New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
‘Together forever, may their memories be eternal’
Funeral held for sons of CT TV host killed in crash
CHESTER — A funeral for the two sons of Tom Dudchik, host of WTNH News 8's “Capitol Report,” was held Monday morning.
Robert and Anthony Dudchik were killed April 28 in a motor vehicle crash off Hosley Avenue in Branford, according to police. East Haven resident Megan Nicole Povilaitis, 17, was also killed in the crash.
WTNH livestreamed the funeral service for the Dudchik brothers on its website and Facebook page. The funeral started at 11 a.m. in St. Joseph's Church in Chester. Burial immediately followed the funeral service.
The church was beyond capacity Monday, including Gov. Ned Lamont, Republican gubernatorial nominee Bob Stefanowski, U.S. Rep. John Larson, Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz and numerous other state officials in attendance.
Tom Dudchik, Robert and Anthony's father, stood under a statue of St. Joseph Monday, calling it appropriate as Joseph “was the first foster parent.”
“We nurture, we care, we teach our children as best we can, and then they're off on their own,” Tom Dudchik said. “We can only pray that they're going to be safe.”
Tom Dudchik and his wife, Nora Fitzgerald Dudchik, adopted the brothers in 2007 through the Department of Children and Families.
The TV host read aloud a testimony Monday that his son Robert gave in front of the state legislature regarding adoption. Robert said that though he knew Anthony
looked at him often as his older brother, he in turn looked to his younger brother for guidance.
Robert also told the legislature how a teacher told him he was lucky for being able to be adopted with his brother.
“We went through everything together,” Robert had said. “Can we please have it so that when brothers and sisters do stay together, it's not because they're lucky?”
But their father said Monday that “We're the lucky ones.”
“Together forever, may their memories be eternal,” he added.
Tom Dudchik announced last week that he is taking a break from hosting “Capitol Report” following his sons' deaths.
Robert Dudchik, 22, had been working as a flight attendant for Avelo Airlines at Tweed New Haven Airport at the time of his death, according to his obituary.
“Traveling and customer service were Robert's passion. He excelled at Avelo garnering much praise in his short career from passengers and co-workers. Robert was beloved at Avelo. Robert's dream was to teach English in Japan — he was enamored with Japanese culture. We are so sad he did not get to fulfill that dream,” the obituary read. “Robert was a cherished son, grandson, nephew, cousin, colleague and friend. We love him and will miss him more than words can possibly convey. Take flight Robert!”
Anthony Dudchik, 19, was a freshman at Southern Connecticut State University. His obituary described him as a photographer and anime enthusiast. “He spent many nights in front of the fireplace discussing with us his love of the genre,” his family wrote in the obituary.
Both sons attended Nathan Hale-Ray High School in East Haddam.
Police said the two brothers and Povilaitis were found dead at the scene following a one-car crash. A driver in the area contacted Branford Emergency Communications Center around 6:35 a.m. about a car that had crashed off the roadway, but said they did not witness the crash itself.
Police said speed was believed to have been a factor in the fatal collision.