Jennifer Maroni's Last Wish: Live, Love, Laugh

My name is Jennifer Maroni and I have been a loud, out, and proud transgender woman of 44 years experience. I am grateful I managed to reach a milestone I was told couldn't be done. As the country's first out transgender real estate broker, I was proudest of getting dozens of individuals and families out of shelters and into permanent housing, and had the opportunity to volunteer in areas that interested me such as female economic empowerment, LGBTQIA+ causes, homelessness and more.

I have recently been diagnosed with adenocarcinoma of the cardia, stage 3, aka stomach cancer, which is one of the more difficult cancers. At this time, I am hopeful for seven more months of life. I am not trying to do any chemo or debilitating treatments. I want to live, love and laugh until I can't anymore. While I appreciate the courtesy call from God to get my affairs in order, I have had major financial problems. I lost more time from work than I ever had, paid hundreds this year in extra medical bills, and had to pay for MRIs and radiology up front. I am now broke and am facing eviction from my apartment. I am asking for your help in allowing me to go with dignity in my own home and in my own bed.

In case you’re wondering more about me, I transitioned on July 22, 1980 and have celebrated that as my birthday, even when family and work refused to recognize it.

In 1988, I appeared on national TV on the game show, “Love Connection” hosted by Chuck Woolery. I believe that may have been the first time a member of my community was on national TV that was not a talk show. I was there to entertain, and I did. In 2015, I did a very memorable episode of “Billy on the Street” with Billy Eichner, and I was also featured in an episode where I spoke as an ally of the Black Lives Matter movement on “The Mama Rose Show” hosted by Stephen S. Miller (aka Mama Rose), for whom I had the great honor of being a bridesmaid at his and his husband Brian Geldin’s wedding in 2021, along with my fur child Talullah, who was the flower girl. For that, I was included in their wedding announcement in The New York Times.

I have worked in fine dining long past the date most women were allowed, up to 50. Ask yourself how many women over 30 do you see in fine dining in the front of the house? I became passionate about wine and had the chance to study with the country's leading expert, Kevin Zraly, of the Windows on the World Wine School. I also worked in a Michelin starred restaurant named Veritas, world famous for its wine list.

I have every goal in mind and as I have always done, will succeed. I want to live, love and laugh until I can't anymore. All I ever wanted to was to be a girl in New York City and succeed at sharing happiness and successful opportunities to those that just needed a chance.

And by the way, I do have a bucket list. The number one item on my bucket list is to walk a ball in the category of “executive realness.”

Thank you for reading.

Jennifer Maroni

CALL TO ACTION:

The above note is from our dear friend Jennifer Maroni, who we love and admire so much for being fearless and courageous, not only in her final act, but throughout her entire life as a pioneer in the LGBTQIA+ community. Not only is Jennifer whip smart, she has the greatest sense of humor of anyone we know, and always gets the last laugh.

In Jennifer’s time of need, we’re looking for angels like you to help Jennifer live out her remaining days so she will have a roof over her head, food to eat, be able to afford her medical bills, pet care, etc., so she can live the best possible life she can. We simply cannot allow her to be evicted.

And let’s also make Jennifer’s number one dream on her bucket list come true! If anyone knows of a stellar drag ball in New York City where she can “vogue” down the runway in her “executive realness,” please let us know.

Can we get an Amen?

– Stephen S. Miller (aka Mama Rose) and Brian Geldin