The Post Standard (Syracuse, NY), 6 Jul 2001
Drowned man 'put his life on the line'
Michael Bocyck, died while trying to save boy. Sister: "That's they way he was."
Michael Bocyck's sister said he died the way he lived--selflessly.
Bocyck, 44, of Fulton, jumped into Lake Ontario to help his girlfriend's 13-year-old brother, Daniel "D.J." Kingsley. The boy was struggling to swim back to a pier at West Barrier Park on the west side of Little Sodus Bay Sunday night as 6-to-8 foot waves crashed around him.
"He went into that water with no regard for his own safety because someone was in trouble," said Bocyck's sister, Peggy Shattell. "He put his life on the line to save somebody who was in trouble. That's the way he was."
Bocyck and Kingsley drowned.
Four days after rescue crews began searching for them, a fisherman boating through the channel at Little Sodus Bay and Lake Ontario discovered Kingsley's body floating about 7:45 a.m. Thursday. Crews on the Cayuga County Sheriff's Department boat recovered the body.
Wednesday, state police scuba diving crews found Bocyck, of 2657 state Route 3, Lot 11, near Fair Haven Beach State Park. The park is on the east side of Little Sodus Bay.
They found his body in about 18 feet of water, about 300 feet east of West Barrier Bar pier, where Kingsley and his sisters, Jamie Zufelt, 26, and Tiffany Kingsley, 14, were swimming about 5 p.m. Sunday.
Cayuga County sheriff's investigators said D.J. Kingsley and his sisters got caught in the waves and struggled to reach the pier. Swimming is prohibited near the pier, but officials said warnings are often ignored.
His sisters were able to reach the pier and pull themselves out of the water, but D.J. could not.
Zufelt said she yelled to Bocyck, her boyfriend, who jumped off the hood of his car, gave Zufelt his glasses and said, "I'll be right back." He then dived into to the choppy water to rescue the boy.
"I know in my heart, Mike truly believed he could get D.J.," Shattell said.
At one point, those on the pier were able to grab Bocyck, but they could not hang on to him, investigators said. Zuflet said she saw her brother, then her boyfriend, float lifelessly in the water before disappearing.
Crews began searching for the pair that night. When search-and-rescue crews were unable to recover the bodies, they presumed the pair dead.
D.J. Kingsley, of 8 Tallman St., Oswego, had recently completed sixth grade at Kingsford Park Elementary School in Oswego, principal Mary Ninemire said. In September, the red-haired, freckle-faced teen was planning to attend Oswego Middle School, she said.
"D.J. was a very special young man," Ninemire said. "He was so looking forward to going to middle school."
Bocyck is survived by his three children, B.J., 22; Rebecca, 24; and Joey, 6, who is Bocyck and Zufelt's son. Bocyck, who also has five sisters and a brother, dated Zufelt for nearly 10 years, Shattell said.
"He has always been very laid back, playful, joking, fun-loving," Shattell said. "He loved to roll around the floor with his nieces and nephews. He was a typical overgrown kid."
Bocyck was a mechanic at Larry & Son Automotive Repair in Syracuse for more than 15 years. He also loved to race cars, his sister said.
Bocyck spent the Saturday with Kingsley and Kingsley's father, R. J. Kingsley, at the Oswego Speedway. Bocyck had one of his best days, finishing 22nd and qualifying for the next race, his sister said.
"He loved his family and friends," Shattell said. "He would do anything for anyone at any time. And that's exactly what he did."
The Herald American (Syracuse, NY), 8 Jul 2001
Daniel J. "D.J." Kingsley, 13, of 8 Tallman St., Oswego, was found dead Thursday, the victim of a drowning in Fair Haven. He was born in Oswego. He was a pupil at Kingsford Park Elementary School, Oswego.
Survivors: His parents, Robert and Gail Zufelt Kingsley of Oswego; two sister, Tiffany Kingsley and Jamie Zufelt, both of Oswego; his maternal grandmother, Margaret Zufelt of Oswego.
Services: 11 a.m. Tuesday at Dain-Cullinan Funeral Home. Burial Hannibal Center Cemetery. Calling hours, 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday at the funeral home, 112 E. Second St., Oswego.
