Fairhaven Remembrance Day

Steve Wright

In late March, Donna Coffia, who was barely a few months old died suddenly of SIDS.

Though her life was short, it was a blessing for those who knew of her.

April 4th was a chilly night in No. Indiana...everyone at college worked over at McDuffy's down on HWY 20 as waiters and waitresses and hostesses. When Gary Prahl decided to drive Bill Allman to work that night on his motorbike, neither one of them knew that it was the last time Gary would do anything. and Billy was a star on the College basketball team from a church in Illinois. Their motorcycle was hit by a drunk driver in a pick up truck. Billy was thrown 80 feet, suffering some severe injuries that required much rehab and time to heal. Gary, however, didn't make it.

Many of us knew Gary and his life touched ours though also but briefly. Like Donna, he, too, was cut down in the prime of life.

On April 19th, 1983, Steve Wright - political science and social studies teacher for the highschool and college, as well as Bob Jones Graduate, father of 3 and husband of Marsha - drowned in a boating accident on Lake Fairhaven. He was attempting to save two youngsters who were experiencing trouble on the lake in another canoe when he essentially experienced a heart attack. No one would tell us what was going on, we could only speculate as to the who's and what's. We all had heard rumors of what was happening with the divers down at the Lake.

At the service that evening, Dr. V made the announcement we all knew was coming but dreaded hearing nonetheless - Steve Wright had been taken home to be with the Lord that afternoon.