Page 15 - 2020 BusinessWest Difference Makers Program

KBy Kayla Ebner
elsey Andrews remembers her husband, Michael, a Massachusetts state trooper, being larger than life.
“He was full of life, full of energy,” she told BusinessWest as she recalled how quickly and how profoundly so many lives were altered when Michael was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma in June 2017 and passed away two short months later. And also how a big a void was left in all those lives.
Kelsey, mother to now-12-year-old Madeline, was abruptly pressed to
take on the role of both parents, all while grieving the loss of her husband and trying to raise a grieving child — something no parent is ever prepared or equipped to do.
She recalls thinking — actually, knowing — that she needed help, but didn’t know where to find it or if it even existed.
“I wanted my daughter to be around kids who are, unfortunately, going through a similar situation, and for me to be around people who have gone
through the same thing,” said Andrews, adding that, through a co-worker, she eventually found a unique nonprofit that provided all this in the form of free peer support to grieving families, especially children.
Creating just such a place was the mission of several friends and loved ones touched by Rick Thorpe, an individual who was himself larger than life in many ways. And so they gave it his name.
Thorpe, a former football star at Minnechaug High School and 1984 graduate, was among the more than 1,100 people who died in the South Tower of the World Trade Center on 9/11; he left behind his wife, Linda, and newborn daughter, Alexis.
After his death, friends — and there were many of them — felt the need to memorialize him and searched for ways to do so.
They started with a scoreboard placed in his honor at Minnechaug’s football field — the message written across it read “In memory of Rick Thorpe #3 – Class of 1984” — and later a memorial fund, a charity golf tournament, and scholarships. But they wanted something
even more impactful.
For inspiration, they turned to Rick’s
daughter, Alexis. The bereavement center they established in her father’s name was created in her honor.
Here, children and families can talk about their own experiences, or simply be in the presence of others who are facing similar situations.
That’s something Executive Director Diane Murray and Program Director Therese Ross say can be incredibly comforting for grieving families. While each person experiences grief differently, they noted, what helps most is being with those who have gone through something similar — one of the main factors that encouraged Kelsey to walk in the door.
“It’s a unique grief journey, but it’s also a universal experience,” said Ross. “To hear from other people how they manage when their child says this or does that, it’s real boots on the ground, people living it, and it’s really helpful.”
And that’s why this unique nonprofit has been chosen as a Difference Maker for 2020.
Our Deepest Congratulations to the 2020 Difference Makers!
We treasure your commitment to making our region a wonderful place to live.
From all of us at
333 Bridge Street Springfield MA 01103 413-732-2858 | Communityfoundation.org
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Photo by Leah Martin Photography