James Stephens Seluzetsky, also known as James D. Stephens, was a New York City-based radio and TV commercial announcer. He tragically lost his life at age 43 in a bizarre accident on May 2, 1967. The incident occurred around 12:40 A.M. at his apartment at 55 W. 53rd Street, where a chimney, being used to support a hammock, collapsed without warning. The collapse also claimed the life of Jefferson McGrath, 39, a creative supervisor at Benton & Bowles, Inc., an advertising agency.
At the time, the hammock was occupied by James Stephens, Jefferson McGrath, and Miss Jane Nieland, 23. It was being swung by Miss Priscilla Tedesco, 27, both women were secretaries at Benton & Bowles. Following the collapse, Tedesco and Nieland were treated for cuts and bruises at Roosevelt Hospital and subsequently discharged. The apartment was owned by Mr. Stephens, whose wife, Joan, was not home during the incident. Mr. McGrath lived in Middletown, New Jersey, with his wife, Lois, and their four children.
A city building inspector described the event as one of the most "macabre and freakish" in the history of the New York City Buildings Department.
James Stephens Seluzetsky, also known as James D. Stephens, was a New York City-based radio and TV commercial announcer. He tragically lost his life at age 43 in a bizarre accident on May 2, 1967. The incident occurred around 12:40 A.M. at his apartment at 55 W. 53rd Street, where a chimney, being used to support a hammock, collapsed without warning. The collapse also claimed the life of Jefferson McGrath, 39, a creative supervisor at Benton & Bowles, Inc., an advertising agency.
At the time, the hammock was occupied by James Stephens, Jefferson McGrath, and Miss Jane Nieland, 23. It was being swung by Miss Priscilla Tedesco, 27, both women were secretaries at Benton & Bowles. Following the collapse, Tedesco and Nieland were treated for cuts and bruises at Roosevelt Hospital and subsequently discharged. The apartment was owned by Mr. Stephens, whose wife, Joan, was not home during the incident. Mr. McGrath lived in Middletown, New Jersey, with his wife, Lois, and their four children.
A city building inspector described the event as one of the most "macabre and freakish" in the history of the New York City Buildings Department.
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