The following obituary is being released to local newspapers.

David M. Zampino, 37, Entrepreneur, Pilot

December 29, 1964 - August 28, 2002

David Matthew Zampino of Boulder Creek, California, and Fairbanks, Alaska, entrepreneur and pilot, died on August 28, 2002 in a helicopter crash near Ketchikan, Alaska.

The son of a missile engineer and a language teacher, David showed early fascination and aptitude for science and technology. As a youth he built everything from a 300 pound working hovercraft to a jet propelled skateboard from parts purchased at swap meets, and read college level math and physics books for recreation. He became a National Merit Scholar, and was accepted into Stanford University’s school of Electrical Engineering, with a double major in Electrical Engineering and Biology. He hoped to couple human cells to micro-electronics and computers, curing sensory and muscular ailments.

David founded Brainstorm Products, one of the early Macintosh computer add-on companies, in 1984 while still in college. In the early days he ran it out of his dorm room. The enterprise flourished, and ten years later in 1994 he steered his company towards the emerging high speed Internet market, and launched Brainstorm Networks, introducing innovative Centrex ISDN and later DSL Internet service to the San Francisco Bay Area business market.

The engineer found his spiritual home in the beauty of unspoiled nature. David and his high school sweetheart and lifelong companion, Corey Jaseph, enjoyed outdoor recreation. They hiked, camped, climbed, and caved together, enjoying some of the most spectacular territory in the world, from Yosemite to Alaska. David learned to fly planes and helicopters, bringing remote wilderness sites, days from roads or habitation, within reach.

In 1999 Brainstorm was purchased for $18M by RCN Corporation of Princeton, New Jersey, and David remained active as a Director of Research and Development, investigating emerging Fiber Optic based Internet technologies. He also flew search and rescue missions for the Coast Guard Auxiliary from his Boulder Creek hilltop helicopter pad and often commuted to San Mateo in his helicopter, provoking controversy which culminated in an injunction preventing him from using the pad. Convinced that the ordinance was both ill conceived and in clear conflict with federal statutes he continued to fly out of Watsonville and appealed the ruling, joining Larry Ellison, the Oracle CEO, as a high tech pilot unwilling to let his wings be clipped.

In 2001 David left RCN to pursue flying full time, becoming a licensed helicopter pilot instructor. He shared his enthusiasm for nature with others, founding Reliable Aero, of Hyder Alaska, a company offering wilderness helicopter tours. Students logged hours towards their pilot’s license while flying and camping in scenic locations. The popular service was booked months in advance, and thus David found himself once again running a successful company, doing work that he loved. It was on such a tour that David was killed, when his helicopter crashed in an Alaskan lake. The circumstances of the crash are not fully understood at this time, and a National Transportation Safety Board investigation is underway.

David is survived by his life partner of 20 years Corey Jaseph, of Boulder Creek, California, his mother, Betty Violette, his father, John Zampino, and his sisters Betty Anne Shire and Valerie Zampino, of Denver, Colorado. He is also survived by four nephews: Jason Wissner, Chris Shire and Jon Shire, of Denver Colorado, and Tim Wissner of Seattle, Washington.

A memorial service at David’s helicopter pad overlooking the Santa Cruz mountains was attended by 130 family, friends, pilots and colleagues who honored the life of one who had touched them deeply. David’s memorial web site is www.zampino.net.

Contributions may be made in David’s name to:

Ketchikan Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 5786, Ketchikan, AK 99901, or to other organizations listed on the www.zampino.net web site.