Please help Bobby McMahon and his Family

My name is Richard Palmer, Jr. and I'm a retired Warden with the NYC Department of Correction, a 9/11 Responder and the Financial Secretary of the NYC DOC Disaster Relief Association. I organized this GoFundMe to help Bobby McMahon, a retired Member of the Department of Correction and fellow 9/11 Responder following a tragic event that happened on January 3, 2024. This is an urgent call for assistance for one of our brothers who has always been there for us, as well as for the community. Now, Bobby and his family really need our help.

 

Bobby lives in Islip with his son, Dylan, a NYPD Police Officer and his daughter Madison, who works for the East Islip School District, as well as Madison’s 6-year-old daughter. Bobby’s wife, Marguerite, passed away on 4/11/2021 after a long battle with ovarian cancer. All the couple’s savings were depleted while caring for his wife, but in September, Bobby made the final payment on the mortgage on the family home, a moment he and his wife always looked forward to. It was bittersweet without Marguerite, but Bobby always wanted the home to be a place his adult children and grandchild could also call home and there was some security in making that final payment.

 

However, their lives changed significantly on January 3rd at approximately 4:50 pm. Bobby’s daughter was taking a shower in the main floor bathroom and his granddaughter was playing nearby when both began to notice the smell of smoke. Bobby’s daughter grabbed her child and ran outside screaming. She called her father, who was out to dinner with his son, as the neighbors consoled them and called 911.

By the time Bobby and his son returned home, the house was nearly totally destroyed by the fire.

 

They lost everything they owned --all of their clothes, furniture and appliances. The list is endless, but the sentimental value of Bobby’s wife’s pictures and personal items can never be replaced.

 

Bobby, Dylan, Madison and Madison’s child all went to a nearby hotel and are currently staying there while they try to rebuild their lives. Since Bobby’s finances took a strong hit over the last couple of years, he doesn’t have the money to stay there much longer. To make matters more complicated, there was an inadvertent lapse in the house insurance that happened following the final payment on the mortgage. 

 

I am hoping through this GoFundMe that we can raise some funds to help Bobby and his family. Any amount will help or offer of assistance is welcomed and needed. While this is a difficult time for the McMahons, Bobby never failed to answer the call for help when others were in need. He was a 9/11 First Responder whose tireless work was documented in a book about the terrorist attack and the people who stepped up to save lives. Bobby was the lead officer for the New York City Department of Correction Harbor Unit during the 9/11 rescue mission from ground zero. The Correction Department Harbor Unit had 3 boats doing the rescue mission and took over 3,000 people to Brooklyn and Weehawken, NJ. In the days following the events, they organized many supply deliveries from the Jersey side and brought them to Ground Zero.

 

Bobby and his family have immediate needs: The must have a fire clean up company come in and determine if the house is repairable, and if so, the cost and timeframe. They will also need temporary housing, clothing and financial assistance over the next few months while they attempt to rebuild their lives. 

Thank you for reading and please share and donate.