Help Needed by Surviving Wife

Karyn Roach’s life has been turned upside down by the heartbreaking death of her husband of 35 years as the result of a tragic accident on the roads of Marco Island. 

At about 7:40 AM on September 25, Eric Roach, 67, was on his way to work at Prout’s Plumbing when his motorcycle was broadsided by a pickup truck as he attempted to turn left from Collier Boulevard onto East Elkcam Circle. 

He was transported via air ambulance to Gulf Coast Medical Center in Fort Myers, where he was later pronounced dead.

Today, she is left to wrap her mind around such a monumental loss, while making funeral arrangements and navigating the other important details necessary to carry on. Matters are compounded by the physical and emotional toll of the Stage 4 lung cancer diagnosis she received in July.

To assist with the significant and unexpected financial burden Karyn Roach faces, a family friend, Nicole Podzunas, has established a GoFundMe for her benefit. At press time, the effort attracted $6,175, or about 47 percent of the $13,000 goal.

The money will assist with such things has having Eric Roach’s body returned from Fort Myers and all the other expenses she now unexpectedly faces at a time when she’s unable to work due to her illness.

Karyn struggled to describe what the overall response to the tragedy she’s seen demonstrated by the community has meant.

“The outpouring has been, I don’t even know a good word for it, amazing,” she said. “I’ve got food coming to my door. I’ve got the GoFundMe. I’ve got lots of love for Eric from every square inch of this island.

“Everybody says they want to help, what can I do for you? And the only thing I want they can’t give me. The only thing I’m looking for, it’s just not obtainable.” 

Eric Roach was traveling to Prout’s Plumbing, where he’d worked 25 years. His Marco roots were deep, having lived on the island since 1989, after moving from Defiance, Ohio. His late father, Tandy T. Roach, was a former pastor of New Life Community Church. 

His wife described him as a hard worker who at one time held down three jobs, including working as a waiter at the original Island Café, while also employed at Prout’s Plumbing. She was a long-time server at the Café de Marco, as well as working at the island’s UPS store from 2020 until May of 2026. 

She said he lived a life of love for his fellow man and a love for animals, giving the best of himself to both. He also had a wonderful sense of humor, she added. 

“He was a character,” she added. “He was a person who would give anybody the shirt off of his back. He was a soft-spoken man, but when he had something to say, it was worth listening to.”

After decades of hard work, the Roaches were looking forward to entering a new phase of life and realizing dreams.

“Eric worked a lot, and we were working and working,” said Karyn Roach. “We were ready to retire and rent an RV and explore the states, because he always wanted to take me to Montana. We just got a dog within the last couple of years, and that was one way the three of us could go out and travel together. But he’s not going to get that chance.”

To contribute, please visit the “Help Support Karyn Roach after the loss of Eric Roach” GoFundMe.