Rabbi Rabbi Aaron D. Panken, 53, killed in plane crash near Randall Airport in Middletown, New York

Panken was remembered Sunday at Congregation Emanu-El of the City of New York on Fifth Avenue at 65th Street, where he was scheduled to lead the ceremony to ordain this year's Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion rabbi graduates.

Rabbi Panken added programs in entrepreneurism, nonprofit management and education, and linked the campuses through technology and online learning programs.