Tribute To A Friend & Neighbor

Jerry Swendrowski who helped spearhead the efforts to create the memorial

Betty Bosowski and her niece Jamie Holbrook after unveiling the stone.

Lake residents gathered for the ceremony

A month or so after Hess Lake Board President Rich Bosowski passed away in a tragic boating accident last summer Jerry Swendrowski and John Van Dam talked about how they and other lake residents needed some sense of closure after losing  their long-time neighbor and friend so suddenly.

“I think it was John who came up with the idea for a stone like the one that sits by the boat launch now,” said Swendrowski.
“In September I went to the Hess Lake Improvement Association meeting and presented the idea to the membership there that night. It was met with open arms.
‘Of course when you volunteer for something it tends to fall your way,” he added with a smile.

From there he set out to make the arrangements for the tribute stone and on Saturday July 23rd the stone was unveiled in front of 60+ folks who came to the dedication ceremony.
At the event Jerry Swendrowski spoke of his long time neighbor highlighting the word ‘Give’ as he referenced his late friend’s propensity to lend a hand whenever and wherever it was needed.

Jerry then gave way to Rich’s wife Betty Bosowski who, along with her niece Jamie Holbrook, unveiled the stone for all to see. Afterwards the many who attended milled about having the conversations lake people have and enjoying the refreshments donated by the Hess Lake Party Store  courtesy of store owner and lake resident Raeann Husky.

We asked Jerry how the funding for the tribute was secured.
“Eight generous people,” he stated.”8 people who all said, ’Of course we will donate. Rich was my friend.’ One person said ‘Rich wasn’t just my friend, he was my best friend.’”

The stone rests at the foot of the Hess Lake sign on the corner of 88th and Redwood Dr.

Hess Lake Party Store donated refreshments after the unveiling.