Be responsible, stay awake!
and watch the children around cliffs.
How I wish someone responsible
had been there for my precious son.
My beautiful boy
Stephen Gary Zabek III
03-03-87 - 10-11-03
Stephen Gary Zabek III,
"SWEET 16"
beloved son of
Stephen Gary II and Tammy Zabek
and Brother of Zackary.
Stephen died on a camping trip on the
edge of the Mogollion Rim, on October 11th,
while in the trusted care of his Uncles.There
was never an apology made to the family.
His Uncles felt that since my Stephen
was sixteen years old, my son was not
their responsiblity ;-(
Stephen was a homeschooled young man
who let his love for Jesus and his
upbringing guide his life to be
respectful to adults, always willing
to help and friend to all. He had a
commanding presence and loved people.
He changed the mood and temperament
of those he touched and had a
multitude of friends.
Visitations:
1st In Stephen's bedroom
Sat.Oct.11,2003 :-(
2nd In Stephen's bedroom
after he was embalmed :-(
Oct. Mon.13th thur the Tues.14th
3rd at Best Funeral Services,
501 E. Dunlap Ave., Phx.
Wed. Oct. 15th from 5:00-8:00pm :-(
Services were held on
Oct. 16th at 10:00am at
Desert Christian Fellowship Church,
1445 W. Northern Ave., Phx.
Local news_Payson Roundup
Valley teen dies after fall from Rim
By Kelly Crowley, Roundup staff photographer
http://www.paysonroundup.com/news/2003/oct/13/valley_teen_dies/
Tuesday, October 14, 2003
A 16-year-old Phoenix boy fell
more than 300 feet to his death
off the side of the Mogollon Rim
Saturday morning.
At about 8 a.m., Tonto Rim Search
and Rescue, the Pine-Strawberry
Fire Department and the Gila
County Sheriff's Office were
dispatched to a location about
five miles down Forest Road 300.
The boy was among a large group
of campers who had pitched their
tents within feet of the rocky out-
croppings jutting out over the sheer
cliffs of the rim.
GCSO Sgt. Terry Hudgens interviewed
relatives at the scene.
"The victim's 13-year-old cousin saw
him fall," Hudgens said. "The boys were
told to stay away from the cliffs,
but they woke up early and they were
climbing around the edge. It could
have been the wind or vertigo -- we don't
know exactly what happened. He fell
about 350 feet and suffered massive
head injuries that were immediately
fatal."
Paramedic Harris Scott of the
Pine/Strawberry Fire Department was
the first to rappel down the jagged
cliff and pronounced the boy dead at
the scene.
Tonto Rim Search and Rescue volunteers
then repelled down to assist in
retrieving the body.
"Most of these falls are fatalities,
" Pine/Strawberry Firefighter Kevin
Figueroa said. "People who come from
the Valley are unfamiliar with the
high winds that can change at a moment's
notice. It's beautiful up here and you
can understand why they would want to
camp at the edge of the Rim, but it is
so dangerous -- especially for kids.
Often, campers come at night and pitch
their tents and have no idea how close
they are to the edge."
The Blue Ridge Fire Department and the
Coconino County Sheriff's Office also
assisted with the recovery effort.
and watch the children around cliffs.
How I wish someone responsible
had been there for my precious son.
My beautiful boy
Stephen Gary Zabek III
03-03-87 - 10-11-03
Stephen Gary Zabek III,
"SWEET 16"
beloved son of
Stephen Gary II and Tammy Zabek
and Brother of Zackary.
Stephen died on a camping trip on the
edge of the Mogollion Rim, on October 11th,
while in the trusted care of his Uncles.There
was never an apology made to the family.
His Uncles felt that since my Stephen
was sixteen years old, my son was not
their responsiblity ;-(
Stephen was a homeschooled young man
who let his love for Jesus and his
upbringing guide his life to be
respectful to adults, always willing
to help and friend to all. He had a
commanding presence and loved people.
He changed the mood and temperament
of those he touched and had a
multitude of friends.