Drowned man 'put his life on the line'
Michael Bocyck, died while trying to save boy. Sister: "That's they way he was."
Michael Bocyck's sister said he died the way he lived--selflessly.
Bocyck, 44, of Fulton, jumped into Lake Ontario to help his girlfriend's 13-year-old brother, Daniel "D.J." Kingsley. The boy was struggling to swim back to a pier at West Barrier Park on the west side of Little Sodus Bay Sunday night as 6-to-8 foot waves crashed around him.
"He went into that water with no regard for his own safety because someone was in trouble," said Bocyck's sister, Peggy Shattell. "He put his life on the line to save somebody who was in trouble. That's the way he was."
Bocyck and Kingsley drowned.
Four days after rescue crews began searching for them, a fisherman boating through the channel at Little Sodus Bay and Lake Ontario discovered Kingsley's body floating about 7:45 a.m. Thursday. Crews on the Cayuga County Sheriff's Department boat recovered the body.
Wednesday, state police scuba diving crews found Bocyck, of 2657 state Route 3, Lot 11, near Fair Haven Beach State Park. The park is on the east side of Little Sodus Bay.
They found his body in about 18 feet of water, about 300 feet east of West Barrier Bar pier, where Kingsley and his sisters, Jamie Zufelt, 26, and Tiffany Kingsley, 14, were swimming about 5 p.m. Sunday.
Cayuga County sheriff's investigators said D.J. Kingsley and his sisters got caught in the waves and struggled to reach the pier. Swimming is prohibited near the pier, but officials said warnings are often ignored.
His sisters were able to reach the pier and pull themselves out of the water, but D.J. could not.
Zufelt said she yelled to Bocyck, her boyfriend, who jumped off the hood of his car, gave Zufelt his glasses and said, "I'll be right back." He then dived into to the choppy water to rescue the boy.
"I know in my heart, Mike truly believed he could get D.J.," Shattell said.
At one point, those on the pier were able to grab Bocyck, but they could not hang on to him, investigators said. Zuflet said she saw her brother, then her boyfriend, float lifelessly in the water before disappearing.
Crews began searching for the pair that night. When search-and-rescue crews were unable to recover the bodies, they presumed the pair dead.
D.J. Kingsley, of 8 Tallman St., Oswego, had recently completed sixth grade at Kingsford Park Elementary School in Oswego, principal Mary Ninemire said. In September, the red-haired, freckle-faced teen was planning to attend Oswego Middle School, she said.
"D.J. was a very special young man," Ninemire said. "He was so looking forward to going to middle school."
Bocyck is survived by his three children, B.J., 22; Rebecca, 24; and Joey, 6, who is Bocyck and Zufelt's son. Bocyck, who also has five sisters and a brother, dated Zufelt for nearly 10 years, Shattell said.
"He has always been very laid back, playful, joking, fun-loving," Shattell said. "He loved to roll around the floor with his nieces and nephews. He was a typical overgrown kid."
Bocyck was a mechanic at Larry & Son Automotive Repair in Syracuse for more than 15 years. He also loved to race cars, his sister said.
Bocyck spent the Saturday with Kingsley and Kingsley's father, R. J. Kingsley, at the Oswego Speedway. Bocyck had one of his best days, finishing 22nd and qualifying for the next race, his sister said.
"He loved his family and friends," Shattell said. "He would do anything for anyone at any time. And that's exactly what he did."
The Herald American (Syracuse, NY), 8 Jul 2001
Daniel J. "D.J." Kingsley, 13, of 8 Tallman St., Oswego, was found dead Thursday, the victim of a drowning in Fair Haven. He was born in Oswego. He was a pupil at Kingsford Park Elementary School, Oswego.
Survivors: His parents, Robert and Gail Zufelt Kingsley of Oswego; two sister, Tiffany Kingsley and Jamie Zufelt, both of Oswego; his maternal grandmother, Margaret Zufelt of Oswego.
Services: 11 a.m. Tuesday at Dain-Cullinan Funeral Home. Burial Hannibal Center Cemetery. Calling hours, 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday at the funeral home, 112 E. Second St., Oswego.
