Remembering the victims of Hurricane Ian

The names of victims who died during Hurricane Ian are beginning to emerge.

In Lee County, more than 50 people perished during the storm while five people died each in Charlotte and Collier counties.

On Fort Myers Beach, neighbors Mitch Pacyna and Martha “Marti” Campbell died.

Pacyna, 74, lived on Estero Boulevard and Hercules Drive. He had upgraded his garage to a sports lounge. Everyone knew him on the beach.

Attempts to reach his family were unsuccessful, but Robert Campbell, Marti’s brother, was with Pacyna during the storm.

Pacyna was with his wife but the two went to Campbell’s home once the storm picked up because they were scared.

“Once it became clear our odds were better in the water than in the house, we jumped and two of us made it and Mitch (Pacyna) did not,” Campbell said.

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