Boating accident claims life of organist, music teacher
Investigation is continuing into a boating accident on Grand Lake last Friday night that claimed the life of Gregory James Bruski of Rogers City. The young man, who was just 10 days shy of his 24th birthday, apparently fell overboard and was unable to get back to the pontoon boat that was drifting away from him because of windy conditions on the lake. The Presque Isle County Sheriff’s Department reported that a number of agencies were involved in the search. The State Police Dive Team conducted the underwater search with assistance from the Alpena County Sheriff’s Department Dive Team.
The State Police helicopter from the Lansing post was dispatched as well on Sunday and hovered over the site throughout the day. Also on the scene throughout the weekend were the Posen First Responders and Fire Department, East Grand Fire Department, Presque Isle Township Fire Department, U.S. Coast Guard, Allied Ambulance Service and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
The search was called off at 2:17 a.m. Saturday because of high winds and continued later in the morning after the sun came up and additional support arrived. About 10 water vessels and approximately 30 personnel were involved in the recovery effort.
ACCORDING TO Sgt. Larry Kierzek of the Presque Isle County Sheriff’s department, two other people, Mark Kelley and Erin Bushey, were on the boat at the time of the accident. Kierzek reported that, when Bruski fell into the water, Kelley reportedly jumped in to try to help him but was unable to hold on and had to return to the boat before it drifted away. In follow-up discussions with people who knew Bruski, it was not clear whether he was a very strong swimmer. His godfather, Jim Purol noted that, “I hate to swim in water over my head and this was fairly deep water and the wind was blowing, so the boat drifted away.” He continued, “They tried to throw him a rope but I guess it was just not meant to be.”
While the sheriff’s department said alcohol was a factor in the accident, the incident remains under investigation. According to Sgt. Kierzek, there was no apparent injury or visible marks resulting from the incident. The officer noted that, “It appears he got into trouble in the water and apparently panicked.”
LOCAL RESIDENTS said the wind on the lake that night was brisk and the moonless sky would have made it very difficult to see anyone in the water. The authorities reported that life vests were on the pontoon boat, but the victim was not wearing a flotation device when he fell into the water. Jim Purol said his daughter Rachel and Greg were very close. “Even though it was very difficult and hard for her, she wanted to be there when he was brought out of the water,” he said. “It was just a matter of closure for her and the rest of us to know that he would be laid to rest with his busia.”
Purol also noted that, “Everyone at Grand Lake was so generous and anxious to do anything to help out the family.” “They opened their doors and let us into their yards so we could be close to the shoreline where it happened,” he said, adding that, “So many people made food and kept bringing it over, we had to get another refrigerator to hold it all.” Bruski was very close to his grandmother, Adele, who died in September 2003, a victim of Alzheimer’s disease. According to his family, that experience lead the young man to work in Lansing with Alzheimer’s patients for a period of time before coming back home to pursue his music career.
He played the organ at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Alpena and at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Hillman, then joined St. Ignatius Catholic Church to take a fulltime position as the choir d
HIS COLLEAGUE and friend at St. Ignatius, Amy Rabeau, said, “More than anything, Greg loved playing for and teaching music to the children.” She added, “We recorded a music CD called, ‘A Christmas Celebration’ in the 2001/2002 holiday season and he was very proud of that.” Rabeau also noted that Bruski gave private music lessons to kids and chaperoned various outings organized by the school. Bruski’s godfather added that, “Greg wrote a song called ‘Can You Imagine’ that they are going to perform at the funeral on Wednesday.”
The Revs. Charles Donajkowski, Stan Bereda, Clarence Smolinski, Art Mulka, Ray Mulka, and Vianney Sipulski officiated at the Mass of Resurrection at St. Ignatius on Wednesday. In addition to his grandmother and maternal grandparents, Sylvester and Josephine Romel, he was preceded in death by an infant brother, James. Interment took place at the St. Casimir Catholic Church Cemetery in Posen.