Construction Flagger Steve Rybkin Lost to Virus

RTO is mourning the loss of another union Brother to the Coronavirus.  Steve Joseph Rybkin, 59,  worked as a Construction Flagger until going out sick on March 19, 2020.  He was confirmed positve for the Coronavirus a week later.  He died on April 5, 2020 at St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital in Newburgh, NY.  Brother Rybkin had 23 years on the job.

He was a parishioner of St. Kateri Tekakwitha Church in LaGrangeville and a member of the Hudson Valley Sportsmen’s Association.  He is survived by his wife of 17 years, Michelle Garcia-Rybkin; his sons, Stephen Rybkin, Jr., and Gabriel; dauther, Jessica; his brothers, Paul, Michael and John Rybkin, and sister Ludmila Weistreich.  Also, his goddaughter, Maryann Leibmann; and many nieces and nephews.

Local 100 President Tony Utano offered his condolences to the family and Brother Rybkin’s friends and co-workers on the job.  “Every death of one of our Brother and Sister Transit Workers from this terrible disease gets more and more difficult to comprehend.  With Thursday being Passover and Holy Thursday, and Sunday being Easter, I am hoping that this week will be the beginning of the end of this fight.”