Fallen Harvard Hockey Star's Memory Kept Alive By Heidi Snow's ACCESS Foundation

When Trans World Airlines flight 800 exploded into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Long Island in July of 1996 it forever changed the lives of those who had friends and family members on board. One of the more notable passengers who lost their life that day was a former Harvard Hockey star named Michel Breistroff, who at 25 years old seemed to be holding the world in the palm of his hand. He had just received his bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from Harvard, was playing professionally in his native France for the Ducs d ‘Angers, and was engaged to a beautiful woman named Heidi Snow.

Michel and Heidi dreamed of a long life together, but those dreams were washed away in the ocean wreckage of TWA Flight 880, leaving a young woman left to grieve the loss of the man she had planned on spending the rest of her life with. In the wake of her fiancé’s death Heidi found trouble reaching a state of closure, but soon realized that completely moving on would be next to impossible. Heidi did however find solace in speaking with others who experienced losses similar to that of her own. At the urging of former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, Heidi attended a support group for those who had lost loved ones in the horrific Pan-Am crash over Scotland that had taken place 8 years prior to the loss of TWA Flight 880. The feeling of connection she got within the confines of the Pan-Am support group inspired Heidi to take the biggest step in her grieving process.

In the months that followed Michel’s death Heidi worked to create a foundation known today as ACCESS, which stands for AirCraft Casualty Emotional Support Services. ACCESS was designed to build a strong bond between other people who had lost family and friends the way Heidi lost Michel in the summer of 1996. ACCESS seemed to take off immediately, buoyed by Heidi’s indomitable spirit. National recognized corporations ranging from Jet Blue to Wells Fargo made sizable donations and the first Board of Directors ACCESS had included mayors Giuliani and Gavin Newsome of San Francisco.

15 years later ACCESS continues to grow and thrive under Heidi’s noble direction. Despite the growth of ACCESS Heidi remains incredibly active at the forefront of the foundation. This Saturday she is set to appear on the popular Los Angeles based radio show Ledger On The Law with attorney Emery Brett Ledger, which broadcasts locally on KTLK AM 1150. Heidi will be on the air to once again to share her story, provide an update on what’s next for ACCESS, and continue to let those know who have lost loved ones in airline accidents that they have a powerful support group in which to lean on.