[16927] in APO-L
Alumni News
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Gerald A. Schroeder)
Thu May 29 19:08:39 1997
Date: Thu, 29 May 1997 19:12:43 -0400
Reply-To: "Gerald A. Schroeder" <gschroed@CAPACCESS.ORG>
From: "Gerald A. Schroeder" <gschroed@CAPACCESS.ORG>
To: Multiple recipients of list APO-L <APO-L@VM.CC.PURDUE.EDU>
I don't know whether APO attracts good people or whether it helps make
people good. The answer probably lies somewhere in between and is as
varied as our membership. Nevertheless, when a brother distinguishes
himself or herself through an act of heroism and courage, I believe it
should be made known to the Fraternity.
Steve Pyrak, an alumnus of Mu Alpha Chapter at Georgetown University, and
his wife were part of my Indianapolis 500 group this past weekend. After
two weary days at the Motor Speedway waiting for the rain to stop, Steve
left to drive back to Cincinnati. On the way, a car in front of them
veered off Interstate 74 near Shelbyville, IN, struck an embankment,
soared through the air, and landed upside down in Lewis Creek. Trapped
inside the car were a 39-year old man and his 4-month old son. The baby
was in the rear seat straped in a child seat, upside down and under
water.
Steve jumped in the water, felt for the carseat, found the baby, and got
him out. He was not breathing when they reached the bank. He gave the
baby to his wife, to his wife, a cardiac intensive care nurse, and went
back in. While his wife revived the baby, Steve and another passenger in
his car were able to rescue the father from the murky waters. The father
was released from the hospital after treatment, and the baby, as of
Tuesday morning, was in satisfactory condition at the Riley Hospital for
Children in Indianapolis.
Steve is quoted in the news media as saying "It wasn't anything to pull
them out. Anyone could have but we just happened to be there -- right
time, place, and circumstances."
Congratulations to Steve for responding so quickly and effectively in
service to someone in dire need. I'm sure one of the reasons he didn't
mind getting wet was that he had been drenched to the core on two
successive days at the Motor Speedway! :) Seriously, I can't tell you
how proud I and we should be of him. I know any brother would have done
the same thing, but he was the one there. And, thank God.
Jerry Schroeder
Immediate Past National President
