Gipson mourns loss of Brother(hero)

[Velcro]

USF Player Honors Brother Who Died A Hero

By BRETT McMURPHY bmcmurphy@tampatrib.com

Published: Sep 24, 2004

Bruce Gipson

TAMPA - While his South Florida teammates are en route to Fort Worth, Texas, this afternoon, football will be the last thing on senior wide receiver Bruce Gipson's mind.

Instead of focusing on Saturday's Conference USA opener at Texas Christian, Gipson will remain in Port Charlotte.

He will be burying his 21- year-old brother, Del' Trone Gomilla.

Gomilla drowned Saturday after dashing into a roiling surf to help a family of seven struggling against a rip current in Wilbur-By-The-Sea, south of Daytona Beach.

The entire family survived because of Gomilla's efforts. Gomilla did not.

``I have never seen a guy with such bravery and unselfishness,'' said Terrance Szafraniec, the father of the family of seven Gomilla saved. ``He did not even know us, yet he threw caution to the wind and came for us. That's incredible.''

Szafraniec said he, in turn, tried as hard ``as humanly possible'' to save Gomilla.

But Szafraniec, 28, said that just as he was about to reach Gomilla, a wave came up and dragged the stranger out to sea.

Sadly, the only reason Gomilla, his girlfriend and their 2- month-old daughter, Jada, were in Daytona Beach was because they lost everything they owned when Hurricane Charley hit Port Charlotte.

During Charley, Gomilla discovered his upstairs neighbors were in trouble and brought them down to the safety of his first- floor apartment.

``He was always like that,'' said Gipson, 23. ``He always had the heart to do something good for someone.''

To honor his brother during Thursday's practice, Gipson said he wrote his brother's initials on his ``shoes, tape, everything.'' Gipson also will have his brother's initials displayed during Saturday's game.

``If there was a good part about [his death], he was saving someone,'' Gipson said.

Gipson learned of Gomilla's death shortly after USF's loss at South Carolina last week. Suddenly, Gipson's two fumbles and the lopsided defeat that night weren't that important.

When Kimberly Gipson - Del' Trone's mother and Bruce's stepmother - learned of the tragedy, she suffered a heart attack. She has recovered and is back at her Port Charlotte home preparing for today's 12:30 p.m. funeral at the Seventh-Day Adventist Church on Loveland Boulevard.

``He went up and got his neighbors [out of the apartment] during Hurricane Charley and the bravery goes on,'' Kimberly said. ``He went out as a hero, but it hurts to lose him.''

Kimberly said Bruce and Del' Trone were extremely close growing up.

``Everywhere Bruce went, Del' Trone was two steps behind him,'' Kimberly said. ``They acted alike and dressed alike.''

USF senior free safety Javan Camon is Gipson and Gomilla's cousin. He has known the brothers since second grade.

Camon will be a pallbearer with Gipson today in Port Charlotte. After the funeral, they'll drive back to Tampa to catch a late flight to join their teammates tonight in Fort Worth.

``We were always around each other growing up,'' Camon said. ``It was always fun times.''

The fun ended Saturday on a stretch of beach that didn't have any lifeguards, Beach Patrol Deputy Chief Joe Wooden said.

``We were drowning; my family and I were dying,'' Shelley Szafraniec said. ``This good Samaritan jumped in to save us, and oh God, he did not make it.''

Kimberly said she didn't know how Bruce would be able to focus on football Saturday. Camon admitted it will be tough.

``Everyone's going to hurt,'' Camon said. ``We'll spend time with the family [today], then when we get back on the field, we have to find a way to turn it back over at game time.

``Bruce and I are both hurting. But we're pushing on.''

A trust fund has been established for 2-month-old Jada Gomilla. Donations can be sent to: Kimberly Gipson, 23206 Van Buren Ave., Port Charlotte, FL 33980.

The Daytona Beach News-Journal contributed to this report

[RHBullsFan]

What a sad, sad story. The guy sounded like true hero.

[Velcro]

Bad week for gipson... Brother dies, and step mom has a heart attack when finding out about his brother's death.

 :'(

[bulldad]

Our prayers are with Bruce and his family.

[BigShoop]

Wow...

Just.............wow.