Community Corner

Remembering and Honoring Michael Kenwood

The East Windsor resident and Princeton EMT who died while attempting a water rescue last month is remembered by those closest to him.

East Windsor resident Michael Kenwood was more than an EMT who died in the line of duty.

He was a husband, father, son, friend, uncle and brother.

He was quiet and introverted, but when he got to know someone, the 39-year-old was funny, smart, caring and giving, his family said.

He liked to read, fish and cook. He loved to watch his daughter play.

He and his 16-year-old niece were “rollercoaster buddies” at Hershey Park and he often quizzed her about boyfriends.

He adored his wife, and they often hosted friends and family with martini and board game nights.

But Michael’s life was cut short Aug. 28, when he died after attempting water rescue in Princeton during Hurricane Irene.


The Fateful Day

The call came in to the Princeton First Aid and Rescue Squad around 4:30 a.m. A car was partially submerged in floodwater on Rosedale Road.

The crew suited up and drove to the scene. It was dark and raining. The water was shin-deep, said PFARS President Peter Simon, who was Michael’s partner that day.

Michael’s younger brother, Jason Kenwood, said when the crews arrived on scene, they began yelling to anyone who might be stranded inside the car to flash the lights.

And as if on cue, the lights flashed. “They thought it was their signal,” Jason said.

The team attached a rope to the rescue truck and tethered Michael and Simon to the rope. Peter took the lead, Michael followed.  As the water got deeper and the current stronger, the men realized it wasn’t safe to continue and turned around.

“Mike called out that he was losing his footing,” said Peter, who immediately stopped and planted his feet so that his partner could stabilize himself. But Michael fell, pulling Peter with him.

As the two men got swept away, the rope connecting them became snagged on small tree- Michael on one side, Peter on the other. Peter shouted to Michael to open his emergency release.

There was no response. Peter took his own knife, cut the rope between the two men and radioed the backup team for help.

EMT Nathan Plough dove into the water and pulled Michael out. CPR began immediately and Michael was rushed to the University Medical Center of Princeton where he was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit.

Jason was at home, about six hours away, unable to travel due to the hurricane. He received constant updates by telephone.

“It was certainly one of the longest days I can remember,” Jason said. “I didn’t want to go anywhere. It didn’t help that Gov. Chris Christie said Mike died when he hadn’t.”

Michael’s father, Martin Kenwood and Martin’s wife Anne Gunar and stepsister Lori Felsenstein and her family, were in Dublin, Ireland and unable to return until the next day.

Michael never regained consciousness and died around 10:30 p.m, surrounded by his mother, Sheila Lobel, brother Richard Kenwood, 42, of Burlington Township, and several other relatives. Members of PFARS, including Peter Simon, were also there.

“From what it sounds like, everyone in squad did everything right, but something kept going wrong,” Jason said.

It was later determined that the car on Rosedale Road was empty and it may have been an electrical short that caused the lights to flash. Princeton Township Police interviewed the owner of the car but determined there was no criminal action by the driver.

Michael Kenwood's Life

Find out what's happening in East Windsorwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Michael, Jason and Richard grew up in Suffern, N.Y. and moved to Franklin Lakes in Bergen County when Michael was in middle school. Michael was smart and intellectual, his brothers said.

“Growing up, when I wanted to watch TV, Michael was reading books,” said Jason. “He would often have a flashlight under the sheet after we went to bed.”

He had a small, but close-knit group of friends. In 1994, Martin remarried and Michel gained three stepsiblings: Seth, Staci and Lori.

He graduated from Ramapo High School and moved to Boston to attend Brandeis University, later earning his law degree from Boston University. He trained as a lawyer and continued to practice law on a part-time basis throughout his life, but Michael was also fascinated with computers from an early age, his family said.

As an adult, he founded Kenwood Technical Consulting in East Windsor where his services included setting up new computers, installing firewalls and setting up network security systems.

