Gwen and Frank O'Toole of W12thRd Broad Channel
The O'Toole's have left West 12th Road.
Gwen and Frank O'Toole, their children, Haley, Madison, "Lil" Frank and their dog "teddy bear" have moved from their long time home rental on West 12th Road and now live across town, on Noel Road.
Immediately after Super Storm Sandy the O'Toole family served as an inspiration for all their neighbors on West 12th Road. Less than 48 hours after the October 29th, 2012 storm surge while the rest of us were walking around like zombies feeling sorry for ourselves, Gwen and Frank quietly decided..."Screw Sandy, we have small children and Christmas is coming - our family will be back home in time for the holiday!"
Gwen and Frank then immediately set about the process of of demolition - ripping out water damaged sheet rock, insulation and wall studs, removing water damaged appliances and furniture and sanitizing their home on W12th Road. This was a family who had decided there would be no sitting around waiting for some government agency to come to their rescue.
Gwen and Frank then immediately set about the process of of demolition - ripping out water damaged sheet rock, insulation and wall studs, removing water damaged appliances and furniture and sanitizing their home on W12th Road. This was a family who had decided there would be no sitting around waiting for some government agency to come to their rescue.
Within weeks, they were already hard at work rewiring electrical systems even before power was restored, fixing the plumbing and shortly thereafter, they began the process of studding out, and insulating, and sheet rocking new walls. It was truly amazing to watch as this family was busy bringing new construction materials into their house while the rest of us were still overwhelmed trying to empty our homes of water damaged debris!
During all the post Sandy madness Gwen and Frank always found time to go out of their way to visit with their neighbors on W12th who remained in their houses after the storm to see if anyone needed anything.
Like many of us, the O'Tooles would trek up to the American Legion for a hot meal and maybe a side trip to the VFW for sanitation supplies only to immediately return to continue work on their home on W12th Road as there was still new paint that had to be applied to the walls of their newly renovated 1st floor.
If you happened to be on West 12th Road on the evening of December 24th, 2012 as I was, less than 2 months after Sandy, you would have been witness to a true "Broad Channel Christmas Miracle". The O'Toole house was the only finished residence on the street, newly furnished and brightly lit with a big Christmas tree with all the trimmings visible through the window. If you listened closely you could hear the soft sounds of holiday music coming from within. The O'Toole family was, indeed, home for the holidays. One neighbor who was with me that evening remarked "I guess we'll all get through this thing OK!"
It should also be mentioned that immediately after New Years 2013, Gwen and Frank O'Toole set about arranging and planning for the First Annual Post Sandy West 12th Block Party which has become an annual event for our block. More importantly, despite the family's move to Noel Road, Gwen O'Toole has stated for the record that she will continue to arrange and plan for the annual West 12th Road Block Party!
It should also be mentioned that immediately after New Years 2013, Gwen and Frank O'Toole set about arranging and planning for the First Annual Post Sandy West 12th Block Party which has become an annual event for our block. More importantly, despite the family's move to Noel Road, Gwen O'Toole has stated for the record that she will continue to arrange and plan for the annual West 12th Road Block Party!
All of us remaining on West 12th Road will truly miss the O'Toole family, but our Broad Channel neighbors on Noel Road are the better for it!
They will be sorely missed!
ReplyDeleteI can't even imagine the block without O'Tooles!
ReplyDelete