The Post Standard (Syracuse, NY), 6 Jul 2001
Drowned man 'put his life on the line'
Michael Bocyck, died while trying to save boy. Sister: "That's they way he was."
Michael Bocyck's sister said he died the way he lived--selflessly.
Bocyck, 44, of Fulton, jumped into Lake Ontario to help his girlfriend's 13-year-old brother, Daniel "D.J." Kingsley. The boy was struggling to swim back to a pier at West Barrier Park on the west side of Little Sodus Bay Sunday night as 6-to-8 foot waves crashed around him.
"He went into that water with no regard for his own safety because someone was in trouble," said Bocyck's sister, Peggy Shattell. "He put his life on the line to save somebody who was in trouble. That's the way he was."
Bocyck and Kingsley drowned.
Four days after rescue crews began searching for them, a fisherman boating through the channel at Little Sodus Bay and Lake Ontario discovered Kingsley's body floating about 7:45 a.m. Thursday. Crews on the Cayuga County Sheriff's Department boat recovered the body.
Wednesday, state police scuba diving crews found Bocyck, of 2657 state Route 3, Lot 11, near Fair Haven Beach State Park. The park is on the east side of Little Sodus Bay.
They found his body in about 18 feet of water, about 300 feet east of West Barrier Bar pier, where Kingsley and his sisters, Jamie Zufelt, 26, and Tiffany Kingsley, 14, were swimming about 5 p.m. Sunday.
Cayuga County sheriff's investigators said D.J. Kingsley and his sisters got caught in the waves and struggled to reach the pier. Swimming is prohibited near the pier, but officials said warnings are often ignored.
His sisters were able to reach the pier and pull themselves out of the water, but D.J. could not.
Zufelt said she yelled to Bocyck, her boyfriend, who jumped off the hood of his car, gave Zufelt his glasses and said, "I'll be right back." He then dived into to the choppy water to rescue the boy.
"I know in my heart, Mike truly believed he could get D.J.," Shattell said.
At one point, those on the pier were able to grab Bocyck, but they could not hang on to him, investigators said. Zuflet said she saw her brother, then her boyfriend, float lifelessly in the water before disappearing.
Crews began searching for the pair that night. When search-and-rescue crews were unable to recover the bodies, they presumed the pair dead.
D.J. Kingsley, of 8 Tallman St., Oswego, had recently completed sixth grade at Kingsford Park Elementary School in Oswego, principal Mary Ninemire said. In September, the red-haired, freckle-faced teen was planning to attend Oswego Middle School, she said.
"D.J. was a very special young man," Ninemire said. "He was so looking forward to going to middle school."
Bocyck is survived by his three children, B.J., 22; Rebecca, 24; and Joey, 6, who is Bocyck and Zufelt's son. Bocyck, who also has five sisters and a brother, dated Zufelt for nearly 10 years, Shattell said.
"He has always been very laid back, playful, joking, fun-loving," Shattell said. "He loved to roll around the floor with his nieces and nephews. He was a typical overgrown kid."
Bocyck was a mechanic at Larry & Son Automotive Repair in Syracuse for more than 15 years. He also loved to race cars, his sister said.
Bocyck spent the Saturday with Kingsley and Kingsley's father, R. J. Kingsley, at the Oswego Speedway. Bocyck had one of his best days, finishing 22nd and qualifying for the next race, his sister said.
"He loved his family and friends," Shattell said. "He would do anything for anyone at any time. And that's exactly what he did."
The Herald American (Syracuse, NY), 8 Jul 2001
Daniel J. "D.J." Kingsley, 13, of 8 Tallman St., Oswego, was found dead Thursday, the victim of a drowning in Fair Haven. He was born in Oswego. He was a pupil at Kingsford Park Elementary School, Oswego.
Survivors: His parents, Robert and Gail Zufelt Kingsley of Oswego; two sister, Tiffany Kingsley and Jamie Zufelt, both of Oswego; his maternal grandmother, Margaret Zufelt of Oswego.
Services: 11 a.m. Tuesday at Dain-Cullinan Funeral Home. Burial Hannibal Center Cemetery. Calling hours, 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday at the funeral home, 112 E. Second St., Oswego.
