We establish this fund in loving memory of Michael Coppola, a beloved member of The Beacon Hill Nursery School community and a dear friend and colleague. With a smile that could light up a room, Michael was a light in the lives of so many: his family, his friends, his colleagues past and present, and the scores of children and families he impacted in nearly two decades of extraordinary work as a teacher and school administrator. There are no words to capture the profoundly deep sadness of losing Michael for those closest to him in his personal life and those touched by the tremendous talents and qualities he brought to his professional life, most recently in the Beacon Hill Nursery School and Chestnut Hill School communities. That sadness is tempered only by an even deeper gratitude for the lasting ways in which Michael changed, inspired, and strengthened those who knew him.

By children and adults alike, Michael will be remembered for his uniquely warm heart, joyful spirit, and endlessly kind soul. Michael elevated listening to an art form and translated that every day into a remarkable ability to make each person feel seen, heard, and valued. Genuine to his core, Michael modeled a level of empathy and caring that set a standard for the rest of us and became an invitation for the depth of meaningful connections, trusting bonds, and loving relationships that Michael so naturally and intuitively built with others. What is not lost in Michael's passing is the positive impact he had on those lucky enough to know him and the lesson his example teaches us about the power of approaching others with openness and compassion.

We ask those who loved Michael, from all corners of his life, to come together to support Michael's family with medical expenses from an intensive six-week hospital stay, funeral and burial expenses, and expenses of any kind for things that bring Michael's family comfort or help them to honor his memory. Our thoughts and prayers are with Michael's devoted husband, Matt, his father Michael, and his sister, Michelle, who were by his side every minute during this brave, but all too brief, battle with a relentlessly aggressive cancer. Their hearts are broken by this devastating loss, and ours are broken for them.

Thank you so much for supporting Michael's family through this incredibly difficult time, both easing the financial and logistical burdens of this unexpected journey and offering a comforting reminder of the impact that Michael had in the world. Michael made people feel like they mattered, and your show of love and support for his family, in any way, will really matter, too. Our deepest and most heartfelt thanks.

-Deb Sullivan and Kate Lakin