Susan Wehle ( May 14 , 1953 &ndash; February 12 , 2009 ) was ordained the first American female Jewish Renewal cantor ( hazzan ) in 2006 . Prior to her death on Colgan Air Flight 3407 in 2009 , Wehle was a cantor for Temple Beth Am in Williamsville , New York , and Temple Sinai in Amherst , New York , for nine years . She created one CD , '' Songs of Healing and Hope '' . She was the daughter of Holocaust survivors Hana and Kurt Wehle , and had two sons , Jonah and Jake
Colgan Air Flight 3407
Colgan Air Flight 3407
Susan Wehle