Benjamin Anthony Szostak passed away suddenly in a tragic accident while doing something he loved—riding his bicycle training for a triathlon—on July 1, 2021 at the age of 42 years old. He was the cherished fiancé of Marie Perez, beloved son of Edward and Helene (Plachta) Szostak, loving grandson of the late Anthony and late Mary (Butz) Szostak, and late Ben and late Helen (Witrykus) Plachta, dear brother of Anne Marie (Joseph) Markun, Edward (Beth), Kristine (Douglas) Asmussen, Jimmy, David (Susana Mendoza-Szostak), Andrew (Wendy), Jillene, and Brian (April), fond uncle of Julia, Caroline, and Joey Markun, Michael and Steven Szostak, Stephanie, Kathleen, and Thomas Asmussen, Jakub and Emma Szostak, David Q. Szostak, Jacob Abbott, Samuel, Shannon, and Nicholas Szostak, and Brian A., Brooklyn, and Aspen Szostak, proud Godfather to Emma Kate, mentor to Abigail Avila, friend to many, and missed by all.

From the Szostak Family:
"We are overwhelmed with gratitude for the number of people who have reached out to us and offered help during this time. Our family would like to honor Ben and celebrate his love for life and cycling, and we invite anyone who wishes to help us make a donation in his name to the Northeast Alabama Bicycle Association. NEABA is the organization associated with the Cheaha Challenge Gran Fondo & ULTRA, the race in which Ben joyfully participated this past May. NEABA coordinators have shared with us their intention to host a ride in Ben's memory on a section of the 2022 Cheaha Challenge Course, as well as remembering Ben in next year's Ride of Silence. We know that any donation will help us and NEABA honor Ben's legacy."

If anyone would like to make a donation in Ben's honor, donations can be made in the form of a check and addressed to NEABA, with 'Benjamin Szostak' in the memo.

Checks can be mailed to:
NEABA
P.O.Box 2414
Anniston, AL 36202

Donations can also be sent via PayPal using the email CheahaChallengeGranFondo@gmail.com with 'Benjamin Szostak' in the memo.

Funeral arrangements entrusted to McCauley-Sullivan Funeral Home & Crematorium.