End the War on Tom

Our dear Tom McCoy recently lost Erica, his beloved wife, to the ravages of cancer.


Many of us witnessed Tom give his loving wife his all in her time of need—unhesitatingly, tirelessly, without concern for his own future needs. They spent their marriage helping others. Now, in the wake of her passing, it is Tom who needs help. Our help.

About Tom and Erica

Tom and Erica touched many lives through their professions. Tom is a freelance musician and educator, and was recently celebrated for his 20 years as Music Director at the First Presbyterian Church in Phillipstown. He is appreciated for his kindness, sensitivity and adaptability as an accompanist, colleague, and teacher. Erica was a truly inspired public-school music teacher, the kind that students look back on in adulthood as having made a real difference in their lives.

Celebrating 20 years at First Presbyterian Church of Philipstown

Over the years, they shared hearth and home generously with young and old, family and strangers, two-legged and four. They opened their doors to many in need of rescue, healing and nurturing.

Bella and Wolfie McCoy, sisters rescued from a kill-shelter in NC.

They took in a homeless adolescent whose family could not care for him, providing him a stable, loving, family home life, raising him as their own. They took in a two-year old whose mother was in the midst of a difficult pregnancy and unable to care for her, safeguarding and loving her until the mother had recovered from childbirth. They took in Tom’s 90-year old Mom, gently easing her fall into the dark night of Alzheimer’s. They took in grandchildren. They took in Tibetan asylees. Tom sponsored the education of children in Nepal. He raised money for victims of the 2015 earthquake in Nepal, and housed survivors. In addition, Tom taught several of his and Erica’s “Himalayan kids” to drive.

Some of Tom and Erica’s Himalayan kids

More dramatically, Tom rescued a family member from the brink of death, a victim of random urban gun violence. The doctors in the hospital had done all they could; he was near death. Tom took him home, and under medical supervision nursed him back to life, health and vigor—a miraculous recovery.

Taking people into their home wasn’t always easy for Tom and Erica. But when things would get tough, Erica would simply say, “but that’s who we are”. This quiet mission of helping other was a deep part of their love-bond.

Why Tom needs our help

Mostly self-employed, Tom had to let go of nearly all of his professional work in order to devote himself 24/7 to Erica’s care during her illness. In the course of this more-than-full-time caregiving, his income plummeted. The business he lost had taken years to develop. Additionally, a mountain of medical debt remains from expenses not covered by insurance.

On top of these these hardships, while still reeling with grief from her death, Tom has been forced to fight in court against fraudulent claims to the nest-egg he and Erica built over their three decades together, threatening to rob him of nearly everything left to his name. In a catch-22, he needs those very resources to pursue justice—as well as merely to keep his head above water. But they are frozen in the protracted court proceedings.

With enough help, Tom can avert imminent and lasting damage. He can weather this storm, as well as see justice done. He can save his home, and have the chance to rebuild his life and livelihood. He can keep his doors open to others in need, and keep providing a safe, loving sanctuary for the rescue-animals in his care.

Daphne McCoy, 14 years old, rescued in 2007

And he can pay forward your generosity by carrying forward his and Erica’s legacy of helping others—the better to honor her memory.


We, Tom’s family, friends, and community invite you to join us in lifting him up. Please contribute as you may be moved. Please share this campaign.

We thank you with all our hearts!