Athletic throughout his life, Michael worked out and also liked to ski and snowmobile  And, his family members say with a laugh, Michael enjoyed food. “He exercised and did his thing, but that kid liked to eat,” his brother Richard said.

When his father remarried, Michael became friends with his new siblings.

“We were friends, this was a relationship that didn’t need familial ties,” Lori said.


His Life as an EMT

Michael became an EMT following a serious car crash that totaled the car he was riding in and resulted in a wrist injury, Jason said.

“He knew enough to get everyone else out of the car but he still felt helpless not knowing what to do or how to help people,” Jason said.

Michael joined the Brandeis Emergency Medical Corps, the first response unit on campus. That’s where he met Peter Simon.

“He was a go-to guy, a really solid person,” Peter said. “You could rely on him whenever you needed something.”

When Michael eventually moved to Mercer County, he told Peter that he wanted to give back to the community. “It was something he really wanted to do, he believed you just don’t take from the community, you need to give back,” Peter said.

Michael joined the Princeton squad. Eager to get involved, he overhauled the department’s computers, set up servers and backups and helped to redesign the department’s website.

Michael trained in swift water rescues, extrication and high angle rescues, his father said. “Once he zeroed in on a field of interest, be it computers or rescue squad, he would always want to be an expert,” Martin said. “Being mediocre at something was not an option.”

As a squad trustee, Michael was tasked with working on member morale, organizing events such as picnics and Friday movie nights.

“There were tons of people who came on a Friday night to hang out and watch a movie together,” Peter said. “He really helped to make sure that they’re enjoying their time at the squad and if people aren’t enjoying their time, they’re not going to volunteer their time and enjoy our mission.”


The Impact on PFARS

Immediately following Mike’s death, PFARS members rallied to help Michael’s wife and daughter at their East Windsor home.

Squad members pumped out the family’s flooded basement, took away mildewed items and helped dry out other family belongings. They called an electrician when the home’s electrical meter began to spark and helped when Michael’s widow and toddler had to evacuate the home for several days.

It was one small way the squad could help, Peter said.

He said the squad offered its members time off for grieving and are keeping an eye on members who may need assistance dealing with grief.

“We’re trying to help everyone through it, but we have a mission, we have a job to do, the Township, needs us, the Borough needs us, the community needs us,” he said.

The squad is back to full service, but they will never forget Michael.

“Michael really was a hero,” Peter said. “Not for the way he died, but for the way he lived his life; he was passionate about community service, his squad, his family. He was a model citizen and that’s why a lot of our members looked up to him.”


A Hero's Tribute

Michael’s family says they are overwhelmed by the support since Michael died.

Police escorted the limousines that carried the family to the funeral in Paramus, Martin said. EMT, police and firefighters stood at attention, saluting and crying.

When Michael’s mother and stepfather, Sheila and Gary Lobel, ran into traffic en route to the funeral from Fairfield, N.J., a police officer they didn’t know turned on his emergency lights and escorted them to the funeral home. He told the couple it was his honor to escort them.

“These people just knew that Michael was a brother in service,” Martin said. “The rescue, fire and police community really comes together to care for their own when the occasion arises.”

But Michael’s father is adamant that Michael wasn’t the only hero in Princeton that day.

“Peter Simon is another hero, and the fellow [Nathan Plough) that jumped in the water to pull Michael out when he was floating downstream was another hero,” he said. “Those two guys risked their lives and there could have been three fatalities and instead there was just one."


Growing Up Without A Father

Find out what's happening in East Windsorwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The first Sunday after Michael died, the family gathered for his three-year-old daughter’s birthday party.

“We were going from a shiva house to a birthday party and then back to shiva,” Martin said. “It was tough.”

The Kenwood family worries about the toddler who will grow up without a father.

“All the money in the world can’t bring back daddy though,” Richard said. “At least any money will help her live and flourish in life without daddy.”

A trust has been set up to help Michael’s widow and daughter. Payments may be made to Friends of Laney Rebecca Kenwood Trust, 66 Witherspoon Street, Suite 219, Princeton, NJ 08543.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here