Southport Teen Killed In Crash Memorialized With Scholarship Fund

FAIRFIELD, CT — In the summer of 2019, Southport teen Jake Panus took a church mission trip to Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota to teach literacy and life skills to children. He was looking forward to returning this year.

Panus died in a car crash Sunday in Rhode Island. He was 16. But his desire to help the Oglala Lakota Nation will live on in the form of a memorial scholarship established in his name.

“The indelible and powerful experience of connecting and teaching the young children how to read, as well as instructing them on crucial life skills and sharing his boundless energy left Jake yearning to help more,” his obituary said.

Pine Ridge Indian Reservation is home to some of the poorest communities in the U.S., according to Re-Member, a nonprofit that works with the Oglala Lakota Nation. Income per capita for American Indians living on the reservation is $7,773 and the school dropout rate is more than 70 percent.

The Jake Panus Scholarship Fund will provide financial assistance with post-secondary education for children from Red Shirt Table on the reservation.

In addition to his participation in the 2019 mission trip, Panus was involved at Southport Congregational Church as a junior deacon and youth group member.

“Jake will be remembered for his zest for life, the twinkle in his eye, and his love for his church and God,” the church said in a Facebook post.

Panus was also a good student at Fairfield Ludlowe High School. He played on the football and lacrosse teams, and was a counselor in training at the Wakeman Boys & Girls Club and a volunteer at the annual Pequot Library book sale.

“Jake was a wonderful neighbor, dedicated volunteer, and sweet friend to the Library,” the Pequot Library said in a Facebook post.

Panus was declared dead at the scene of Sunday’s crash on Block Island in Road Island. Another boy was seriously injured in the incident and the driver faces several charges and is under home confinement as her case proceeds through the legal system. All five teens involved in the crash were Ludlowe students.

In addition to the memorial scholarship, a GoFundMe page has been established to assist the Panus family with end-of-life expenses. As of early Friday, a day after the fundraiser was created, it had received more than $8,000 in donations.

To give to the scholarship fund, visit southportucc.org, call 203-255-1594, or send a check, made out to the "Southport Congregational Church" ref: The Jake Panus Scholarship Fund, C/O Southport Congregational Church, PO Box 366, Southport, CT 06890. To donate to the GoFundMe fundraiser, go to bit.ly/30SBRSO.

A private celebration-of-life service will be held 2 p.m. Saturday at Southport Congregational Church, and can be viewed via livestream at southportucc.org. The Panus family will greet community members 3:30 p.m. Saturday on the Pequot Library lawn.