Family of late boater found in Caloosahatchee River raises college funds for daughter
The family of a boater whose remains were found in the Caloosahatchee River about three days after his vessel capsized has created a college savings fund for his 8-year-old daughter.
The GoFundMe in the memory of Pedro Pablo Ramirez, 40, of Lehigh Acres, created by his sister-in-law, Heather Knickerbocker, 40, of Miami, accrued more than $1,600 out of its $30,000 goal Thursday afternoon.
According to the fundraiser, Ramirez and his stepfather, Orlando, went fishing Sunday on the Caloosahatchee River when their 16-foot boat capsized.
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Ramirez's niece, Jessica De La Torre, 18, said her uncle is being remembered as a strong and loving man who changed his life over and over.
On Wednesday evening, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials confirmed they found Ramirez's remains in the Caloosahatchee River.
De La Torre was among about 20 relatives searching for her uncle just hours earlier, the third day of the search.
She said the family was "very broken and stressed." The family wishes to grieve in private.
The 16-foot vessel Ramirez and Orlando were sailing in capsized about 4:30 p.m. Sunday.
Rescuers immediately started searching, including Fort Myers Police, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the U.S. Coast Guard.
"It was just a father-son day," De La Torre told The News-Press. "That's all it was."
De La Torre said Ramirez knew the water, the way of the nature and that he was "kind of like a caveman."
Tomas Rodriguez is a Breaking/Live News Reporter for the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. You can reach Tomas at TRodriguez@gannett.com or 772-333-5501. Connect with him on Twitter @TomasFRoBeltran, Instagram @tomasfrobeltran and Facebook @tomasrodrigueznews.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Lehigh Acres drowning victim's family creates fund for young daughter
