Physicians Association, and a member of the Lawyer Pilots Bar Association, AOPA, EAA (past chapter president), National Association of Flight Instructors, Popular Rotocraft Association, and Silver Wings Fraternity. In addition to once being a SouthWings pilot, he flew for Mercy Flight Southeast, and was a check pilot examiner and a mission check pilot examiner for the Civil Air Patrol. He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Eleanora Mauritson, his two grown children, and one grandchild.
Awarded the SouthWings 2015 Visionary Award, which has since been renamed in his honor as the Mauritson Award. David’s years of dedicated service earned him Honorary Emeritus status.
