Empathetic, fun, generous, helpful, loved
A natural-born leader, Ethan was the type of person who took his role in people’s lives seriously. He was inquisitive and cared a lot about gaining a deeper understanding of his loved ones. He always worked to ensure everyone felt seen by him and felt good about their time together. His unique sense of humor could make anyone laugh. Being smart, valuing communication and connection, and being personable were some of his greatest strengths. Ethan and his childhood best friend, Caleb, remained close for his entire life. The two of them were thick as thieves, and in their free time they enjoyed gaming as well as working on small engine machines like mopeds and lawn mowers to see how fast they could make them go.
Aside from his friends, his greatest love in life was his car. Ethan spent countless hours in the garage working to improve its performance. He also had a propensity for outdoor sports; and was a big fan of hunting, ice fishing, and shooting sporting clays. Ethan found immense joy in cooking good food and had an excellent work ethic. He worked for his father in his construction business, which employs over 200 people. Ethan planned to take over the business in the future. In addition to working, Ethan graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Union College in Albany, NY.
Ethan always loved spending the holidays with his family. His Aunt Cat typically had the pleasure of spending New Year’s Eves with Ethan and his sister Camille. She reminisces about the time they rang in the New Year at a snowshoe camp in their family’s cabin. The trio hiked on snowshoes to the totem pole to celebrate the holiday. When they returned, they stayed up drinking hot cocoa and playing a trivia game. They all brought out their sleeping bags and slept on the floor in front of the fireplace. Another fond memory of hers is of the Easter they spent together, where she drove the four-wheeler down a trail while the kids looked on both sides to find the candy that the Easter Bunny had hidden.
Though Ethan was full of life, he also had struggles to face. One was his ongoing battle with Lyme disease. His body grew resistant to the treatments over time, which left him fatigued. Being 22 and dealing with a chronic illness took a lot out of him and contributed to his depression. More than anything, Ethan wanted to work and make memories with people he loved, but his physical and mental health proved a constant barrier. He didn’t know how to ask for the help he needed. Cat says she regrets not knowing how to help him in the last months of his life, but Ethan was good at pretending he had things handled and nobody was aware of how bad things had gotten for him. The things she misses the most about Ethan are his hugs, his laugh, his wit, and their insightful conversations.
Ethan’s aunt, Cat Yoder, provided information for this narrative.
March 4, 1999-January 11, 2022-Age 22
Portrait Artist: Jeremy Hebbel
Narrative Writer: Victoria Estes
