The Shawangunk Journal interviewed the family of Ryan Panchak, the 29-year-old who drowned in the Esopus while fishing a week ago. Panchak was the father of a one-year-old son:
Panchak was a 1999 graduate of Kingston High School and had a baby son, Jacob, who recently celebrated his first birthday.
Said Kristina Hagen, Panchak's partner and mother of his son Jacob, "Ryan went fishing in the afternoon; it was his favorite thing to do. We spoke at 1 p.m. and he was to be coming home in an hour or two."
She said that the loss to their son is tremendous, and added, "No baby had a better or more caring father then Jake did. I am sad for his loss, my own, his mother, father and sister — as well as his other family members and many friends. Anyone whose life Ryan touched knew he was the greatest guy. We are all shocked and heartbroken."
Panchak will be remembered at a funeral service at 11 am today at St. Joseph's Church in Kingston. The Times Herald-Record has an obit and details.
