'He made the most out of life': Niece remembers uncle killed in plane crash

WINDSOR LOCKS, Conn. — One of the people killed in the B-17 plane crash at Bradley International Airport has been identified as Jim Roberts of Ludlow, Massachusetts.

"It's hard to find genuinely good people in this world and today we are one fewer," his niece, Niki Duda, said. "He is and will be missed."

Duda said her uncle loved to play games.

"Every holiday or family visit, short or long, he was always ready to indulge anyone's love of games, be it a 20 minute card game, 5 hour board game, or in the past we had endless rounds of Nintendo 64's GoldenEye 007," Duda said.

She admired his independence.

"He was a master at marching to the beat of his own drum and he wasn't afraid to travel or try new things even if it meant going solo," Duda said.

Duda had this message for her uncle who's now watching over her from above.

"I'm very proud of the man I got to know, you were taken from this world too young," Duda said. "Thank you for all the inspiration you quietly and unknowingly sprinkled throughout my life."

Roberts wasn't married and didn't have children. He was the youngest of five children. He leaves behind three brothers and a sister.

Duda referred to him as a "cool guy" who made the most out of life.

"He spent most of his time working or gaming," Duda said. "He lived alone, but spent a lot of time with his brothers or doing random things like escape rooms, concerts, ball games, etc."

Duda told Boston 25 News her uncle was one of the ten passengers on the vintage World War II era plane that crashed just before 10 a.m. Wednesday. Three crew members were also on board the jet. Seven of them were killed and six others were injured.

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