John M. Noga died assisting in an attempt to save Felix Spinelli from drowning, Rome, New York, June 1, 1972. Among persons fishing in the Mohawk River below a dam were Spinelli, 20, state school attendant; Noga, 21, salesman; and the latter’s father. When they saw Spinelli’s hat floating at the surface in turbulent water at the base of the dam and noted that Spinelli was not in sight, Noga and his father waded to the area. Both stepped into deep water and struggled to stay afloat but were pulled under. They reappeared briefly, and then the father remained submerged. Noga again returned to the surface momentarily. The bodies of all three men later were recovered by divers.
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