John Scott "Jack" Newnon, son of Robert John (1921-2006) and Ruth Louise (Scott) (born 18 March 1922) Newnon, was born 15 January 1951, Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan. Jack was a member of the Class of 1969 at Okemos High School and had just completed his freshman year when he died in a tragic drowning accident 6 July 1966. Jack was boating with a friend in the Grand Traverse Bay waters when the boat overturned.
Jack was interred Midland City Cemetery, Midland, Midland County, Michigan.
Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Monday 8 July 1966
Jack Newnon, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Newnon of 143 W. Sherwood St., Okemos, and a buddy, Bob Burgess, son of Mr. and Mrs. William Burgess, also of Okemos, were riding in a row boat Saturday afternoon on Grand Traverse Bay near Torch Lake in Antrim County when the mishap happened.
According to the Antrim County Sheriff's Department, the Newnon boy and Burgess were rowing in an eight-foot wooden boat about 2:30 p.m. Saturday. Newnon apparently was changing positions with Burgess when the boat overturned. The victim was wearing a life jacket at the time but suddenly took it off when he started to swim towards shore.
Officers said Newnon apparently thought he could swim better with the jacket off. Burgess threw another life jacket to Newnon but he went under water when he panicked trying to reach for it, officers said.
AID TOO LATE
Burgess, who just returned from a summer camp and had received instructions on life saving, attempted mouth-to-mouth resuscitation but was too late, officers said.
Newnon, a sophomore at Okemos High School, had been spending the weekend at the Burgess cottage on Torch Lake. He was reported to have been a good swimmer. The Upper Torch Lake Fire Department was summoned and also gave artificial respiration.
Newnon, formerly of Detroit and Birmingham, was a member of St. Thomas Aquinas. He had been a resident of Okemos and East Lansing for three years. He is survived by his parents and two sisters, Barbara and Joanne at home.
Services will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas Church with Rt. Rev. Msgr. Jerome V. MacEachin officiating. Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday at the Midland Cemetery.
