COCHECTON – On Monday, March 27, James Card, 34, of Beach Lake and Edward Sykes III, 24, of North Branch were both involved in a double fatal head-on collision on State Route 97 around 3:45 p.m

According to the press release put out by the New York State Police, the collision of the two vehicles occurred near the double yellow lines in the center of the roadway. The cause of the crash remains under investigation. 

Eddie “the Commissioner” Sykes

Following the tragedy, Amy Kerber, Sykes’ mother, said that the community outreach to her family during this difficult time has been “priceless.”

“The last day or two, I can start to feel it...[within] the last 24 hours, the messages are starting to come in with stories [of his life] that I didn’t know,” Kerber said. “My heart drops...I absolutely adore that.”

A number of Sykes’ friends visited the family to tell stories and gather in loving remembrance of their friend, brother and son. Kerber noted that she was “so glad that they had come to be with the family, and that those close to him thought the world of him.”

“He was quite a social guy,” Kerber told the Democrat. “I had no idea he was loved by so many.”

According to Kerber, Sykes, a recent Sullivan West High School graduate, was an avid card game player, especially poker, and enjoyed outdoorsy activities like fishing. Sykes was also a cook and spent many hours in the kitchen doing what he loved. His passion for New York Giants Football highlighted his character as well.

In his local poker league that he orchestrated, Sykes was known as “the Commissioner” by his friends.

Sykes made the most out of his love for cooking by working at various local restaurants before he began his employment in the surveillance department at Resorts World Catskills roughly one year ago. Kerber noted that one of Sykes’ dreams was to be a card dealer on the gambling floor, giving people a fun time while playing a hand in the game that he loved so much – poker.

Kerber described her son as being focused with a great work ethic, always giving one hundred percent in all that he did.

“He might not have showed it [all the time], but he cared extremely deeply about what he did and who he did it with,” Kerber said. “And when the time was right, he definitely showed it.”

Remembering Sykes in love are members of his immediate family, which include his mother Amy Kerber, his father Edward F. Sykes and step-father Kyle Kerber, sisters Danielle, Carrie, and Beth Sykes, and step-brother Kole Kerber, as well as many more of his closest friends and family.

The viewing will be held Sunday, April 2 from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. at the Stewart Murphy Funeral Home at 34 Upper Main Street in Callicoon. The funeral will be held Monday, April 3 at 11 a.m. at the Kays Family Cemetery, 117 Reum Rd., Callicoon. 

A luncheon will be held at the Delaware Youth Center following the burial.