By Keith Newman
Last Wednesday, a remarkable act of fate may have saved a life. Victor Gelman, owner of the Warwick Chocolate Company, set out to Greenwood Lake to put fuel in his boat. Once there, he felt the urge to do some fishing and enjoy the weather. What he didn’t know was that his leisurely afternoon would turn into a life-saving mission.
The water, while it appeared inviting, was dangerously cold at just 50 degrees—a temperature at which survival is typically counted in hours. As Gelman settled into his fishing, his attention was caught by an unusual sight: an empty kayak bobbing aimlessly in the choppy water. Driven by a mix of curiosity and concern, Gelman decided to move closer and investigate.
Approaching the lone kayak, he spotted a man struggling to stay afloat. The man was Jeff Palamaro, a resident of Hewitt, NJ, who had inadvertently found himself in choppy waters. Without hesitation, Gelman threw a rope to the struggling man, pulling him closer to safety. With great effort, Palamaro managed to climb aboard Gelman’s boat, escaping the icy grip of the lake.
The timing of the rescue was nothing short of miraculous. Had Gelman not felt the spontaneous urge to fish that day, or had he chosen a different part of the lake, the outcome may have been much different. This story of fate, quick thinking, and the will to help a fellow community member serves as a reminder of the unexpected ways in which our lives can intersect for the better. Both men returned to shore not just as survivors, but as a testament to the power of fate and the bonds of human kindness that connect us all.
