REQUIEM FOR A YOUNG ISLANDERS FAN
Michael Mulhall loved hockey and the NYI
9:15 pm: As the rest of New York learns more about the tragically brief life stories of Jamie and Paige Malone and Michael Mulhall, the devastation only grows deeper. The three friends, killed in an auto accident on the Meadowbrook Parkway on their way to work Thursday as counselors as Camp Anchor, symbolized the very pride of Long Island.
Run by the Town of Hempstead, Anchor is a camp for the handicapped that is open every weekday in the summer and hosts evening programs in the winter. More than 700 children with special needs attend each summer. They learn to swim and about art and music and dance. They go on day trips to the movies and the Bronz Zoo and the circus. Anchor counselors, as Jamie, Paige and Michael were, start at age 13. Those judged to be among the best after three years are offered a staff position for minimum wage.
A father of a youth counselor – whose children were friends with Michael and the Malone girls – wrote Point Blank over the weekend. “No one who works at Anchor does it for the money,” he wrote. “They are an incredible bunch, these kids. They are a tight-knit group who spend all day working at the camp and then spend their evenings planning the nexy day’s activities. These are the cream of the crop of Long Island youth. They have the biggest hearts in the world.”
Many of the youngsters who work at Anchor do so in honor of siblings who are handicapped. Today, we learned a little more about Michael Mulhall, whose funeral is Tuesday in Floral Park, from a young girl named Kelly N. To give you an idea of the threads that run through Camp Anchor, Kelly is a triplet. The brothers born with her have Autism. This is what Kelly had to say about her friend Michael, a passionate Islanders fan whose life was cut short on the parkway on Thursday morning.
Mike lived for hockey and the Islanders. It was the one thing beside Anchor that he was passionate about. He was a good player. He played at Chaminade. In college, he played at Scranton and lived with the club hockey team in an old colonial house that they patterned after Animal House. He was so full of life. And now he’s gone. He would have been thrilled that Islanders Country remembered him.
Michael Mulhall, who left us at the age of 22, is not going to be forgotten.
His family has requested that donations be made in his memory – where else? – to Camp Anchor. The program has created the Anchor Building Fund with hopes of constructing a building so it can take care of those with special needs year-round. For a life-long Islanders fan like Michael, who will no longer get to see his favorite Islander, John Tavares, play again, here’s a chance for Islanders Country to remember him.
If you are in position to send anything, let them know your donation comes from a fellow follower with Michael of the Orange and Blue and send it in the name of Michael Mulhall to:
Camp Anchor Building Fund
630 Lido Blvd.
Lido Beach, NY 11561
Thank you for the consideration. Comments are welcomed.
55 Responses to REQUIEM FOR A YOUNG ISLANDERS FAN
Michael Mulhall loved hockey and the NYI
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Terrible news. I had the chance to play roller hockey with Mike one summer out here in Scranton a few years back. Hell of a kid. He will be missed, definitely. Thanks for bringing this to everyone’s attention, CB.
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Blizzard says: ….these are the types of stories that shake you and make you prioritize your life in a very different way. Very tragic
Blessings and prayer to their loved ones may they rest in peace.
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How terribly, terribly tragic and sad. My prayers and thoughts are with his family.
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Brian G says:
RIP
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Booten326 says:
My thoughts go out to the families of Jamie, Paige and Michael. May they be granted the strength to endure the rough road ahead. R.I.P.
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pattyb91 says:
RIP
this story kills me, the whole thing is terrible. idk why but the fact that he was a huge Isles fan just made it that much more depressing to me. We just lost a great member of the Islanders family and I would LOVE if maybe the Isles organization donated some money to Camp Anchor in his memory. -
Brett says:
Read about it. What a shame. My thoughts are with the families of the kids. RIP guys.
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TheNewIslesGM says:
Classy move CB….Classy Move.
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Loudville330 says:
CB,you are on a different level of class in the best way possible! Paige and jaimes dad was actually my guidance counselor and I cannot grief what has happened after knowing the family for so long…Sad..So sad
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Steven says:
My thoughts and prayers for the family. May they rest in peace.
