Decorated FDNY veteran from Long Beach who died after falling tree branch on a car in North Carolina carrying him, his wife and two sons is remembered over weekend like a lover husband and “all father should to be.”
Casey Skudin, who would have turned 46 on Sunday if on a family Friday vacation to celebrate your birthday and Father’s Day when a 2,000 pound tree branch fell on in vehicle when he drove his wife Angela and sons Ben, 19, and CJ, 10, up road of Biltmore estate in Asheville.
Skudin was killed instantly, Angela Skudin told Newsday. on Saturday. All four were taken to Mission Hospital. in Asheville, a spokeswoman said for Biltmore estate. Both sons were wounded one seriously and Angela Skudin got scratches, she said online.
“I knew my husband gone,” said Angela Skudin. “So I just grabbed his hand and said he best. He was best dad.”
Skudin was 16year FDNY veteran assigned to ladder 137 in Rockaways, Representative for – said the department. He was decorated twice for bravery. One of these accolades came after Skudin helped rescue a surfer caught in very strong current and cold water in November 2009
“He was great guy, great fireman, Joseph Durkin, also an FDNY firefighter said Sunday as he fought back tears outside the fire station where he worked with Skudin
“Loved my job, loved this fire department,” Darkin said. “He was a guy who could be counted. on”.
Angela Skudin said the trip to North Carolina was family first vacation after the coronavirus pandemic. Casey Skudin mapped out Outdoor route filled with hiking and rafting. family According to her, on Saturday she planned to go to an indie rock concert.
“He was filled with life,” said Casey Skudin’s cousin, Cliff Skudin, also of Long beach. “He loved to take his children on trips and hikes. He was a super dad. He was everything father should to be.”
press secretary for The Biltmore Estate, an Asheville tourist attraction that includes a historic mansion, said strong winds caused “weather event were to blame for a fallen tree and that an investigation is underway.
“This is a devastating tragedy and we are deeply saddened by this newsBiltmore said. in statement. “Our thoughts of the heart with in family and their loved ones, and we offer help during this time.”
Skudina son Ben, a rising junior at Cornell University, received black eye. CJ remained in the hospital on Saturday night due to a partial collapse of a lung and compound fractures. in his spine and sternum, according to Angela Skudin. She called her sons survival ordeal “literal miracle”.
Cliff Skudin said his cousin, a fellow surfer, was a rock. of his community not only as a fireman, but also like a city of Lifeguard of Hempstead. Skudins also main product of Long Beach community: Cliff Skudin – co-owner of renowned surf school Skudin Surf and Angela Skudin owns The Codfish Cowboy, a specialty merchandise store shop.
“Long Beach is our family FDNY brothers and sisters are our family city of Hempstead is ours family”, Cliff Skudin. “It’s the only thing that can give us comfort. So much people loved it and will be there for Angela and children
family was still preparing a memorial service on Sunday, said Cliff Skudin, but he already decided to honor Skudin at 9 am on June 26 with “paddle-out” off Lido beach. Paddle-out is a floating memorial of surfers, kayakers, kayakers and others who go out on water to suggest words of memory of the deceased.
Casey Skudin coped with daily household chores and supported his wife in her interior design business while she was battling Lyme disease, which left her bedridden for 18 months, she said. She was finally back on her legs in time for them family vacation.
The two are neighbors living across street apart at the time in Point Lookout – met 20 years ago, Skudin said. Ben was a baby when he mother married Skudin and on when he was 18 years old, Skudin officially adopted him.
“Greatest gift he ever gave me he adopted our eldest son Ben and made us a complete family”, – said Angela Skudin.
“I have absolutely no regrets,” she said. “If I knew what it was how it’s over, i would do it all over again because just even having it [connection] with somebody for moment – like a little people don’t get it in all my life and I had it for 20 years.”
With Debbie Egan-Chin and Matthew Chayes
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