Hi everyone. My name is Wendy (Calabrese) Becker. Mary Ellen and I met many years ago as freshmen in high school. We've been friends for 57 years. It's tough to lose a friend that you've had since you were very young.

As many of you know, both Mary Ellen and Steve have had many health issues over the past few years. Mary Ellen had been gravely ill for the last six weeks. We all had high hopes that she would get through her illness and make a full, speedy recovery.

Unfortunately, that did not happen, and Mary Ellen passed away peacefully on May 8th.

As you can imagine, many bills and expenses will now need to be taken care of which Medicare will not cover, including ambulance transfers, Mary Ellen being airlifted to Yale New Haven from Westchester Medical Center, and funeral home charges. Those bills will most likely be large, and Steve will not be able to pay them on his own. I am asking that anyone who can contribute, whether small or large, do so and make this trying time for Steve a little easier.

Thank you in advance for all your help.

Wendy