Visitations:
1st In Stephen's bedroom
Sat.Oct.11,2003 :-(
2nd In Stephen's bedroom
after he was embalmed :-(
Oct. Mon.13th thur the Tues.14th
3rd at Best Funeral Services,
501 E. Dunlap Ave., Phx.
Wed. Oct. 15th from 5:00-8:00pm :-(
Services were held on
Oct. 16th at 10:00am at
Desert Christian Fellowship Church,
1445 W. Northern Ave., Phx.
Local news_Payson Roundup
Valley teen dies after fall from Rim
By Kelly Crowley, Roundup staff photographer
http://www.paysonroundup.com/news/2003/oct/13/valley_teen_dies/
Tuesday, October 14, 2003
A 16-year-old Phoenix boy fell
more than 300 feet to his death
off the side of the Mogollon Rim
Saturday morning.
At about 8 a.m., Tonto Rim Search
and Rescue, the Pine-Strawberry
Fire Department and the Gila
County Sheriff's Office were
dispatched to a location about
five miles down Forest Road 300.
The boy was among a large group
of campers who had pitched their
tents within feet of the rocky out-
croppings jutting out over the sheer
cliffs of the rim.
GCSO Sgt. Terry Hudgens interviewed
relatives at the scene.
"The victim's 13-year-old cousin saw
him fall," Hudgens said. "The boys were
told to stay away from the cliffs,
but they woke up early and they were
climbing around the edge. It could
have been the wind or vertigo -- we don't
know exactly what happened. He fell
about 350 feet and suffered massive
head injuries that were immediately
fatal."
Paramedic Harris Scott of the
Pine/Strawberry Fire Department was
the first to rappel down the jagged
cliff and pronounced the boy dead at
the scene.
Tonto Rim Search and Rescue volunteers
then repelled down to assist in
retrieving the body.
"Most of these falls are fatalities,
" Pine/Strawberry Firefighter Kevin
Figueroa said. "People who come from
the Valley are unfamiliar with the
high winds that can change at a moment's
notice. It's beautiful up here and you
can understand why they would want to
camp at the edge of the Rim, but it is
so dangerous -- especially for kids.
Often, campers come at night and pitch
their tents and have no idea how close
they are to the edge."
The Blue Ridge Fire Department and the
Coconino County Sheriff's Office also
assisted with the recovery effort.
Be responsible, stay awake!
and watch the children around cliffs.
How I wish someone responsible
had been there for my precious son.
My beautiful boy
Stephen Gary Zabek III
03-03-87 - 10-11-03
Stephen Gary Zabek III,
"SWEET 16"
beloved son of
Stephen Gary II and Tammy Zabek
and Brother of Zackary.
Stephen died on a camping trip on the
edge of the Mogollion Rim, on October 11th,
while in the trusted care of his Uncles.There
was never an apology made to the family.
His Uncles felt that since my Stephen
was sixteen years old, my son was not
their responsiblity ;-(
Stephen was a homeschooled young man
who let his love for Jesus and his
upbringing guide his life to be
respectful to adults, always willing
to help and friend to all. He had a
commanding presence and loved people.
He changed the mood and temperament
of those he touched and had a
multitude of friends.
Visitations:
1st In Stephen's bedroom
Sat.Oct.11,2003 :-(
2nd In Stephen's bedroom
after he was embalmed :-(
Oct. Mon.13th thur the Tues.14th
3rd at Best Funeral Services,
501 E. Dunlap Ave., Phx.
Wed. Oct. 15th from 5:00-8:00pm :-(
Services were held on
Oct. 16th at 10:00am at
Desert Christian Fellowship Church,
1445 W. Northern Ave., Phx.
Local news_Payson Roundup
Valley teen dies after fall from Rim
By Kelly Crowley, Roundup staff photographer
http://www.paysonroundup.com/news/2003/oct/13/valley_teen_dies/
Tuesday, October 14, 2003
A 16-year-old Phoenix boy fell
more than 300 feet to his death
off the side of the Mogollon Rim
Saturday morning.
At about 8 a.m., Tonto Rim Search
and Rescue, the Pine-Strawberry
Fire Department and the Gila
County Sheriff's Office were
dispatched to a location about
five miles down Forest Road 300.
The boy was among a large group
of campers who had pitched their
tents within feet of the rocky out-
croppings jutting out over the sheer
cliffs of the rim.
GCSO Sgt. Terry Hudgens interviewed
relatives at the scene.
