In Loving Memory of Jim McGaffigan
Spende geschützt
This page is being launched in honor and memory of our dear friend Jim McGaffigan, and in support of his wife Margaret and their twelve and thirteen year old daughters, Bella and Christi. Jim passed away suddenly on February 14. Funds raised through your donations will be applied directly to the cost of the girls’ educations.
Margaret writes:
Finding family photos for my husband Jim’s funeral was easy. He was very engaged with our daughters—Christi, 13, and Bella, 12—taking them swimming, biking, hiking, kayaking, and paddle boarding. He shared his love of the Beatles and gardening with Christi, and his passion for wood-working and mechanics with Bella. Jim was always enthusiastic and up for an adventure—he could make a twelve hour road trip fun! Our 33rd Valentine’s Day together started off like all other mornings – a frantic pace to get everyone out the door to school and work. Before he left, though, Jim stopped to open the card I had miraculously gotten ready the night before. Usually we exchanged cards after work, when he would come home with a dozen roses for me and I would give him a box of dark chocolates because dark chocolate is healthier.
We kissed each other goodbye and he drove off with Christi to drop her at school. I didn’t know it would be the last time I would see him alive. On his way to work, he experienced what we think was an electrical issue with his heart. He managed to steer his car into a snow bank and put it in parking gear before he slumped unconscious at the wheel. It must have taken every last bit of his life to get the car off the road, but that’s what Jim would do—he’d never want to endanger anyone else. A good Samaritan saw what happened and called the police, but Jim never regained consciousness. My very fit, healthy, compassionate, gentle husband, who did everything right, died and left us devastated.
We have been through a lot as a family. When our beautiful daughters were one and two years old, I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. I had surgery and six rounds of chemotherapy before recovering. Six months later, my mother died of cancer, and shortly after that we lost my uncle, my father, and our two beloved German shepherds. After so much loss and hardship, I magically thought we would be immune from major disasters. I was wrong. Losing Jim, my soul mate and the father of my daughters, is by far the worst of those things. In an instant, our lives completely turned around.
Jim was the main wage earner—and on top of that he bought the groceries, shoveled snow, took care of our 13 and 14 year old Toyotas, maintained the house, cooked on weekends, and took care of our emotional needs. He did all this with a gentle approach. He took good care of himself, too, so he’d be around longer for us. We can’t understand why this happened to the healthiest, kindest person we knew. It is hard to write that in the past tense…
Jim’s life is unfinished. We had so many plans, so many adventures ahead… He had an amazing love for life and we are struggling to accept that he won’t be with us. People say we are being strong, but really, what are the options?
Education was very important to both of us. All our money went to our daughters’ needs and we had no regrets about that. Our dream was to see our daughters go to college. Thank you for all of you who have helped us already and for helping us toward our goal of a college future for Christi and Bella.
How I know the McGaffigans:
I first met Margaret in 1997 when she was my daughter’s second grade teacher in Lexington, Massachusetts. She then taught my son in both first and second grade. My children were two of many who had the unbelievable good fortune of spending their school day in Margaret’s care. In addition to being a gifted educator she brought an astounding level of compassion, sensitivity, understanding and dedication to her work.
Our friendship grew over time. In the years since, our families have spent a considerable amount of time together. We are lucky to have known Jim, whose kindness was palpable to anyone in his presence.
Jim worked hard to provide the very best for his family and had every intention of sending his daughters to college. This Go Fund Me campaign, aimed specifically at raising money for Christi and Bella’s education, has been established to honor Jim’s memory. It is also a fitting way to support Margaret, who, with great skill and compassion, has contributed so much to the education of so many children, my own included.
Thank you so much for your donations.
Sincerely,
Karyn Ginsburg (manager of this Go Fund Me campaign)
Margaret writes:
Finding family photos for my husband Jim’s funeral was easy. He was very engaged with our daughters—Christi, 13, and Bella, 12—taking them swimming, biking, hiking, kayaking, and paddle boarding. He shared his love of the Beatles and gardening with Christi, and his passion for wood-working and mechanics with Bella. Jim was always enthusiastic and up for an adventure—he could make a twelve hour road trip fun! Our 33rd Valentine’s Day together started off like all other mornings – a frantic pace to get everyone out the door to school and work. Before he left, though, Jim stopped to open the card I had miraculously gotten ready the night before. Usually we exchanged cards after work, when he would come home with a dozen roses for me and I would give him a box of dark chocolates because dark chocolate is healthier.
We kissed each other goodbye and he drove off with Christi to drop her at school. I didn’t know it would be the last time I would see him alive. On his way to work, he experienced what we think was an electrical issue with his heart. He managed to steer his car into a snow bank and put it in parking gear before he slumped unconscious at the wheel. It must have taken every last bit of his life to get the car off the road, but that’s what Jim would do—he’d never want to endanger anyone else. A good Samaritan saw what happened and called the police, but Jim never regained consciousness. My very fit, healthy, compassionate, gentle husband, who did everything right, died and left us devastated.
We have been through a lot as a family. When our beautiful daughters were one and two years old, I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. I had surgery and six rounds of chemotherapy before recovering. Six months later, my mother died of cancer, and shortly after that we lost my uncle, my father, and our two beloved German shepherds. After so much loss and hardship, I magically thought we would be immune from major disasters. I was wrong. Losing Jim, my soul mate and the father of my daughters, is by far the worst of those things. In an instant, our lives completely turned around.
Jim was the main wage earner—and on top of that he bought the groceries, shoveled snow, took care of our 13 and 14 year old Toyotas, maintained the house, cooked on weekends, and took care of our emotional needs. He did all this with a gentle approach. He took good care of himself, too, so he’d be around longer for us. We can’t understand why this happened to the healthiest, kindest person we knew. It is hard to write that in the past tense…
Jim’s life is unfinished. We had so many plans, so many adventures ahead… He had an amazing love for life and we are struggling to accept that he won’t be with us. People say we are being strong, but really, what are the options?
Education was very important to both of us. All our money went to our daughters’ needs and we had no regrets about that. Our dream was to see our daughters go to college. Thank you for all of you who have helped us already and for helping us toward our goal of a college future for Christi and Bella.
How I know the McGaffigans:
I first met Margaret in 1997 when she was my daughter’s second grade teacher in Lexington, Massachusetts. She then taught my son in both first and second grade. My children were two of many who had the unbelievable good fortune of spending their school day in Margaret’s care. In addition to being a gifted educator she brought an astounding level of compassion, sensitivity, understanding and dedication to her work.
Our friendship grew over time. In the years since, our families have spent a considerable amount of time together. We are lucky to have known Jim, whose kindness was palpable to anyone in his presence.
Jim worked hard to provide the very best for his family and had every intention of sending his daughters to college. This Go Fund Me campaign, aimed specifically at raising money for Christi and Bella’s education, has been established to honor Jim’s memory. It is also a fitting way to support Margaret, who, with great skill and compassion, has contributed so much to the education of so many children, my own included.
Thank you so much for your donations.
Sincerely,
Karyn Ginsburg (manager of this Go Fund Me campaign)
Organisator
Karyn Ginsburg
Organisator
Somerville, MA