Another Update After Speaking with Mike Kelley's Mom - Monday Sep 15 Update
70ToppsFanatic
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Mark and I had the chance to speak with Mike's mother tonight. We conveyed our own condolences, and those of all of the members of the CU
community that have been posting and PMing us since we learned of the news. We told her of the many generous and kind things that Mike
had done over the years in our group that had earned him so many friends all over the country. She seemed to take great comfort in knowing
that so many people besides herself recognized how special Mike was, and loved him for it.
Here is a quick summary of what we learned from her:
First and foremost, the children are SAFE and LOVED! They were already getting counselling and support since Mike moved them to
be closer to his family last year and that support infrastructure remains intact (and has actually been increased since Mike's passing
on Monday). There are no plans to change any of that.
Many of you have asked what happened. There have been a number of rumors and stories circulating and we can now put them to bed. Mike
had been struggling with a number of health-related issues over the past few years (beyond those residual ones that were instigated by his
wife's illness and passing). There were several hospializations and surgeries, and he was experiencing quite a bit of physical discomfort. Recently
several of his medications were changed in an effort to address some of those medical problems more effectively. Unfortunately, he experienced an
adverse drug interaction that ultimately triggered a fatal coronary event on Monday.
The most pressing need that the children/family have right now is the need to expand Mike's mother's small home such that it can more comfortably
accomodate all of them. They are trying to raise enough money to be able to re-finish their basement and turn itinto a bedroom for Mike's oldest
daughter. They sincerely appreciate everything people have contributed so far. Hopefully the donated item auction that Mike Rothstein (Stone193)
started earlier tonight will help us add to what has already been collected.
And lastly, Mike's mom was very appreciative of the few anecdotes we told her about nice things that Mike had done for others here. She
said that she wanted to assemble the stories into some sort of compilation/scrapbook for the children so that they would always have knowledge
of how their father contributed positively to the world around him. I will be sending her several links to some of the postings we've seen here
in the last 24 hous to get her started. However, I would be willing to bet that many of us have PMs from Mike (or can remember old threads that
Mike contributed to) that would also be very much appreciated. I am not sure how to go about compiling these yet, so please don't start sending
them to me in PMs. Give me a few days to see if we can find a way to share these in a way that minimizes effort for everyone and I'll follow-up on this
subject.
We will be staying in contact with Mike's mom to see how else we can help her and the children.
And on a personal note, I am sincerely thankful to the many of you who have reached out to me yesterday/today. Your support has really helped me during this troubling time.
I will try to work out the "memories of Mike" ideas a bit further and follow-up on it here over the weekend. If anyone has any ideas on how we might organize this please feel free to PM me.
community that have been posting and PMing us since we learned of the news. We told her of the many generous and kind things that Mike
had done over the years in our group that had earned him so many friends all over the country. She seemed to take great comfort in knowing
that so many people besides herself recognized how special Mike was, and loved him for it.
Here is a quick summary of what we learned from her:
First and foremost, the children are SAFE and LOVED! They were already getting counselling and support since Mike moved them to
be closer to his family last year and that support infrastructure remains intact (and has actually been increased since Mike's passing
on Monday). There are no plans to change any of that.
Many of you have asked what happened. There have been a number of rumors and stories circulating and we can now put them to bed. Mike
had been struggling with a number of health-related issues over the past few years (beyond those residual ones that were instigated by his
wife's illness and passing). There were several hospializations and surgeries, and he was experiencing quite a bit of physical discomfort. Recently
several of his medications were changed in an effort to address some of those medical problems more effectively. Unfortunately, he experienced an
adverse drug interaction that ultimately triggered a fatal coronary event on Monday.
The most pressing need that the children/family have right now is the need to expand Mike's mother's small home such that it can more comfortably
accomodate all of them. They are trying to raise enough money to be able to re-finish their basement and turn itinto a bedroom for Mike's oldest
daughter. They sincerely appreciate everything people have contributed so far. Hopefully the donated item auction that Mike Rothstein (Stone193)
started earlier tonight will help us add to what has already been collected.
And lastly, Mike's mom was very appreciative of the few anecdotes we told her about nice things that Mike had done for others here. She
said that she wanted to assemble the stories into some sort of compilation/scrapbook for the children so that they would always have knowledge
of how their father contributed positively to the world around him. I will be sending her several links to some of the postings we've seen here
in the last 24 hous to get her started. However, I would be willing to bet that many of us have PMs from Mike (or can remember old threads that
Mike contributed to) that would also be very much appreciated. I am not sure how to go about compiling these yet, so please don't start sending
them to me in PMs. Give me a few days to see if we can find a way to share these in a way that minimizes effort for everyone and I'll follow-up on this
subject.
