Remembering a brother and father: One of dozens who died during Arizona's brutal heat wave

During 2023's sweltering summer heat, there have been 39 confirmed heat associated deaths in Maricopa County, according to Maricopa County's 2023 weekly heat report. On July 17, Carl "Bo" Robert Nagy III became one of them.

Nagy was 43 years old and unhoused, according to his older sister, April Boseck, who lives in Arizona. He passed away in Apache Junction due to Arizona's extreme heat. The exact circumstances of his death are unknown.

"When Bo is in a good place, Bo is a really good person," Boseck said. "He would come in if something was wrong in your house, he would fix it, he would do whatever needed to be done. That's what I like to remember about him. He always liked to help when he could."

Nagy was a brother, a son and a father. He was born in Wichita, Kansas, on Jan. 5, 1980, raised in Augusta, Kansas, moved to Missouri and then moved to Arizona later in his life, his sister said.

Nagy was one of five siblings. Boseck described Nagy as a "butthead growing up" and a wild child. He was a licensed electrician, "an amazing man whom always went out of his way to help anyone in need," wrote Melody Harris, Boseck's cousin, in Nagy's GoFundMe.

The GoFundMe has raised $695 as of Thursday afternoon and is hoping to raise $2,500 to support Nagy's services. Boseck said the funds will go toward his cremation and memorial. She said any extra funds may go to his children.

Arizona's brutal summer heat wave

In 2023 so far, 31% of heat-related deaths were people who were unhoused.

Boseck said she wishes there were more programs to help the homeless. She said there is a place in Apache junction that gives meals to people experiencing homelessness, but there is no place for anybody to go and stores kick out the unhoused because they are "bad for business."

She said businesses and residents need to remember someone who is homeless is in a tough situation.

"Try to be more forgiving of the homeless when they ask for things," Boseck said. "They are only doing it because they have to."

39 heat deaths so far in 2023: 14 new heat-associated deaths in Maricopa County

Boseck stressed the importance of staying hydrated in the heat, so there are no more stories like her brother's. Not just for the unhoused, but for anyone who is beginning to feel under the weather.

"People need to be hydrated. If you are out in the weather, if you have to stop somewhere and drink out of somebody's water hose on the side of the road, it is better than dying of heat stroke. ... The heat here is no joke. It is terrible."

Solutions for people in the heat

Keyera Williams is the public information officer for Phoenix's Office of Heat Response and Mitigation. She gave some advice for staying safe in the heat.

"Check on friends, family members and neighbors, especially people who are at higher risk, all age ranges, multiple times per day," Willaims said. "Higher-risk individuals could include folks who are taking medication that can make it hard for their body to sense how hot they are. It is also important to drink plenty of water even when you are not thirsty."

Williams also spoke of the Cool Callers program, a program where residents can sign up for wellness checks on whether or not their home is cool enough. Their Cool volunteers are stationed at select City trailheads on Saturday mornings in order to provide heat safety messaging and other resources including giving water and cooling towels to hikers. During the week, staff and volunteers do the same in urban locations.

For more information on how to stay safe in the Arizona heat, people can visit Phoenix's heat safety page.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Carl "Bo" Robert Nagy III is victim of Arizona's extreme heat