We’re learning more about yesterday’s deadly plane crash in Maine.

The victims have been identified as three members of a Niagara-area family known as prominent philanthropists.

These deaths have had a profound impact on the community here. The town hall has lowered its flags to half mast in honour of the Robertson family and everything these done for Niagara.

A tragic plane crash has claimed the lives of 58-year-old Joe Robertson, his wife 58-year-old Anita, and the couple’s daughter, 24-year-old Laura.

Joe ran a dental and medical supply company, he was also on Brock University’s board of trustees for years. John Suk who worked alongside Joe, is struggling to understand how the crash happened, as he was a skilled pilot.

The three died after their twin engine plane crashed into a field in Greenville, Maine yesterday. They were bound for PEI on a family vacation.

The family is also being remembered for their philanthropic efforts in Niagara. Leading charitable campaigns for the United Way, and making major financial contributions to Niagara Health and the St. Catharines Performing Arts Centre.

Just last week, the university had hired Laura Robertson to work for the athletics department. She was also a volunteer firefighter in Niagara-On-The-Lake, where Fire Chief Rob Grimwood says she’ll be deeply missed.

The National Transportation Safety Agency in the United States says they’re investigating the cause of the crash.

Normally the flags would remain at half mast for only a short period of time until the funerals are held, but because the investigation is ongoing and the bodies are still in the United States, these flags will likely remain like this for a long duration of time.