NEWS RELEASE
Frankfort, KY. —Long-time General Butler State Resort Park Dining Room Supervisor Andy Persanyi died Sunday morning as a result of injuries sustained in a two-vehicle accident on Interstate 71 in Henry County, Kentucky.
Persanyi was enroute to his job at General Butler State Resort Park when the accident occurred at 6am Sunday. Persanyi was reporting for duty so a colleague at the park could take the day off to attend a Special Olympics sporting event.
“We encourage all members of state government to be servant leaders,” said Governor Matt Bevin. “Andy Persanyi selflessly determined his schedule at the park after making certain his employees had work hours that maximized their time with family. That is the mark of a servant leader. On behalf of the Commonwealth, we extend our deepest condolences to Andy’s widow Carol, the Persanyi family and their loved ones.”
Persanyi began his career at General Butler as the park’s chef 13 years ago. Two years later, Persanyi was promoted to Dining Room Supervisor, a position he held until his death Sunday.
“Andy was one-of-a-kind,” said Don Parkinson, Secretary of the Tourism, Arts, & Heritage Cabinet which oversees General Butler State Resort Park. “When Andy answered the phone at the park, he sounded like the Robin Williams character in Good Morning, Vietnam. Andy would say, ‘Good Morning, Two Rivers Restaurant.’ Andy lifted the spirits of everyone around him.”
“He was a very unique, interesting and knowledgeable man,” said Dave Jordan, General Butler State Resort Park Manager. “Anytime you asked Andy how his day was going, he would say, ‘Just peachy.’ We lost one of the good guys Sunday.”