Allen Serafin, one of the original owners of Flyte Tyme Limousine, passed away January 10, 2019.
Serafin founded Flyte Tyme in 1979 and was part of the company until his retirement in 2008. In addition to being a devoted member and active advocate for the Limousine Association of New Jersey, Serafin was one of the founding members of the National Limousine Association, and remained a committed member until his passing.
Serafin was father to four daughters, three of whom followed his footsteps in the luxury ground transportation industry. His familial ties to the industry spread further when his daughter Michelle married David Seelinger of EmpireCLS in 2002. Serafin became the father-in-law to industry veteran Tim Rose of Flyte Tyme, whom his daughter Doreen married the following year.
With the family involved in two of the largest and most successful companies in the industry with EmpireCLS and Flyte Tyme (now Addison Lee), Seelinger and Rose acknowledged that Serafin created a limo family dynasty and was a true father figure.
Serafin is survived by his wife Teresa, four daughters, 21 grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter.
Despite close affiliation with luxury cars thanks to his long tenure in the industry, Serafin loved to be on his boat on the water, and was a member of the Coast Guard auxiliaries in New York and Florida.
Bruce Loucks (1967-2019)
Bruce Loucks, co-owner of Elkhart Custom Designs in Elkhart, Indiana, died suddenly January 2, 2019.
Loucks founded Elkhart Custom Designs with his business partner Brett Hostetter in 2012, although their friendship and business relationship dates back three decades. They met in the ’90s when together they built a few custom buses through Hostetter’s custom van shop, which they turned into a full-time gig. Loucks handled the day-to-day with the shop while Hostetter managed the office.
One of the things that people most remember about Loucks was his high energy. Hostetter remembers his friend: “He was always full of life and energy. No one could keep up with him; one moment he was standing right next to you and the next he was at the other end of the shop. He was always on the move, and loved to help people in any way he could—from helping them move to building toy boxes for kids to helping you paint your house. He will be missed by many, but never forgotten.”
Loucks was also an avid golfer—a hobby that he shared with his wife of more than 20 years, Norma. The couple also enjoyed boating with their friends on Lake Michigan and could be found relaxing on the water all summer long.
Although he did not have any children, Loucks was the adopted father of two nearly human-sized fur babies: Great Danes Gizmo and Cooper, who would sometimes accompany their dad to the shop. Hostetter says that he very passionate about his pups, so much so that he donated his time to helping to find homes for pets and other animal causes.
Loucks is survived by his wife Norma, sister Christine Agee, and mother Marian.
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