Son of Oliver & Hazel (Johnson) Socall
Monroe [MI] News.com on Jul 7, 2009
Boater missing, presumed drowned
Searchers were out today looking for a man who swam after his drifting boat and disappeared beneath the surface of Lake Erie Monday afternoon near the Pointe Mouillee State Game Area in Berlin Township.Monroe County sheriff?s Capt. Maryanne Ortman said the victim was identified as Allan D. Socall, 65, of Plymouth. He is missing and presumed drowned, Capt. Ortman said. A companion, James Schnurstein, 68, also of Plymouth, safely made it to the rocky shore.The incident began around 2:45 p.m. when the two men decided to go swimming off a 28-foot boat owned by Mr. Socall. They had launched the vessel from Grosse Ile, police say. The boat was in the mouth of an area known as Banana Bay. They were in the vicinity of a manmade reef that is shaped in a semi-circle near Roberts and Reaume Rds.Capt. Ortman said while the men were swimming, the boat began to drift. They began to swim after it, but Mr. Schnurstein became tired and headed for shore. Then he looked toward his friend."He saw him go down," Capt. Ortman said.The boat drifted for some time before other boaters came upon it. Capt. Ortman said those boaters tied an anchor to the drifting vessel, which was found near the Detroit Lighthouse more than a mile from where the two men entered the water.She said either the boat was not anchored when the men went swimming or the anchor broke free causing it to drift. Mr. Socall was last seen not far from shore in about 11 feet of water.Searchers from the Coast Guard and the sheriff?s helicopter and its marine division, including divers, looked for the victim until around midnight. The Berlin Township Volunteer Fire Department also assisted at the scene.Anyone with information is asked to call 243-7070.
Detroit [MI] Free Press 9 Jul 2009
Autopsy of body found in Lake Erie set for today
An autopsy will be conducted this morning to verify a body found in Lake Erie Wednesday night near the Pointe Mouille State Game Area is the Plymouth man who disappeared while swimming there Monday.
Investigators believe the man found by boaters at 9 p.m. Wednesday is Allan Socall, a spokeswoman for the Monroe County Sheriff?s Department said today. An announcement is expected later today, she said.
Socall and James Schnurstein, 68, also of Plymouth, were not wearing life vests while swimming near their boat, anchored near the Berlin Township natural area after they launched from Grosse Ile. When the anchor became dislodged, Schnurstein swam to shore, but Socall disappeared trying to swim to the boat.
Plymouth [MI] Observer
July 12, 2009
Drowning victim was skilled, pitched in for friends
By Matt Jachman, OBSERVER STAFF WRITER
A Plymouth Township man who drowned in Lake Erie on Monday while trying to swim back to his drifting boat was remembered as a warm and inspiring friend who was always willing to use his technical and mechanical skills to help others.
Allan Socall, 65, lived and breathed computers, had restored a boat he called Sojourn, operated a ham radio and radio-controlled airplanes and pitched in on friends' household projects, said James Schnurstein, who was swimming with Socall in a Lake Erie inlet on Monday afternoon when Socall disappeared.
The men were swimming in an inlet called Banana Bay when Socall's 28-foot boat drifted away, said Capt. MaryAnne Ortman of the Monroe County Sheriff's Department. Schnurstein swam to a rocky wall, Ortman said, while Socall apparently tried to swim to the boat and disappeared.
A massive search by several law-enforcement agencies, including by divers, failed to find Socall on Monday and Tuesday, but his body was spotted by fisherman Wednesday night in the vicinity of the Pointe Mouillee State Game Area.
A Michigan State Police trooper recovered the body, said Ortman, and Socall was identified on Thursday by his ex-wife.
Schnurstein, 68, also of Plymouth Township, said he had known Socall for about a decade.
Socall was retired from the former Michigan Bell telephone company, he said, and had worked with computers since the 1960s. He had helped many of his friends with their own computers, he said.
Socall had also restored an old Criss Craft boat, Schnurstein said, though it was not the one the two had taken from Grosse Ile, where Socall docked his boats, down to Monroe County on Monday.
Socall was a spiritual man, Schnurstein said, but didn't wear religion on his sleeve.
None of us ever heard him preach his values on us,he said.
Schnurstein was helping plan a prayer service in Socall's memory, which was to be held Saturday at the Plymouth Canton Alano Club on North Sheldon. He said he expected about 200 people to attend.
A more formal service was planned for the middle of the week, but details were still pending on Friday.
