Family and friends hold vigil for John Ench

It’s been a year since they laid him to rest, but the pain is still fresh.
On Thursday, July 28, family, friends – anyone who knew John Ench – gathered to commemorate his life at the very spot it was cut short.
It was in the early-morning hours of Sunday, June 27 last year that the 1996 Mercedes Benz Ench was driving was struck, hit a pole and burst into flames at Cross Bay Boulevard and 157th Avenue in Howard Beach. The other driver, who might have been driving while impaired, fled the scene, according to a police report.
Although he was in critical condition, they say, Ench, 26, was conscious when he was taken to Jamaica Hospital. With a broken pelvis, ruptured bladder and other injuries, he was placed in a medically-induced coma with his family – mom Frances, older brother William, twin Anthony and younger sister Frannie – by his side.
He underwent one surgery and “was doing great,” but he got an infection and sepsis. A second surgery was performed to remove half his colon, but soon after, his kidneys and liver shut down.
“He suffered a month, he fought hard to stay alive,” said Frances.
On Wednesday morning, July 28, Ench, who had no medical insurance, passed away, surrounded by his loved ones.
“He was loved by the whole neighborhood,” said William. “You always wanted to be around him, you felt lucky to be in his life. He would have taken the shirt off his back for anyone.”
For his mom, the tragedy has not yet sunk in.
“I still think he’s going to walk up the stairs,” she said. “It’s like a nightmare, definitely the worst thing that can happen to a parent.”
Despite witnesses, said the family, the investigation into the hit-and-run was closed because a license plate match was not found.
“He was a very, very loving, good person,” said William. “It was a shame he had to leave us. My brother and I are going to do whatever we can to keep his memory alive.”