John & Gail Downing

We are two seniors, turning 67 this year, who had planned and counted the days during our working years towards those glorious “retirement” years.  Oh the places we would travel and the fun we would have.  When our friends tried to convince us to sell our home and join them in Florida, we found it unthinkable.  How could we not be part of our grandchildren’s lives on at least a weekly basis.  No football, wrestling, horse shows, baseball, basketball and soccer was unthinkable.

Now we find that we will be part of their life on an everyday basis and to be truthful it is overwhelming.  Homework again and teenagers to raise—it is totally frightening!  God must believe that we are up to it or he wouldn’t have given us this challenge.

I have loved Michelle from the day that I found out that I was expecting her.  It was a wonderful ride.  We never had the terrible teen years and she used to marvel that she couldn’t understand why her classmates didn’t like their mothers.  She was my best friend and confident.  She was a part of my everyday, if only for a quick conversation on what her plans were for the day or to listen to a funny story about one of the children.

I was fortunate to be in the delivery room when Morgan was born and part of her life as well as her brother’s lives from that day forward.  We were by Liam’s bed during all of his hospital days during his treatment for ALL.  I always had the pleasure of picking them up when it was time for them to come home from the hospital and was there to celebrate the end of his treatments with his party at Children’s Hospital.

We shared holidays and vacations and I treasure the memories.  She was a wonderful mother and Todd a caring dad and outstanding coach.  We certainly miss his loud encouragement of all of the boys on the team from the sidelines, not just his own sons.

Kandi Perry

Kandi lives in Princeton, Massachusetts with her husband and two sons. She met Michelle in 2002 while shopping at a local vegetable stand. It was over the tomatoes and corn they realized they shared a passion for horses and photography. For the next 6 years, Todd and Michelle would be a staple in their lives, as friends and with Todd coaching their son in soccer and baseball. Kandi misses Michelle everyday and hopes that though this foundation, she and her family will be part of bringing the community together to support Morgan, Tristan, and Liam.

Doug and Michelle Drohan

The Drohan’s live in Princeton with their five children age ten to twenty. Doug and Todd were co-baseball coaches for Liam and Tristan’s baseball team, the Ditch Diggers, when the accident occured. They were just getting to know each other better as they both shared the same profession and love for coaching. Michelle met Michelle in 2003 when their youngest children, Liam and Jacob became good friends in Kindergarden. A special friendship grew between the boys and the moms over the last five years. There is a void in their hearts as they sorely miss Michelle and Todd and they are compelled to do all they can to support and continue to love Morgan, Tristan and Liam.

Kierstin and Jim Smolinski

The Smolinski’s live in Grafton, Massachusetts with their two children. Kierstin met Michelle 19 years ago when they worked together at a local photography studio and had been best friends ever since. As they grew through life together and met their husbands, Todd and Jim also became best friends over the years and together they would share all of life’s joys as couples and with their children. We are blessed to have that one special friend in our life that knows us better than anyone and that was the role that Michelle and Todd filled in the lives of Kierstin and Jim. Now that they are gone there will always be that irreplaceable void in their hearts, but they also have peace knowing that Michelle and Todd’s memory and legacy will live on through the lives of Morgan, Tristan and Liam. Kierstin and Jim are very thankful that this foundation has been created to help assist the Marsh children with the love and support they are going to need from everyone around them.

Staci Johnson

Staci has lived in Princeton, Massachusetts for 8 years with her husband and two sons, ages 10 and 7.  She had the pleasure of meeting the Marsh family during the soccer season of 2004 when Michelle and Todd coached her eldest boy. The theme of the Johnson/Marsh family’s relationship was sports. Whether it was Todd coaching her children in baseball or soccer or the Marsh boys participating on competing teams the families shared victories and defeats graciously together. Michelle specifically would often have the misfortune of standing between Staci and Todd during a particularly heated soccer match and inevitable suffer from temporary hearing loss as a result of all the shouting and cheering for their respective children.  Staci often thinks of Todd and Michelle and the times they spent together.  Her goal for this foundation is to assist the Marsh children emotionally and financially.

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