Sussex County Man Who Helped Others, Loses Battle To Addiction

SUSSEX COUNTY, NJ — A familiar face who often helped others in their recovery from addiction, is being remembered after recently losing his own battle.

Connor Matthew Bubigkeit, 30, a lifetime Sussex County resident, passed away on Dec. 2, according to his obituary.

He lived in Montague for most of his 30 years and was a 2010 graduate of Port Jervis High School. After high school, he had been a student at Penn State University.

Bubigkeit loved many sports, his obituary read, but especially golf.

His Twitter profile, which shows a photo of him golfing, is headlined, "Love, live life, proceed, progress."

Having worked as a Conrail conductor in Camden, he also enjoyed his job.

He has been recognized as support to others walking through their recovery journey. Bubigkeit spoke frequently at local support group meetings as he fought to overcome his own longtime challenges, his obituary read.

With that focus on addiction recovery, his family has asked that donations be made in his memory to the Center for Prevention and Counseling, www.centerforprevention.org.

Bubigkeit was remembered at memorial services and visitations in Newton on Dec. 7, leaving behind his family, most especially his parents Roy and Lori Bubigkeit, grandmother Carol McCallum, aunt Marilyn and uncle Joel Mastandrea and cousins, including Taylor McCallum. His brother Ryan Bubigkeit, cousin Jack McCallum and grandfather John McCallum predeceased him.

He is also survived by his companion, Samantha Rizzo, who was one person who remembered him in a Facebook dedication, with heartfelt sentiments and a photo of the two smiling and holding hands.

She said he had a personality that "was unmatched," calling him her “best friend, soul mate and future.”

“Love your person,” she summed up, “because we are all on borrowed time. And be kind to people, you never know what battles they could be masking.”

See Bubigkeit's full obituary here.

Questions or comments about this story? Have a local news tip? Contact me at: jennifer.miller@patch.com.