Marine vet, Ulster County resident among the victims

The final two victims identified in Saturday's limousine crash in Schoharie were a Marine Corps veteran and the father-in-law of a SUNY Oswego professor who also was killed.

The State Police on Tuesday released the names, addresses and hometowns of all 20 victims of the deadliest transportation disaster in the U.S. since 2009.

Here are the stories of the final two victims identified:

Michael Ukaj

Marine Corps veteran Michael Ukaj of Johnstown, who served a tour in Iraq, died on his 34th birthday while in the limousine celebrating the 30th birthday of his friend. His mother, Mary Aston, who lives in Maine, told the Times Union that she called to wish Ukaj happy birthday on Saturday but couldn't reach him. Later, she found out she had called at almost the same time as the crash.

"He was just such a good boy," Ashton said, in tears, over the phone. "My baby is gone."

Ashton said her son joined the military at the age of 17, did basic training a year later and served a full tour in Iraq. On his 21st birthday, he told her he was under a table in the safety position while his base was being mortared, praying he wouldn't die. She said he saw some of his friends die in front of him and returned home with severe post-traumatic stress disorder.

She urged him to connect with the Department of Veterans Affairs and take medicine to heal. Ashton said Ukaj planned to re-enlist but was honorably discharged from the military because of a medical condition.

He moved into his maternal grandparents' house in Caroga Lake, Fulton County.

"He was just very happy and enjoyed life. He did struggle like we all do with certain issues, but generally he was enjoying life; he posted pictures of himself with friends, skeet shooting and having bonfires. He was fixing up my parents' house and enjoying his life," Ashton said.

The family previously lived in upstate New York but moved to Maine 16 years ago. Rick White, an aide at Victory Christian Academy in Fort Plain, Montgomery County, where Ukaj attended for one year in high school, remembers him as a good young man who always talked about going into the service.

Ukaj leaves behind his parents, a sister and two brothers. Ashton said she only got confirmation of her son's death from State Police at 1 p.m. Monday, not in time to attend the evening vigil in Amsterdam.

A family friend set up a fundraiser for the family on Facebook.

James Schnurr

James Schnurr, 70, of Kerhonkson, Ulster County, was in the parking lot of the Apple Barrel Country Store when the limo crashed. He was killed along with his son-in-law Brian Hough, a geology professor at SUNY Oswego.

Brian's brother J.T. Hough, who lives in Pennsylvania, told the Times Union that the family was visiting Schoharie for a wedding on Saturday.

"I talked to his wife, my sister-in-law, and she said up until that moment they were having the best day ever," Hough said.

Hough set up a fundraiser for surviving family members on GoFundMe.

The Schnurr family did not want to talk at this time.

State Police Tuesday released this list of the 20 people killed in Saturday's limousine crash in Schoharie:

Limousine passengers

Axel J. Steenburg, 29, Amsterdam

Richard M. Steenburg, 34, Johnstown

Amy L. Steenburg, 30, Amsterdam

Allison King, 31, Ballston Spa

Mary E. Dyson, 33, Watertown

Robert J. Dyson, 34, Watertown

Abigail M. Jackson, 34, Amsterdam

Matthew W. Coons, 27, Johnstown

Savannah D. Bursese, 24, Johnstown

Patrick K. Cushing, 31, Halfmoon

Amanda D. Halse, 26, Halfmoon

Erin R. McGowan, 34, Amsterdam

Shane T. McGowan, 30, Amsterdam

Amanda Rivenburg, 29, Colonie

Adam G. Jackson, 34, Amsterdam

Rachael K. Cavosie, 30, Waterford

Michael C. Ukaj, 34, Johnstown

Limousine driver

Scott T. Lisinicchia, 53, Lake George

Pedestrians

Brian Hough, 46, Moravia

James Schnurr, 70, Kerhonkson

Read about the lives of all 20 victims at www.timesunion.com/schohariecrash.