Mitch Pacyna's story is a poignant reminder of the power of nature and the fragility of life.
Every time a storm approached Fort Myers Beach, Pacyna would grab his cell phone to record the event and share the footage with his Facebook friends. However, when Hurricane Ian hit, it became the last video he'd ever take.
"This is not letting up. Here it goes," Pacyna said in one of his last videos.
Initially, Pacyna remained hopeful as he documented the storm.
"Gonna have to go down the block in a few days see what we can salvage," he said.
As the storm surge intensified, his tone shifted from hope to concern.
"How sad to see the bar... the bar going down the street... very, very sad," Pacyna said.
The rising waters forced him to reconsider his safety.
"Going inside. If it gets any higher I'm going to have to go on my roof," he said.
Pacyna's initial belief that Ian would pass like previous hurricanes turned into regret.
"Wrong decision," he said.
His Facebook posts ended with a final expression of fear. Hours after Ian passed, it became clear that the storm had washed away his home and taken his life.
"Cherish your loved ones, because you never know what's going to hit and when it's going to hit," said his daughter, Michelle Pacyna, during a Zoom interview.
Michelle shared that she has not returned to Fort Myers Beach, finding the pain too great to bear.
"Anniversaries are even harder," she said.
Despite the tragedy, Pacyna's legacy continues in the hearts of his family and friends.
"There's a lot of remembrance of him in Fort Myers Beach," Michelle said. "He was very popular with just being welcoming, you know, making people feel comfortable and appreciating the area and just being open to everybody and anybody. That's one of the things I loved about him."
Pacyna was affectionately known as the unofficial "mayor" of the beach community. He worked at the library, where a memorial now honors his memory.
"It's great to see the memories he made and that people still miss him," Michelle said.
Though Pacyna is gone, his presence remains strong in the community he loved. His Facebook page, where he shared his last words, continues to be a place where friends post messages expressing how much they miss him.