Friends and loved ones are remembering a Monroe man who died in an accident earlier this week while doing something he loved.

Friends say 60-year-old Marc Pennino from Monroe touched many lives. Denise Biagi fought back tears talking about him.

"From day one, we just became best friends. He was loyal. He talked for hours and hours and hours about his boys, Anthony and Christian," says Biagi.

Pennino was born in Brooklyn, and his family later moved to Westport. He loved riding motorcycles.

State police say Pennino was riding his motorcycle on I-395 South in Waterford late Monday morning and hit the back of a car in front of him when traffic slowed down. Police say he was thrown from the motorcycle and wasn't wearing a helmet.

"I believe what I was told he was on the way home from the casino. He had seen a country band up there," says Biagi.

Pennino leaves behind two grandchildren, and he had a third one on the way. He also loved his poodle, Harley.

"Very tragic, and we have another angel up there. He will be very missed," says Biagi.

There will be a service for Pennino at Spadaccino and Leo P. Gallagher & Son Community Funeral Home in Monroe this Saturday from 12-5 p.m.

Police say the driver of the car Pennino hit was not hurt.