[email protected] | (313) 222-2405
Monroe [MI] News.com on Jul 7, 2009
Boater missing, presumed drowned
Searchers were out today looking for a man who swam after his drifting boat and disappeared beneath the surface of Lake Erie Monday afternoon near the Pointe Mouillee State Game Area in Berlin Township.Monroe County sheriff?s Capt. Maryanne Ortman said the victim was identified as Allan D. Socall, 65, of Plymouth. He is missing and presumed drowned, Capt. Ortman said. A companion, James Schnurstein, 68, also of Plymouth, safely made it to the rocky shore.The incident began around 2:45 p.m. when the two men decided to go swimming off a 28-foot boat owned by Mr. Socall. They had launched the vessel from Grosse Ile, police say. The boat was in the mouth of an area known as Banana Bay. They were in the vicinity of a manmade reef that is shaped in a semi-circle near Roberts and Reaume Rds.Capt. Ortman said while the men were swimming, the boat began to drift. They began to swim after it, but Mr. Schnurstein became tired and headed for shore. Then he looked toward his friend."He saw him go down," Capt. Ortman said.The boat drifted for some time before other boaters came upon it. Capt. Ortman said those boaters tied an anchor to the drifting vessel, which was found near the Detroit Lighthouse more than a mile from where the two men entered the water.She said either the boat was not anchored when the men went swimming or the anchor broke free causing it to drift. Mr. Socall was last seen not far from shore in about 11 feet of water.Searchers from the Coast Guard and the sheriff?s helicopter and its marine division, including divers, looked for the victim until around midnight. The Berlin Township Volunteer Fire Department also assisted at the scene.Anyone with information is asked to call 243-7070.
Detroit [MI] Free Press 9 Jul 2009
Autopsy of body found in Lake Erie set for today
An autopsy will be conducted this morning to verify a body found in Lake Erie Wednesday night near the Pointe Mouille State Game Area is the Plymouth man who disappeared while swimming there Monday.
Investigators believe the man found by boaters at 9 p.m. Wednesday is Allan Socall, a spokeswoman for the Monroe County Sheriff?s Department said today. An announcement is expected later today, she said.
Socall and James Schnurstein, 68, also of Plymouth, were not wearing life vests while swimming near their boat, anchored near the Berlin Township natural area after they launched from Grosse Ile. When the anchor became dislodged, Schnurstein swam to shore, but Socall disappeared trying to swim to the boat.
Plymouth [MI] Observer
July 12, 2009
Drowning victim was skilled, pitched in for friends
By Matt Jachman, OBSERVER STAFF WRITER
A Plymouth Township man who drowned in Lake Erie on Monday while trying to swim back to his drifting boat was remembered as a warm and inspiring friend who was always willing to use his technical and mechanical skills to help others.
Allan Socall, 65, lived and breathed computers, had restored a boat he called Sojourn, operated a ham radio and radio-controlled airplanes and pitched in on friends' household projects, said James Schnurstein, who was swimming with Socall in a Lake Erie inlet on Monday afternoon when Socall disappeared.
The men were swimming in an inlet called Banana Bay when Socall's 28-foot boat drifted away, said Capt. MaryAnne Ortman of the Monroe County Sheriff's Department. Schnurstein swam to a rocky wall, Ortman said, while Socall apparently tried to swim to the boat and disappeared.
A massive search by several law-enforcement agencies, including by divers, failed to find Socall on Monday and Tuesday, but his body was spotted by fisherman Wednesday night in the vicinity of the Pointe Mouillee State Game Area.
A Michigan State Police trooper recovered the body, said Ortman, and Socall was identified on Thursday by his ex-wife.
Schnurstein, 68, also of Plymouth Township, said he had known Socall for about a decade.
Socall was retired from the former Michigan Bell telephone company, he said, and had worked with computers since the 1960s. He had helped many of his friends with their own computers, he said.
Socall had also restored an old Criss Craft boat, Schnurstein said, though it was not the one the two had taken from Grosse Ile, where Socall docked his boats, down to Monroe County on Monday.
Socall was a spiritual man, Schnurstein said, but didn't wear religion on his sleeve.
None of us ever heard him preach his values on us,he said.
Schnurstein was helping plan a prayer service in Socall's memory, which was to be held Saturday at the Plymouth Canton Alano Club on North Sheldon. He said he expected about 200 people to attend.
A more formal service was planned for the middle of the week, but details were still pending on Friday.
