Cobble Hill church mourns after lightning strike leads to death of passerby and threatens building’s future
Christ Church-Cobble Hill is considered the oldest and tallest building in the neighborhood, and has been hit by lightning several times. Until Thursday night, however, damage caused by lightning strikes had never claimed a life.
Lightning from Thursday’s electrical storm is blamed for the death of Cobble Hill resident Richard Schwartz and for significant structural damage to church, at the southwest corner of Clinton and Kane streets. Schwartz was walking under the scaffolding on the Kane Street side of the church when lightning hit the building’s tower, causing masonry and the scaffolding to collapse. The falling debris hit Mr. Schwartz, who was taken to Long Island College Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The community, Borough President Marty Markowitz and the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island are mourning Mr. Schwartz, who was for many years an assistant attorney general in the office of the state attorney general.