We will be staying in contact with Mike's mom to see how else we can help her and the children.
And on a personal note, I am sincerely thankful to the many of you who have reached out to me yesterday/today. Your support has really helped me during this troubling time.
I will try to work out the "memories of Mike" ideas a bit further and follow-up on it here over the weekend. If anyone has any ideas on how we might organize this please feel free to PM me.
Dave
0
Comments
maybe what we should do is try to find out if we have any carpenters on the board that may be willing to go there and physically help. I have 2 left thumbs so I am no help.
Any others?
RIP Mike
never had any dealings with him but I know he helped out a lot of people around here
Thanks,
Kirk
His username was miconelegacy
Dave
<< <i>It was a Red Sox logo >>
What was his board name??
<< <i>thanks Dave. My condolences to mom and dad too
maybe what we should do is try to find out if we have any carpenters on the board that may be willing to go there and physically help. I have 2 left thumbs so I am no help.
Any others? >>
Manny
I had a similar thought, but its a bit more complicated. There are local building codes which the person(s) involved would need to be familiar with. Also, it's not just carpentry. It would also involve electrical and maybe also plumbing.
I finished my basement in my last house, but a lot of the bigger items were already roughed-in for me.
Let me follow up with Mike's mom and get a few more details, and then we can see if this idea is viable.
Dave
<< <i>It was a Red Sox logo
His username was miconelegacy >>
Thanks!!
<< <i>
Manny
I had a similar thought, but its a bit more complicated. There are local building codes which the person(s) involved would need to be familiar with. Also, it's not just carpentry. It would also involve electrical and maybe also plumbing.
I finished my basement in my last house, but a lot of the bigger items were already roughed-in for me.
Let me follow up with Mike's mom and get a few more details, and then we can see if this idea is viable. >>
Dave, A GC would be able to lead a bunch of free labor board members if there are people willing to do that, especially when you factor in the reasons, The publicity the GC would get would be worth it alone. Plumbing and Electrical would need to be subbed out, but alot of the heavy lifting could be done in a short period of time if a bunch came together for a couple days. There would be a lot of logistical needs to take place, but it could be done. You know how to get a hold of me, I am willing to do whatever is needed.
I collect: 80’s Rookies and 86 Fleer Basketball
Many of my discussions with Mike center around some controversy that I would rather leave alone.
Here's a nice PM Mike sent me after his wife's passing.
<< <i>Date Posted: Nov/08/2011 8:38 AM
Wanted to thank you for your support. 15 days since my wife passed and it feels like, well, I dunno. Just empty, lost, confused, etc. Taking care of the children is the easy part I have been doing it essentially on my own for awhile.
Just have to find some traction with something.
Thanks again for your kind words and support.
Mike >>
As many know "all too well" - sometimes people get unjustly accused of stuff before all facts are out. Fortunately, it's rare and short lived.
From my POV, Mike was a good soul and for the believers - he's been reunited with his wife.
<< <i>
Many of you have asked what happened. There have been a number of rumors and stories circulating and we can now put them to bed. Mike
had been struggling with a number of health-related issues over the past few years (beyond those residual ones that were instigated by his
wife's illness and passing). There were several hospitalizations and surgeries, and he was experiencing quite a bit of physical discomfort. Recently
several of his medications were changed in an effort to address some of those medical problems more effectively. Unfortunately, he experienced an
adverse drug interaction that ultimately triggered a fatal coronary event on Monday.
>>
If that is the case, my suggestion would be to have the family contact a good malpractice attorney asap. Very sad news. Praying for his kids.
Quck update for our community. I was able to speak to Mike's mom again this evening briefly.
She said that the kids are doing ok. Last week the younger two couldn't really handle a full day of school, but by Friday and today
they are getting through the days better. They miss their father a lot, but they are in a loving and secure home with family and
are doing well.
Mike's mom has been trying to get onto our board from time to time to read some of the threads about Mike. She was incredibly grateful
over the efforts everyone here has been making in the auction, and was astonished at the total of the current bids (approaching $6500-$7,000
I believe at this stage).
Tomorrow she will be contacting me to discuss the remodelling needs that I previously reported. Once i have a better idea of what they want
to do I will reach out to those of you who inquired about this and see how we can help her with this project.
And again thanks she wished to say thank you to everyone for their generosity and caring.
Dave
Rocke
<< <i>Please forgive me for being so ignorant about this. I deal on the autograph side, not the card side, so it is my loss that I never got to chat with Mike. But, for those like me that are in the dark, What city,state are Mike's Mother and children in, in case I know someone in the area. Very sorry for the people that knew Mike. Sounds like he was a GREAT Man.
Rocke >>
Looks like Londonderry, MA. See the obit in this thread near the bottom of page 3: Link
Edit: spelling
>
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