City Employees Go Above and Beyond
Dear Editor,
On July 26, our son suffered a terrible fall while working at Rye Recreation’s Day Camp. My wife and I were immediately contacted and we raced over to the basketball courts at Midland School. It took us less than two minutes to get there. By the time we arrived, the Rye Police had already started administering first aid and the ambulance was pulling in. It was very difficult for us to see our son lying on the ground, not able to move, as the police and paramedics prepared him for the trip to the hospital. We were lucky; John suffered a concussion, but it could have been a lot worse.
Abby and I were extremely impressed by our police. They handled the situation with amazing skill and sensitivity. We were also extremely impressed by the way Sally Rogol, our Recreation Superintendent, and Dennis Hurlie, the Camp Director, dealt with the accident. Rye Recreation staff has a large population of campers to look after each day, and they showed great concern, not only for our son, but for all their young campers as well. They did a great job under very difficult circumstances.
Too often, many of us take our public employees for granted; we pay our taxes and expect services in return. You know they’ll be there when you need them. While we were impressed with the professionalism shown that day, what impressed us the most was the compassion and kindness demonstrated by our police and recreation staff. They went above and beyond, and Abby and I just want to say, “Thanks!”
Sincerely,
Doug Tuttle
Congratulations!
Dear Editor,
As president of Rye September 11th 2001 Memorial, Inc. and co-creator of the September 11th Gazebo on the Village Green, I want to express my happiness at reading that our gazebo was the site of a wedding ceremony for Chris Fraley and Victor Self. While I do not personally know the newlyweds, I speak for my entire committee of family and friends who lost a loved one almost ten years ago when I say this is the most beautiful affirmation that life does indeed carry on. Our dear Sean, who was killed on September 11th 2001, and whose name is inscribed on a plaque at our gazebo, would be so touched to know this memorial is also serving as a place of happiness and celebration, and not one of only sadness and grief.
So, I offer my heartfelt congratulations to the new couple, Mr. Fraley and Mr. Self, and wish them a long, happy, and healthy life together. And I thank them for choosing the gazebo as the place to officially begin their married life.
Sincerely,
Holly O’Neill-Melville
Thank You to the Rye Community
Dear Editor,
In June we lost our beloved daughter, Lisi Devlin. The picture is of our family last Easter Sunday, Lisi’s 30th birthday. She is the one in pink on the far right with the ever-present and beautiful smile.
Lisi was the youngest of our four children and her sisters and brother told her she was the culmination of the best of them — full of happiness and grace.
We moved to Rye 25 years ago and Lisi became an instant part of the community. She painted the store windows at Halloween, attended Rye School of Dance, stocked up on candy from the Smoke Shop, and graduated from Rye High School. She loved everything about living here, especially her wonderful friends.
At the end of junior year at Fairfield University, Lisi developed AML Leukemia. She spent the summer in and out of Westchester Medical Center and then we moved to Seattle for four months where she underwent a successful bone marrow transplant.
We always appreciated the feeling of friendliness living in this community. But when Lisi became sick we were truly overwhelmed by the outpouring of kindnesses and support. Several very thoughtful friends set up a dinner delivery in a cooler outside our home. Every night when we would get home from the hospital there would be a yummy meal waiting for us, often cooked by someone we had never met. What a relief to not to have to cook and what fun anticipating something different every night. When we moved to Seattle, the support continued, as so many from this wonderful community delighted Lisi with notes, emails and surprise packages. Her best friends from Rye High flew out for a week to visit.
Lisi recovered, went back to finish college and graduated from the highly respected Bank Street Teachers College, where she received a Master’s in Early Childhood Education and pursued her passion for teaching and her dream of living in the city.
Two years ago, Lisi developed sarcoma and bravely faced chemo, radiation, and surgery. Once again we were reminded what a special town we are lucky enough to live in. Dinners started arriving, every day the mail was piled high with well wishes, and once again her best friends from high school cheered her up with constant visits. We could not go to a grocery store or into town without someone stopping and asking us about Lisi. Our dear friends started a prayer group every Monday and Wednesday at Resurrection Church to pray for her health.
The Devlin family wants to thank everyone who thought of us, said a kind word, wrote a thoughtful note, cooked a delicious dinner, made a cheerful visit, prayed for us constantly, attended Lisi’s services or made a generous donation to a scholarship in her name for a deserving Bank Street child. We deeply and sincerely appreciate all of you.
We have been touched by the outpouring of love and kindness in a world that sometimes feels unfriendly. We feel blessed to be part of a community of such generous and genuine people. Lisi often said, “I feel so loved”… this is how the Devlin family feels too.
Sincerely,
The Devlin Family