[email protected] | (313) 222-2405
Son of Oliver & Hazel (Johnson) Socall
Monroe [MI] News.com on Jul 7, 2009
Boater missing, presumed drowned
Searchers were out today looking for a man who swam after his drifting boat and disappeared beneath the surface of Lake Erie Monday afternoon near the Pointe Mouillee State Game Area in Berlin Township.Monroe County sheriff?s Capt. Maryanne Ortman said the victim was identified as Allan D. Socall, 65, of Plymouth. He is missing and presumed drowned, Capt. Ortman said. A companion, James Schnurstein, 68, also of Plymouth, safely made it to the rocky shore.The incident began around 2:45 p.m. when the two men decided to go swimming off a 28-foot boat owned by Mr. Socall. They had launched the vessel from Grosse Ile, police say. The boat was in the mouth of an area known as Banana Bay. They were in the vicinity of a manmade reef that is shaped in a semi-circle near Roberts and Reaume Rds.Capt. Ortman said while the men were swimming, the boat began to drift. They began to swim after it, but Mr. Schnurstein became tired and headed for shore. Then he looked toward his friend."He saw him go down," Capt. Ortman said.The boat drifted for some time before other boaters came upon it. Capt. Ortman said those boaters tied an anchor to the drifting vessel, which was found near the Detroit Lighthouse more than a mile from where the two men entered the water.She said either the boat was not anchored when the men went swimming or the anchor broke free causing it to drift. Mr. Socall was last seen not far from shore in about 11 feet of water.Searchers from the Coast Guard and the sheriff?s helicopter and its marine division, including divers, looked for the victim until around midnight. The Berlin Township Volunteer Fire Department also assisted at the scene.Anyone with information is asked to call 243-7070.
Detroit [MI] Free Press 9 Jul 2009
Autopsy of body found in Lake Erie set for today
An autopsy will be conducted this morning to verify a body found in Lake Erie Wednesday night near the Pointe Mouille State Game Area is the Plymouth man who disappeared while swimming there Monday.
Investigators believe the man found by boaters at 9 p.m. Wednesday is Allan Socall, a spokeswoman for the Monroe County Sheriff?s Department said today. An announcement is expected later today, she said.
Socall and James Schnurstein, 68, also of Plymouth, were not wearing life vests while swimming near their boat, anchored near the Berlin Township natural area after they launched from Grosse Ile. When the anchor became dislodged, Schnurstein swam to shore, but Socall disappeared trying to swim to the boat.
Plymouth [MI] Observer
July 12, 2009
Drowning victim was skilled, pitched in for friends
By Matt Jachman, OBSERVER STAFF WRITER
A Plymouth Township man who drowned in Lake Erie on Monday while trying to swim back to his drifting boat was remembered as a warm and inspiring friend who was always willing to use his technical and mechanical skills to help others.
Allan Socall, 65, lived and breathed computers, had restored a boat he called Sojourn, operated a ham radio and radio-controlled airplanes and pitched in on friends' household projects, said James Schnurstein, who was swimming with Socall in a Lake Erie inlet on Monday afternoon when Socall disappeared.
The men were swimming in an inlet called Banana Bay when Socall's 28-foot boat drifted away, said Capt. MaryAnne Ortman of the Monroe County Sheriff's Department. Schnurstein swam to a rocky wall, Ortman said, while Socall apparently tried to swim to the boat and disappeared.
A massive search by several law-enforcement agencies, including by divers, failed to find Socall on Monday and Tuesday, but his body was spotted by fisherman Wednesday night in the vicinity of the Pointe Mouillee State Game Area.
A Michigan State Police trooper recovered the body, said Ortman, and Socall was identified on Thursday by his ex-wife.
Schnurstein, 68, also of Plymouth Township, said he had known Socall for about a decade.
Socall was retired from the former Michigan Bell telephone company, he said, and had worked with computers since the 1960s. He had helped many of his friends with their own computers, he said.
Socall had also restored an old Criss Craft boat, Schnurstein said, though it was not the one the two had taken from Grosse Ile, where Socall docked his boats, down to Monroe County on Monday.
Socall was a spiritual man, Schnurstein said, but didn't wear religion on his sleeve.
None of us ever heard him preach his values on us,he said.
Schnurstein was helping plan a prayer service in Socall's memory, which was to be held Saturday at the Plymouth Canton Alano Club on North Sheldon. He said he expected about 200 people to attend.
A more formal service was planned for the middle of the week, but details were still pending on Friday.
