ToquiNotes: Remembering Bridgeport's Forgotten Hero
By Jeff Toquinto on February 01, 2014
It was almost 61 years and one month ago to the day. By now, time has erased the memory to many who remember that it happened. For others, including those who weren’t even born, it’s a memory they’ll never forget.
For me, I’m part of the “I wasn’t born” group, yet to this day I can’t drive past Hinkle Lake without thinking about it. And on weeks like the last few we have had when temperatures plummet to the point that large portions of the lake and even the entire lake freezes over, the memory of Bridgeport’s forgotten hero overtake my mind.
The story for me began probably six or seven years ago. At the time, I was busy looking through a stack of old Bridgeport newspapers (the old Bridgeport Home Bargain News – anyone remember that?) – when I ran across a headline that read “Jeffers Fund Pays Mortgage.” For some reason, the headline was enough to make me stop. The headline made me read and eventually led me years ago to do research on a man named Oscar Leonard Jeffers and how, on a bitterly cold day early in 1953 he became a hero.
I was able to get to know Oscar Jeffer's son Don, and eventually his grandson Patrick. I was eventually able to share their story years ago and if ever a story was worth telling again to a much larger audience than I had before in a previous media capacity, it’s the story of Oscar Leonard Jeffers.
As I scoured through my old notes from years ago, I can still hear Don Jeffers talking about a father he barely knew. I could remember occasionally the emotion creep into his voice and frequently the pride come into the mix as well. There was room for, and certainly it was earned, both emotions.
At the time I talked with Don Jeffers, he was 59 years old. If my notes are dated correctly, he’s 65 or 66 today. Even if that’s incorrect, Don Jeffers’ memories of that day were on the point and strong enough that they still linger with me to this very day. And I hope when you’re done reading this, what his father did six-plus decades ago will stir some emotion in you as well.
It all started in January of 1953 when Don Jeffers and his mother noticed folks gathered around what he described as an almost completely frozen Hinkle Lake. Still too young to fully comprehend what was taking place, Jeffers saw his father lying on a gurney. He looked up at his dad and asked him to tie his shoe.
It wouldn’t happen. It couldn’t happen. Young Don Jeffers didn’t know it at that moment, but his father was dead on Jan. 2, 1953; the result of drowning in the freezing waters at Hinkle Lake.
Oscar Jeffers was not the victim of a car sliding into the lake. He hadn’t been drinking and frolicking after a day of work or doing some impromptu ice fishing. Jeffers’ life may have ended way before it should have, but it ended in as noble a way as possible. He died trying to save the lives of three boys at Hinke Lake that day.
The ironic thing is that even though it was decades and generations ago, it was national news. This was long before the internet and the time when everything was instantaneous. This was at a time that national news meant war coverage, what was happening in the White House and the death of a celebrity.
So what happened that fateful day involving those three boys that made Oscar Jeffers a hero and a story deemed worthy of nationwide attention? Here’s the account from media reports and from his son that are still listed neatly in my old notes.
On that day, Oscar Jeffers was heading home from work. It should be noted that he was coming home from work that he had missed for a while due to having back surgery.
As he approached his home at the Lake, there were boys playing on a frozen body of water – a creek – near the lake. In fact, there were five boys between 8 and 13. One of the boys, whom survived that day and I talked to several years ago, said the thought among the boys was that if the creek was frozen the lake would also be frozen.
Four of the kids went on the lake, until one of the youngsters departed after thinking he heard his father yelling for him. Three of the five were out on what they thought was a solid frozen body of water when they fell through a patch of ice near the corner of the lake.
The two teens walking along the lake – David Sanders and Jim Gulick – knew their friends were in trouble and flagged down a car. The man in the car was a World War II veteran named Oscar Jeffers.
Fully clothed and still recovering from back surgery, Oscar Jeffers went after the three boys. According to the newspaper report, two of the kids were no longer visible and the third was at the edge of the ice. Sanders stated that Jeffers never hesitated when leaving the car and dove in.
Sanders was able to recall the struggle to get the remaining boy out. Eventually, the ice and water took them both under. They would not come back alive.
Just like that, the lives of four individuals were gone. Despite the heroic efforts of Jeffers, he couldn’t reduce that figure and only managed to add to it.
The loss of a father who had three children was devastating. Yet, even at that time the Bridgeport community and surrounding communities stepped up. A trust fund was set up to help the family pay off the mortgage on the home, neighbors offered help and the offers never stopped, according to Don Jeffers.
Then there was a man named Thomas Harris who did something that made all the difference in the world for the family. Harris was a local gas company executive and he nominated Oscar Jeffers for The Carnegie Hero Fund. The nomination was approved and provided the family with an additional $130 a month, which at that time was a serious and much-needed influx of cash.
The family, Don Jeffers told me, never wanted for anything. And Jeffers told me something else came out of it. Funds were raised to get some needed equipment and a rescue vehicle for the fire department. Jeffers said the equipment purchased could have possibly resuscitated his father or one of the boys.
Even today, I can’t help but think the training the Bridgeport Fire Department does on the frozen lake had its seed planted that day. And it’s hopefully a seed that never has to be utilized.
Seven years ago, Don Jeffers was able to recall the incident vividly. He talked of his own family and his sons, as well as his grandchildren. He also talked about perhaps seeing his father officially recognized by the City of Bridgeport.
At that time, then Council Member Chuck Lindsey said that recognition was fully warranted. He said something, such as a plaque or small memorial somewhere around the lakes would be put up when the Jeffers family was ready.
Although I’m certain the City’s offer still stands, Don Jeffers hasn’t made up his mind yet when he wants it to happen. That’s not a problem. It’s his call. It’s his father. It should be done on his terms and on his time.
For now, though, I want everyone to remember the name Oscar Jeffers. He was a hero 60-plus years ago and he still meets the criteria today. If you’ve forgotten about the incident or never heard of it, just know that there’s a Bridgeport hero that’s worth remembering.
Editor's Note: Top photo is the area where Don Jeffers pointed out to me that his father attempted to save three young men from drowning. The bottom photo is a more extended view of the same section of Hinkle Lake.
I recently received this Hinkle Lake article. It is well written and fitting remembrance of a hero. I was there and remember the whole incident. Mr Jeffers after trying to throw a rope out to John Carlin told me he was not supposed to do anything to hurt his back but if he did not go in John would surely die. The WII veteran dove in, broke the ice, swam out and got John on to his back, but suddenly he cried out and went under with John. The absence of hesitation and his selfless action was truly heroic. I hope a memorial is installed and he is not forgotten.
Thank you for the article remembering Mr. Jeffers. Jim Gulick, BHS 1958
Posted by Jim Gulick
Feb. 04, 2014 at 12:53 AM EST
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