"The victim's 13-year-old cousin saw
him fall," Hudgens said. "The boys were
told to stay away from the cliffs,
but they woke up early and they were
climbing around the edge. It could
have been the wind or vertigo -- we don't
know exactly what happened. He fell
about 350 feet and suffered massive
head injuries that were immediately
fatal."
Paramedic Harris Scott of the
Pine/Strawberry Fire Department was
the first to rappel down the jagged
cliff and pronounced the boy dead at
the scene.
Tonto Rim Search and Rescue volunteers
then repelled down to assist in
retrieving the body.
"Most of these falls are fatalities,
" Pine/Strawberry Firefighter Kevin
Figueroa said. "People who come from
the Valley are unfamiliar with the
high winds that can change at a moment's
notice. It's beautiful up here and you
can understand why they would want to
camp at the edge of the Rim, but it is
so dangerous -- especially for kids.
Often, campers come at night and pitch
their tents and have no idea how close
they are to the edge."
The Blue Ridge Fire Department and the
Coconino County Sheriff's Office also
assisted with the recovery effort.
and watch the children around cliffs.
How I wish someone responsible
had been there for my precious son.
My beautiful boy
Stephen Gary Zabek III
03-03-87 - 10-11-03
Stephen Gary Zabek III,
"SWEET 16"
beloved son of
Stephen Gary II and Tammy Zabek
and Brother of Zackary.
Stephen died on a camping trip on the
edge of the Mogollion Rim, on October 11th,
while in the trusted care of his Uncles.There
was never an apology made to the family.
His Uncles felt that since my Stephen
was sixteen years old, my son was not
their responsiblity ;-(
Stephen was a homeschooled young man
who let his love for Jesus and his
upbringing guide his life to be
respectful to adults, always willing
to help and friend to all. He had a
commanding presence and loved people.
He changed the mood and temperament
of those he touched and had a
multitude of friends.
Visitations:
1st In Stephen's bedroom
Sat.Oct.11,2003 :-(
2nd In Stephen's bedroom
after he was embalmed :-(
Oct. Mon.13th thur the Tues.14th
3rd at Best Funeral Services,
501 E. Dunlap Ave., Phx.
Wed. Oct. 15th from 5:00-8:00pm :-(
Services were held on
Oct. 16th at 10:00am at
Desert Christian Fellowship Church,
1445 W. Northern Ave., Phx.
Local news_Payson Roundup
Valley teen dies after fall from Rim
By Kelly Crowley, Roundup staff photographer
http://www.paysonroundup.com/news/2003/oct/13/valley_teen_dies/
Tuesday, October 14, 2003
A 16-year-old Phoenix boy fell
more than 300 feet to his death
off the side of the Mogollon Rim
Saturday morning.
At about 8 a.m., Tonto Rim Search
and Rescue, the Pine-Strawberry
Fire Department and the Gila
County Sheriff's Office were
dispatched to a location about
five miles down Forest Road 300.
The boy was among a large group
of campers who had pitched their
tents within feet of the rocky out-
croppings jutting out over the sheer
cliffs of the rim.
GCSO Sgt. Terry Hudgens interviewed
relatives at the scene.
"The victim's 13-year-old cousin saw
him fall," Hudgens said. "The boys were
told to stay away from the cliffs,
but they woke up early and they were
climbing around the edge. It could
have been the wind or vertigo -- we don't
know exactly what happened. He fell
about 350 feet and suffered massive
head injuries that were immediately
fatal."
Paramedic Harris Scott of the
Pine/Strawberry Fire Department was
the first to rappel down the jagged
cliff and pronounced the boy dead at
the scene.
Tonto Rim Search and Rescue volunteers
then repelled down to assist in
retrieving the body.
"Most of these falls are fatalities,
" Pine/Strawberry Firefighter Kevin
Figueroa said. "People who come from
the Valley are unfamiliar with the
high winds that can change at a moment's
notice. It's beautiful up here and you
can understand why they would want to
camp at the edge of the Rim, but it is
so dangerous -- especially for kids.
Often, campers come at night and pitch
their tents and have no idea how close
they are to the edge."
The Blue Ridge Fire Department and the
Coconino County Sheriff's Office also
assisted with the recovery effort.
