For Adam’s Sake

Writing this sucks, but if it can help people I love, then I’m all in, and I hope you’ll read it and join me in finding out how you can help too.

Adam Hoyny was the best big brother I never had, like if John Hughes was designing the quintessential older brother, the classic, the mold breaker. And we all looked up to him. Adam listened to all the best music, like Oingo Boingo and Danny Elfman. Adam was tall and handsome and surfed. He was on the football team and had a girlfriend. He was all the things.

But he wasn’t a saint. Adam would be the first person to admit he’d lived a life, and lived it hard. But he loved just as hard.

He loved his parents, Pat and Laura, and his siblings, Patrick, Amanda, and Ryan. He loved his best friend for life/wife, Kristal, and their kids, Andi, Makayla, and Christopher, and Andi’s kids, Logan and Autumn, Jayme-Ann, and Makayla’s son, Maverick. He did his best as a Dad, but seemed to find his stride as a Grumpa, and watching him do that was an absolute joy for all of us.

Two months ago, we thought we lost Adam, but small miracles, Christopher’s quick-thinking, and good doctors prevailed, and we got more time with Adam. Just time. But late in the evening Monday, October 21st, Adam passed away.

Adam dying proves the universe can be a really dumb and heartless place, which means that it’s our job to fill that void with our love. Because the only real way to fight tragedy is by choking it with hugs and sarcasm and burying it under dancing and joy and fart jokes. So, that’s what we’re doing, all of us, Adam’s family. In Laura and Pop’s backyard and the garage and whenever and however we see each other. Because that’s what we do.

But we can’t do it alone.

Soon, we’re gonna make time to celebrate Adam’s life, a life loved and lived fully, and you’re all invited, because that’s what we do. There’s always room for you, there’s plenty of food (Laura always makes plenty), just bring your folding chair and scooch up by the fire. Soon, we’re gonna raise one, or maybe a few, for Adam, but right now, it’s Adam’s loved ones who need a hand, or a few.

With this loss comes needs, and right now, a lot of them are financial. With no life insurance to speak of and the real and immediate loss of income, Kristal, Christopher, and Adam’s family need help with funeral costs and support for upcoming services. And beyond that, help to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table.

No one likes asking for help, and times are tough for just about everyone I know, but if we do what we can, then maybe we can make a hard time that much easier for those Adam left behind.

So, please, share this GoFundMe with the people who knew and loved Adam, close friends, family, and longtime acquaintances, and rally together with us around the people who need it the most right now. Together, we can re-write the ending of this story, and make it a good one.

Thank you.

Sincerely, The lots and lots and lots of people who loved Adam

-Joshua Pruett, brother-in-law