My deep condolence to his family.
Buffalo State College Professor Died While Scuba Diving Off Lake Ontario
Oct 19, 2007 09:42 PM EDT
(Rochester, NY, October 19, 2007) - - He was a proud father of four and a passionate professor who dedicated his career to saving the Great Lakes. Friday, Captain John Freidhoff died while scuba diving off Lake Ontario near Rochester. News 4's Alysha Palumbo reports from our newsroom tonight.
Captain John, as he was affectionately known, was a professor at Buffalo State College for the past 13 years. He was a big part of the Great Lakes Center and the community. Captain John Freidhoff, seen here at the Buffalo State College Great Lakes Center, where he worked, was a licensed boat captain, a Coast Guard reservist, and a certified scuba diver. That's why his friends and loved ones say they were so shocked to hear that he died while scuba diving Friday afternoon.
James Miles, witness, "A diver that was down about 140 feet they said and he was laying on the bottom without his mask on."
A Buffalo State College spokesperson says Freidhoff and his colleague, Caleb Basiliko, were diving in the water near Sandy Creek Boat Launch in Hamlin to try to recover some lost equipment for SUNY Brockport.
James Miles, witness, "Just basically they didn't know what happened, he was down there by himself, the other diver had come up to retrieve a tool or something and they seen the air bubbles were kind of funny so they went back down and he was lying there."
Fisherman James Miles says he watched as the crew performed CPR on Friedhoff to try to revive him, but it was too late. The 46-year-old boat captain died at Lakeside Hospital. He leaves behind a wife and four children.
A Buffalo State College spokesperson says they are very saddened by the news of Captain John's death. They say he was very committed to the environment and the Great Lakes, and very dedicated to the college.
