93 year old WWII Veteran Freezes To Death In Own Home - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

ShaniFaye · 01-27-2009, 09:31 AM

heck I couldnt think of what to title the thread.

Maybe some of you have seen the news story about the 93 year old WWII vet that froze to death in his house because his power was shut off..

WWII Veteran Freezes To Death In Own Home - News Story - WNEM Saginaw

Quote:

BAY CITY, Mich. -- Officials in central Michigan say a 93-year-old man who owed more than $1,000 in unpaid electric bills froze to death inside his home -- where the municipal power company had restricted his use of electricity.

Neighbors and friends of Marvin Schur want answers as to how this could happen.

“Now that we do know it was hypothermia, there’s a whole bunch of feelings that I’ve got going through me,” said Jim Herndon, a neighbor of Schur’s. “There’s anger, for the city and the electrical company.”

Bay City officials said changes are on the way in an attempt to not let another instance like this happen again.

An autopsy determined Schur, 93, died from hypothermia in the home he lived in for years.

Bay City Electric Light and Power sent Schur a shutoff notice through the mail a few weeks ago.

Then crews placed a shutoff notice on his front door. A few days later, Schur was found by neighbors.

Bay City Electric Light and Power, which is owned by the city, said a limiter was placed on Schur’s electrical line.

The device limits the power that reaches a home, and it blows out like a fuse if power consumption rises past a set level.

The manager of Bay City said the limiter was tripped sometime between the time of installation and the discovery of the man's body.

The city manager said city workers keep the limiter on a house for 10 days, then shut off power entirely if the homeowner hasn't paid utility bills or arranged to do so.

A medical examiner who conducted the autopsy on Schur told TV5 and WNEM.com that Schur died a painful death due to the hypothermia.

Dr. Kanu Varani has done hundreds of autopsies, and he said he’d never seen a person die of hypothermia indoors.

A neighbor who lives across the street from Schur is angered that the city didn’t personally notify the elderly man about his utility situation.

Schur’s neighbor, Herndon, said Schur had a utility bill on his kitchen table with a large amount of money clipped to it, with the intention of paying that bill.

Right now the city said the situation is still under investigation. Marvin Schur was a World War II veteran.

A memorial service for him will take place Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. at the Gephart Funeral Home in Bay City.

I read the mans obituary, the only family it lists is a nephew in Saginaw and a niece in Florida, his wife was dead and he had no children.

The power company made the statement that the neighbors should have been checking on him. I've read several dif articles on this today and they say that the person that put the limiter on never had contact with the man to show him how to use it. The articles also states the man had the money attached to the bill sitting in the house but no way to go pay it.

Its a tragedy all the way around IMO, and Im so thankful that we have an arrangement with neighbors of my 90 year old grandmother who lives alone in another state, where they check on her at least once a day and have all our contact information should there be an issue.

I guess my question is....do you feel any responsibility for any elderly neighbors you might have? or any of your neighbors, elderly or not? Would you notice if something was amiss? Do you think you should? 3 of my neighbors know Dave can be gone a lot for long stretches of time and they always check on me now (after I fell and cracked my ribs when Dave was in Israel and I couldnt get out to get myself to the doctor).

I feel so sorry for that man, of course I dont know all the circumstances but its really sad he was alone and dying in pain.

Willravel · 01-27-2009, 09:38 AM

I'm friends with most of my neighbors, but it's done more on principle than a genuine concern about hypothermia. I would probably notice if something like the above were going on in my immediate area (maybe 3 houses in either direction on both sides of the street), but I don't really know for sure.

This is a good reason to have active friendships as long as you're alive. My grandmother, nearly an octogenarian, is still very active at church and with local friends. If anything happened to her, people would know almost immediately.

SabrinaFair · 01-27-2009, 10:01 AM

I'm friends with 2 of my three neighbors (4-unit apartment building). I keep an eye on the occupants of the other unit as well, mainly because there are kids in the house, and a history of domestic violence between the two partners. I wouldn't say I'm friends with them, but I definitely try to make sure everything is on the up-and-up.

This story is very sad. Old age can be very lonely. I feel very lucky that my grandparents are still very active people with substantial connections to their community. I hope that if they make it to 93, they'll still have people checking in one them.

Strange Famous · 01-27-2009, 10:09 AM

It is terrible and a true example of the failure of our system of economy.

The tragedy is, this is the system that he fought so bravely for 60 odd years ago - a system where might is right, where money is everything, a economic system akin to the law of the jungle, where the strong may grab what they want, and the weak shall be left to starvation levels of "welfare" (while the right wing media demonises them for it) - or else they will be left to die.

Of course first of all this is a human tragedy, second I would argue it is corporate manslaughter for which someone should face charges for, and lastly it is an indictment of the worship of the market in our society. Is it right that we live in a society where if you cant afford to pay your bills youre left to freeze to death? Is this the end of history, the great system which we claim we should export to the whole world?

Tully Mars · 01-27-2009, 10:32 AM

I read this yesterday on some on-line news source. Just depressing. Can't believe this is the best we can do for those who served and fought. I served but never like this guy did. Nothing happened while I was in even if it had I'd have been an "In the Rear Mo-Fo." I got everything I earned and then some when they gave me a low interest VA home loan. But guys like this and many who served in Korea, Nam and Gulf deserve much more then a freaking low interest loan. Certainly shouldn't be left to freeze to death because they can't afford heat.

