HAWORTH MAN, TWO RELATIVES DROWN IN FLA.; HIS CAR PLUNGED INTO ROADSIDE CANAL

By Michael O. Allen and John Mooney, Record Staff Writers | Thursday, January 27, 1991

The Record (New Jersey) | All Editions | NEWS | Page A03

A 71-year-old Haworth man, his daughter, and his grandson drowned after their car veered off a Florida highway, tore through a fence, and plunged into a 35-foot-deep canal, police said.
Emanuel “Manny” Morgan of 854 Sunset Ave., Haworth; his 37-year-old daughter, Arlene Kepp of Naples, Fla.; and his 4-year-old grandson, Steven Kepp, were buried in Naples Wednesday, said a spokeswoman for the funeral home that handled the arrangements.
Autopsies by the Collier County Medical Examiner’s office revealed that all three drowned in the Monday accident, said a spokeswoman for the office.
Morgan owned Martin Furniture store in West New York for 42 years and was known for his charitable work there and in other communities. He was a Navy veteran of World War II.
His son Stewart Morgan said Friday that Morgan had donated lots of time and money to local synagogues.
“He did a lot of charity work that he never told anyone about,” said Morgan, who with his brother Neil also works at the furniture store.
“For 15 years on every single Christmas, my father gave out gifts to senior citizens in West New York. He just didn’t want anyone to be forgotten. “
The incident occurred while the elder Morgan was traveling from Miami Beach to Naples with his 63-year-old wife, Jeanette, and his daughter and grandson, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The Morgans had recently purchased a condominium in Miami Beach.
Jeanette Morgan was driving the 1989 Ford station wagon about 3:30 p.m. Monday and was westbound on Alligator Alley, or State Road 93, when the car veered onto the shoulder, a police spokeswoman said.
Police said Morgan panicked and grabbed the steering wheel, causing his wife to lose control of the car. The vehicle went through a 12-foot-high fence separating the road from the canal, plunging into the recently deepened waters.
Jeanette Morgan, who swam to safety, was treated at Naples Community Hospital for minor injuries and was released Tuesday, said hospital spokeswoman Debbie Curry.

Keywords: HAWORTH; FLORIDA; DEATH; VICTIM; ACCIDENT; MOTOR VEHICLE; RIVER

ID: 17330987 | Copyright © 1991, The Record (New Jersey)