A former Rice basketball player, tech entrepreneur and his family are among the nine people who were killed when a small jet crashed and exploded in South Florida on Sunday.
In a joint statement, the family of Adam Robinson confirms he, along with his wife, Helen Sharp, and their two children, 4-year-old Emma and 2-year-old Charlie, died when the jet crashed near West Palm Beach on Sunday.
“Adam and Helen were devoted parents, and Emma, 4, and Charlie, 2, were the light of their lives. Helen and Adam were the love affair that will last forever. Their warmth, generosity and gift for making people feel welcome touched so many lives. Their loss will be felt deeply by all those who loved them and who they loved in return,” the statement reads in part.
The statement also identifies Anita Maria Cetina, Rachael Reed, and Charmi Fehr as victims of the crash.
“Charmi and Rachel were full of joy and adventure. They loved their people fiercely, fully and without hesitation. From the moment they met, they were all in on each other and the life they were building. They are deeply loved, and we will miss them endlessly,” the statement continues. “Anita Maria cared for Emma and Charlie with tenderness and devotion, and she was truly part of the family. She showed us a legacy of unconditional love and devotion.”
Robinson, a tech entrepreneur, was the founder of Retention.com, a website that uses technology to connect e-commerce website visitors to their email addresses.
He was also a co-founder of Robly, an email marketing platform.
Robinson was also a former guard on the Rice University men’s basketball team.
Former Head Coach Willis Wilson on Adam Robinson. https://t.co/bwORzhD3Ix
— Rice Men’s Basketball (@RiceMBB) November 2, 2026
Former Rice men’s basketball head coach Willis Wilson released a statement on Robinson.
“This is an incredibly sad time for Adam’s family, friends, and former teammates. He was such an uplifting guy who was loved by his teammates and coaches. We are all in shock and deeply saddened by this tragedy. Our prayers go out for Adam, his family, and each of those who passed away in this event yesterday as well as their surviving family members and loved ones in this most difficult time.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