What's the VA's yearly budget? 100B? At 300M per unit a few less B-1B bombers and we probably could have paid this guys heating bill and then some.

Depressing.

spindles · 01-27-2009, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tully Mars

I read this yesterday on some on-line news source. Just depressing. Can't believe this is the best we can do for those who served and fought. I served but never like this guy did. Nothing happened while I was in even if it had I'd have been an "In the Rear Mo-Fo." I got everything I earned and then some when they gave me a low interest VA home loan. But guys like this and many who served in Korea, Nam and Gulf deserve much more then a freaking low interest loan. Certainly shouldn't be left to freeze to death because they can't afford heat.

What's the VA's yearly budget? 100B? At 300M per unit a few less B-1B bombers and we probably could have paid this guys heating bill and then some.

Depressing.

Well, the article said he had the cash there. I think the problem here is that the electric company didn't talk to him before shutting his electricity off. If you consistently tried to talk to someone who wouldn't/couldn't come to the door, they probably should get the cops to come and check it out. This could've saved this guys life (and imo, this story has nothing to do with him being a vet - would it be any less tragic if he wasn't one?)

Tully Mars · 01-27-2009, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spindles

and imo, this story has nothing to do with him being a vet - would it be any less tragic if he wasn't one?)

True, I should have read the article more closely. I skimmed it and found it depressing.

You're right, doesn't have anything to do with him being a vet or even having money. My mistake.

I've read it more closely now. Still depressed just for different reasons now.

stonefaceddog · 01-27-2009, 03:10 PM

A very sad story. I feel sorry for the man who died but given what I've seen from having lived there-this is hardly surprising for that part of Michigan. The lack of basic human decency is rampant from Saginaw (Sagnasty) all the way down to Detroit. People don't go out of their way to help or know each other there.

01-27-2009, 10:01 AM	#3 (permalink)
SabrinaFair Junkie Location: Louisville, KY	I'm friends with 2 of my three neighbors (4-unit apartment building). I keep an eye on the occupants of the other unit as well, mainly because there are kids in the house, and a history of domestic violence between the two partners. I wouldn't say I'm friends with them, but I definitely try to make sure everything is on the up-and-up. This story is very sad. Old age can be very lonely. I feel very lucky that my grandparents are still very active people with substantial connections to their community. I hope that if they make it to 93, they'll still have people checking in one them. __________________ "With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy." -Desiderata

01-27-2009, 10:09 AM	#4 (permalink)
Strange Famous follower of the child's crusade?	It is terrible and a true example of the failure of our system of economy. The tragedy is, this is the system that he fought so bravely for 60 odd years ago - a system where might is right, where money is everything, a economic system akin to the law of the jungle, where the strong may grab what they want, and the weak shall be left to starvation levels of "welfare" (while the right wing media demonises them for it) - or else they will be left to die. Of course first of all this is a human tragedy, second I would argue it is corporate manslaughter for which someone should face charges for, and lastly it is an indictment of the worship of the market in our society. Is it right that we live in a society where if you cant afford to pay your bills youre left to freeze to death? Is this the end of history, the great system which we claim we should export to the whole world? __________________ "Do not tell lies, and do not do what you hate, for all things are plain in the sight of Heaven. For nothing hidden will not become manifest, and nothing covered will remain without being uncovered." The Gospel of Thomas

01-27-2009, 10:32 AM	#5 (permalink)
Tully Mars Living in a Warmer Insanity Super Moderator Location: Yucatan, Mexico	I read this yesterday on some on-line news source. Just depressing. Can't believe this is the best we can do for those who served and fought. I served but never like this guy did. Nothing happened while I was in even if it had I'd have been an "In the Rear Mo-Fo." I got everything I earned and then some when they gave me a low interest VA home loan. But guys like this and many who served in Korea, Nam and Gulf deserve much more then a freaking low interest loan. Certainly shouldn't be left to freeze to death because they can't afford heat. What's the VA's yearly budget? 100B? At 300M per unit a few less B-1B bombers and we probably could have paid this guys heating bill and then some. Depressing. __________________ I used to drink to drown my sorrows, but the damned things have learned how to swim- Frida Kahlo Vice President Starkizzer Fan Club

01-27-2009, 09:38 AM	#2 (permalink)
Willravel ... a sort of licensed troubleshooter.	I'm friends with most of my neighbors, but it's done more on principle than a genuine concern about hypothermia. I would probably notice if something like the above were going on in my immediate area (maybe 3 houses in either direction on both sides of the street), but I don't really know for sure. This is a good reason to have active friendships as long as you're alive. My grandmother, nearly an octogenarian, is still very active at church and with local friends. If anything happened to her, people would know almost immediately.

01-27-2009, 03:10 PM	#8 (permalink)
stonefaceddog Upright Location: anywhere but here.	A very sad story. I feel sorry for the man who died but given what I've seen from having lived there-this is hardly surprising for that part of Michigan. The lack of basic human decency is rampant from Saginaw (Sagnasty) all the way down to Detroit. People don't go out of their way to help or know each other there.