[email protected] | (313) 222-2405
Monroe [MI] News.com on Jul 7, 2009
Boater missing, presumed drowned
Searchers were out today looking for a man who swam after his drifting boat and disappeared beneath the surface of Lake Erie Monday afternoon near the Pointe Mouillee State Game Area in Berlin Township.Monroe County sheriff?s Capt. Maryanne Ortman said the victim was identified as Allan D. Socall, 65, of Plymouth. He is missing and presumed drowned, Capt. Ortman said. A companion, James Schnurstein, 68, also of Plymouth, safely made it to the rocky shore.The incident began around 2:45 p.m. when the two men decided to go swimming off a 28-foot boat owned by Mr. Socall. They had launched the vessel from Grosse Ile, police say. The boat was in the mouth of an area known as Banana Bay. They were in the vicinity of a manmade reef that is shaped in a semi-circle near Roberts and Reaume Rds.Capt. Ortman said while the men were swimming, the boat began to drift. They began to swim after it, but Mr. Schnurstein became tired and headed for shore. Then he looked toward his friend."He saw him go down," Capt. Ortman said.The boat drifted for some time before other boaters came upon it. Capt. Ortman said those boaters tied an anchor to the drifting vessel, which was found near the Detroit Lighthouse more than a mile from where the two men entered the water.She said either the boat was not anchored when the men went swimming or the anchor broke free causing it to drift. Mr. Socall was last seen not far from shore in about 11 feet of water.Searchers from the Coast Guard and the sheriff?s helicopter and its marine division, including divers, looked for the victim until around midnight. The Berlin Township Volunteer Fire Department also assisted at the scene.Anyone with information is asked to call 243-7070.
Detroit [MI] Free Press 9 Jul 2009
Autopsy of body found in Lake Erie set for today
An autopsy will be conducted this morning to verify a body found in Lake Erie Wednesday night near the Pointe Mouille State Game Area is the Plymouth man who disappeared while swimming there Monday.
Investigators believe the man found by boaters at 9 p.m. Wednesday is Allan Socall, a spokeswoman for the Monroe County Sheriff?s Department said today. An announcement is expected later today, she said.
Socall and James Schnurstein, 68, also of Plymouth, were not wearing life vests while swimming near their boat, anchored near the Berlin Township natural area after they launched from Grosse Ile. When the anchor became dislodged, Schnurstein swam to shore, but Socall disappeared trying to swim to the boat.
Plymouth [MI] Observer
July 12, 2009
Drowning victim was skilled, pitched in for friends
By Matt Jachman, OBSERVER STAFF WRITER
A Plymouth Township man who drowned in Lake Erie on Monday while trying to swim back to his drifting boat was remembered as a warm and inspiring friend who was always willing to use his technical and mechanical skills to help others.
Allan Socall, 65, lived and breathed computers, had restored a boat he called Sojourn, operated a ham radio and radio-controlled airplanes and pitched in on friends' household projects, said James Schnurstein, who was swimming with Socall in a Lake Erie inlet on Monday afternoon when Socall disappeared.
The men were swimming in an inlet called Banana Bay when Socall's 28-foot boat drifted away, said Capt. MaryAnne Ortman of the Monroe County Sheriff's Department. Schnurstein swam to a rocky wall, Ortman said, while Socall apparently tried to swim to the boat and disappeared.
A massive search by several law-enforcement agencies, including by divers, failed to find Socall on Monday and Tuesday, but his body was spotted by fisherman Wednesday night in the vicinity of the Pointe Mouillee State Game Area.
A Michigan State Police trooper recovered the body, said Ortman, and Socall was identified on Thursday by his ex-wife.
Schnurstein, 68, also of Plymouth Township, said he had known Socall for about a decade.
Socall was retired from the former Michigan Bell telephone company, he said, and had worked with computers since the 1960s. He had helped many of his friends with their own computers, he said.
Socall had also restored an old Criss Craft boat, Schnurstein said, though it was not the one the two had taken from Grosse Ile, where Socall docked his boats, down to Monroe County on Monday.
Socall was a spiritual man, Schnurstein said, but didn't wear religion on his sleeve.
None of us ever heard him preach his values on us,he said.
Schnurstein was helping plan a prayer service in Socall's memory, which was to be held Saturday at the Plymouth Canton Alano Club on North Sheldon. He said he expected about 200 people to attend.
A more formal service was planned for the middle of the week, but details were still pending on Friday.
[email protected] | (313) 222-2405
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