Family, friends and classmates will gather Sunday to celebrate the life of an Ellington High School freshman killed in a tubing accident.
A memorial for 14-year-old Jordyn Engler will be held at the Ellington High School Auditorium from 5 to 7 p.m. on Sunday.
Engler died Sept. 5 while tubing in upstate New York with her father.
Police pulled her body from a New York creek on Sept. 5 after she and a man were reported to be in distress in the water while tubing. Deputies and rescue personnel responded to the Espous Creek in Shandaken, New York near the Allaben Cemetery at about 11:15 a.m. that day.
Emergency crews pulled the man from the water and tried to rescue the girl. DEP shut down the portal that allows Schoharie Reservoir water to flow into the creek. Once the water level of the creek had lowered and the current weakened after several hours had passed, rescue crews recovered Engler's body.
The Ulster County Sheriff's Office is investigating her death.
Ellington Superintendent Scott Nicol informed parents and the Ellington community about the loss of Engler and the school offered counseling services in the days after the tragic fatal tubing accident. He wrote that Jeff Engler, Jordyn's father, has recovered from his injuries.
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"Together, as a caring, tight-knit community, we will support one another during this difficult time," Nicol previously wrote.
Jeff Engler posted about the tragedy of losing his daughter on the tubing trip in upstate New York on Facebook, asking for people's prayers and support and to hug their children for him.
A memorial fund has been set up on www.giveforward.com for the family.
"The Jordyn Engler Memorial was established to assist the family with expenses as well as make charitable donations in Jordyn's name to celebrate her life," the memorial fund page said.
The Fierce All Stars cheerleading team in Manchester also posted about the tragedy of losing Engler, one of their team members, on their Facebook page.
"Our hearts are heavy during this time. Jordyn had a beautiful soul and we are all honored to have had the opportunity to have her in our lives. Yesterday, we heard about her tragic passing. We ask that everyone please keep Jordyn and her family in your thoughts and prayers.
As a program, let's all be there for each other. We love and miss you Jordyn, forever in our hearts!" the Fierce All stars posted on Facebook the day after hearing the tragic news.
Her coach, Kelly Davis said Jordyn "was an exceptionally hard working athlete."
"She was loved by her teammates and coaches," Davis said. "Her smile brightened the stage when she competed and you could tell, she was a performer!"
Shandaken police and ambulance, New York State Police, New York City DEP police, the Ulster Hose fire department, the West Hurley Fire Department, the Shandaken Fire Department, Phoenicia Fire Department, Olive First Aid and the Ulster County fire coordinator assisted with the investigation into the water accident in New York. The Ulster County Sheriff's Office In-Water Rescue Team , Ulster Hose Dive Team, New York State Police Dive Team and the Phoenicia-West Hurley-Olive Fire Swift Water Rescue Team also responded.
Support resources are also posted on Ellington Public Schools' website.
The family is asking anyone who wishes to honor Jordyn by making a donation to charity in her name.
