Great Barrington — The sky darkened and a cold wind came to town today as if it knew another young man had died on a dark wet Berkshires road, and that today was the day that marked his time on this earth.
An honor guard of pall bearers, saluted by ranks of police officers, carries approaches the First Congregational Church. Photo: Heather Bellow
The funeral for Ryan Storti, 25, was held this morning (May 13) at First Congregational Church on Main Street. Storti, who was killed last week when the car he was driving hit a tree at 2 a.m. on Prospect Hill Road in Stockbridge, was recently appointed a full-time officer in the Great Barrington Police Department.
Dozens of officers from other departments around the region, local state police and honor guards, came to give Storti proper police recognition. Great Barrington police marched from department headquarters to the church along side the hearse, and joined hundreds of mourners, including town and state officials, who had begun to arrive outside nearly an hour before the funeral.
The Rev. Charles Van AusDall who conducted the funeral service at the First Congregational Church. Photo: Heather Bellow
Selectboard member Ed Abrahams told The Edge that at the service, conducted by the Rev. Charles Van AusDall, Police Chief William Walsh spoke, as well as Storti’s friends. Rev. Van AusDall at one point addressed the “twenty-somethings” to be careful driving at night, and for friends to take care of each other, Abrahams said.
Storti attended all local schools, was a Cub Scout and Life Scout, graduated from Monument Mountain Regional High School, Berkshire Community College, and Western Massachusetts Police Academy in Springfield. He also owned South County Lawn Care Company.
Rev. Van AusDall awaits the funeral cortege at the First Congregational Church, as crowds gathered along the sidewalks to honor the police officer. Photo: Heather Bellow
In his obituary his family wrote that Storti loved country western music, the outdoors, motorsports and hunting. He loved being with family and friends on Stockbridge Bowl, and on his boat with his dog. He loved to work on his truck, and collected old cars and guns. He was a passionate Yankees fan.
Storti joined the department in March 2012 as a part-time reserve officer, and went to full time in 2014. At an introduction to the Selectboard in February 2015, Chief William Walsh said Storti was a “great addition” to the local force of 18 full time officers (including patrolmen and Chief Walsh), and 8 part-time reserve officers. Walsh said it was no small matter to graduate from the rigorous Police Academy.
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