Drowned man 'put his life on the line'
Michael Bocyck, died while trying to save boy. Sister: "That's they way he was."
Michael Bocyck's sister said he died the way he lived--selflessly.
Bocyck, 44, of Fulton, jumped into Lake Ontario to help his girlfriend's 13-year-old brother, Daniel "D.J." Kingsley. The boy was struggling to swim back to a pier at West Barrier Park on the west side of Little Sodus Bay Sunday night as 6-to-8 foot waves crashed around him.
"He went into that water with no regard for his own safety because someone was in trouble," said Bocyck's sister, Peggy Shattell. "He put his life on the line to save somebody who was in trouble. That's the way he was."
Bocyck and Kingsley drowned.
Four days after rescue crews began searching for them, a fisherman boating through the channel at Little Sodus Bay and Lake Ontario discovered Kingsley's body floating about 7:45 a.m. Thursday. Crews on the Cayuga County Sheriff's Department boat recovered the body.
Wednesday, state police scuba diving crews found Bocyck, of 2657 state Route 3, Lot 11, near Fair Haven Beach State Park. The park is on the east side of Little Sodus Bay.
They found his body in about 18 feet of water, about 300 feet east of West Barrier Bar pier, where Kingsley and his sisters, Jamie Zufelt, 26, and Tiffany Kingsley, 14, were swimming about 5 p.m. Sunday.
Cayuga County sheriff's investigators said D.J. Kingsley and his sisters got caught in the waves and struggled to reach the pier. Swimming is prohibited near the pier, but officials said warnings are often ignored.
His sisters were able to reach the pier and pull themselves out of the water, but D.J. could not.
Zufelt said she yelled to Bocyck, her boyfriend, who jumped off the hood of his car, gave Zufelt his glasses and said, "I'll be right back." He then dived into to the choppy water to rescue the boy.
"I know in my heart, Mike truly believed he could get D.J.," Shattell said.
At one point, those on the pier were able to grab Bocyck, but they could not hang on to him, investigators said. Zuflet said she saw her brother, then her boyfriend, float lifelessly in the water before disappearing.
Crews began searching for the pair that night. When search-and-rescue crews were unable to recover the bodies, they presumed the pair dead.
D.J. Kingsley, of 8 Tallman St., Oswego, had recently completed sixth grade at Kingsford Park Elementary School in Oswego, principal Mary Ninemire said. In September, the red-haired, freckle-faced teen was planning to attend Oswego Middle School, she said.
"D.J. was a very special young man," Ninemire said. "He was so looking forward to going to middle school."
Bocyck is survived by his three children, B.J., 22; Rebecca, 24; and Joey, 6, who is Bocyck and Zufelt's son. Bocyck, who also has five sisters and a brother, dated Zufelt for nearly 10 years, Shattell said.
"He has always been very laid back, playful, joking, fun-loving," Shattell said. "He loved to roll around the floor with his nieces and nephews. He was a typical overgrown kid."
Bocyck was a mechanic at Larry & Son Automotive Repair in Syracuse for more than 15 years. He also loved to race cars, his sister said.
Bocyck spent the Saturday with Kingsley and Kingsley's father, R. J. Kingsley, at the Oswego Speedway. Bocyck had one of his best days, finishing 22nd and qualifying for the next race, his sister said.
"He loved his family and friends," Shattell said. "He would do anything for anyone at any time. And that's exactly what he did."
The Herald American (Syracuse, NY), 8 Jul 2001
Daniel J. "D.J." Kingsley, 13, of 8 Tallman St., Oswego, was found dead Thursday, the victim of a drowning in Fair Haven. He was born in Oswego. He was a pupil at Kingsford Park Elementary School, Oswego.
Survivors: His parents, Robert and Gail Zufelt Kingsley of Oswego; two sister, Tiffany Kingsley and Jamie Zufelt, both of Oswego; his maternal grandmother, Margaret Zufelt of Oswego.
Services: 11 a.m. Tuesday at Dain-Cullinan Funeral Home. Burial Hannibal Center Cemetery. Calling hours, 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday at the funeral home, 112 E. Second St., Oswego.
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