Cody and Isaac (on the right) behind the Curtain at Wonderfalls, Big Sandy River, WV
IR and the boating community lost a great friend late Tuesday (8/26) evening. Isaac and 2 others were paddling on the rain swollen Road Prong in the Great Smokey Mountains when Isaac was swept downstream into a flooded West Prong. Despite valiant efforts of the paddlers that were with him, they were unable to rescue him.
Isaac was a great friend of IR as he had been hanging around the Confluence/Ohiopyle area since his highschool days. Over the years, he has become a big part of the paddling community at large, recently moving to the Great Smokies to work and play down there. He was a charismatic, affable and unique person, and his presence will be missed anywhere that he touched down. He was 26.
His family asks that any gifts be made in the form of donations to either American Whitewater or the Bethel Presbyterian Church.
AW donations can be made online www.americanwhitewater.org or checks can be mailed to:
American Whitewater PO Box 1540
Cullowhee, NC 28723
Please put “In Memory of Isaac Ludwig” in the memo field of the check or the comment field online. All funds will be used for river stewardship efforts.
A memorial service will be held Tuesday, September 2, 2008 at 6:30 PM at the Bethel Presbyterian Church, 16521 Steubenville-Pike Rd, Salineville, OH 43945
Isaac getting the goods on the Rio Claro in Chile
13 responses so far ↓
1 Amy // Aug 29, 2008 at 8:10 am
He was a cool kid. Period. He will be missed.
2 Josh // Aug 30, 2008 at 9:33 pm
Agreed.
3 Ty // Aug 31, 2008 at 11:04 am
for sure. thats the way i would like to go being loved and doing something i loved as well
4 cominco // Aug 31, 2008 at 2:40 pm
We had never met but the loss of a paddler is always felt by those that paddle. May his family find peace with their loss.
5 Merrianne & Gib // Sep 1, 2008 at 9:55 am
Isaac died doing what he loved most… whtewater kayaking. He was an incredible person who made an impact on so many people’s lives… I know he did ours! Our hearts are deeply saddened for the loss of our friend.
6 Mel // Sep 2, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Hartford misses that incredible man.
7 Ted Ludwig // Sep 4, 2008 at 8:01 am
Thank you for honoring Isaac with this space. As Isaac’s dad I would like to thank all of his boating friends for your friendship and involvement in my son’s life. I was grateful to have boated the Upper Yough with Isaac the Friday before he died. It is a cherished memory. Isaac’s hotmail address was mrsmilely. Isaac’s name meant laughter and he brought much joy into our lives. God bless you.
8 Tall Paul // Sep 4, 2008 at 12:06 pm
I met Isaac two years ago in Hartford, TN. I have never met such an honest, big-hearted and loving person. He brought a shining smile into the lives of all he touched. For the short time I knew him he was always giving, always smiling and never taking. Even his untimely death was a testament to his giving. Isaac gave his own life to save his friends that day. If the old addage “only the good die young” is true, then Isaac never had a chance.
9 MARYSUE // Sep 14, 2008 at 5:37 pm
I AM HAPPY TO SAY THAT GETTING TO KNOWING ISACC THIS SUMMER ; AND CUTTING HIS HAIR FOR THE THE MUSTACHE CONTEST, IS A MEMORY IWIL HOLD DEAR. ISAAC WAS A SPECIAL PERSON AND EVERYONE KNOWS IT. I WILL MISS YOU ISAAC.
10 Janie Young // Sep 14, 2008 at 7:26 pm
I did not Isaac long but he made a big impact on my life.There was a side to him that loved to talk about health and diversity,I was blessed to know him,and will greatly miss him.
11 Tracy // Jan 1, 2009 at 5:12 pm
I met Issac my freshman year at Westminster. He was a senior, but he always welcomed me to hang out with him and his friends. I spent many hours playing pool with him and just spending time in his company. He was a really good friend. I hope the rapids in heaven are even better than the ones here on Earth.
12 court // Aug 26, 2009 at 1:16 pm
as of today it has been a year since isaac passed away. (the real day, not when the coroner came) All his friends in hartford are holding a memorial for him this evening and i would just like everyone to know he is still missed and a big part of many peoples hearts. they don’t make them like he was.
rest in peace isaac.
13 Nancy Aitken // Sep 27, 2009 at 5:39 pm
All of us here at Proyecto Campanario in Costa Rica are very saddened hearing of Isaac’s tragic death. In attempts to reconnect with previous volunteers, we realized this happened a year ago. Isaac was a great friend to us here and an enthusiastic volunteer. He brightened our lives.
Leave a Comment