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Bobby Banton says:
Condolences to his family. RIP
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Justin M. says:
Chris, my best friend Rob Malone is Paige and Jamie’s first cousin, and I wanted to extend a thank you on their behalf for your mention of this tragedy to two great families. The building in which everyone is donating to had been backed up for a long time due to lack of finance, and in eleven hours they had received enough money to proceed, thanks to mentions like the one you have kindly presented. Once again, thank you, I know this means a lot to the entire Malone family in this very difficult time.
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isles711 says:
I will give whatever I can, and hope others do the same.
Such a huge loss. Those 3 wonderful kids, all trying to make this a better world.
They will not be forgotten. -
B-ri says:
Thanks for this post CB… I grew up with mike and our parents are close friends and I just still cant believe what happened… I remember playing hockey with mike when we were younger and we both dreamed of making it to the show though we obviously weren’t talented enough to do so haha. But I can remember being 12 or 13 and playing hockey in his backyard on a rink that his parents let him make, and being out there all day shooting around. LI lost a great guy thursday, and the Islanders are losing a big fan, though he’s gonna have the best seats in the house when we start getting good. RIP buddy
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Josh says:
So sad. I read about this story when I was up for a couple interviews in New York that day, and I just knew that three families were absolutely devastated beyond belief. It’s really hard to even think about because so many of us 20-somethings know the feeling of having good friends lost in an accident. You certainly have to believe that Michael will have the best seats in the house for opening night.
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matt says:
RIP to the boys and condolences to the family.
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Westfall18 says:
Rest In Peace. I pray that wherever the winds of time take you young men, it’s to a place of peace and love. A place with warm sun and cool waters and of course better hockey games. God Bless.
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Mike from Philly says:
C.B. – Thanks so much for this, my best friend growing up in Floral Park and still to this day is Joe Mulhall. Michael happens to be his cousin and we are all devestated by what happened to the 2 young girls and Mike. I hope everyone keeps them in their prayers, I know my family will.
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Steve Webb says:
It’s so sad to see three great kids lives cut short. Although I was never fortunate enough to meet them, many of my close friends went to school with them or worked with them at the camp. It’s terrifying to think something so tragic can come out of the blue on one of the roads we drive on every day. Prayers are with them and their families’ and friends.
Camp Anchor is probably the best program that the town offers. It is run and staffed by some of the kindest people in the world. Please donate to them.
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Isles fan in CA says:
My condolences go out to his family and friends. Rest in Peace.
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isles77 says:
one of mikes close friends, attended isles games with him regularly, tragic loss, glad to see u recognize a fan and a great guy
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Brother Rat says:
So very, very sad, and major kudos to you, CB, for highlighting this horrible tragedy and the beautiful souls that work at Camp Anchor. A few years ago, I dated a girl from that worked at Camp Anchor years before, through high school, and yet she would always visit back each summer to see the kids and the family-like atmosphere at the camp and I’d go along. Quite a sight to see. Her Anchor experience played a pivotal role in her pursuing a career researching autism. The character of the young men and women who work there, their passion for helping the special needs children….very inspiring. All these negative portrayals of teenagers and college kids in the media and television do not do justice to the kind, selfless souls that do saintly work at Camp Anchor and other facilities like it. My heart goes out to the family and friends of Michael, Jamie, and Paige, and I will certainly be sending a donation.
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hack says:
CB- been a long time reader of this blog, this might be my first post. thank you for posting this. i played hockey with mike the past 2 summers, he was from my town. great kid, always loved to talk isles in the locker room. i will miss him on the rink.
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Harrison Last says:
Chris,
Thank you so much for putting this up. Seeing the support for this has been unbelievable. I work at ANCHOR with these three amazing people and it was absolutely devastating when we first got the news. Thank you for helping our camp and the memory of my ANCHOR family members.
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Ari From Long Island says:
RIP. So sad to read about the tragedy.
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Pete says:
CB, Well written piece about the Facility and the people who work there. It is sad that the awareness of this facility had to come as a result of tragedy. I hope that enough funds are raised to construct this building.
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Frustrated Voter says:
This is incredibly sad especially since these were young people trying to make a difference. My thoughts and prayers are with the families. CB, thanks for writing about this. It’s good to know that there are still good people out there. They are going to a better place.
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Joe in Massapequa says:
I have a sister with special needs and finding these incredible people to work with my sister and her peers is extremely difficult. They had such a love and passion in doing this from such an early age and will be greatly missed. Although I don’t have any personal ties with these young adults may they rest in peace and may God guide there families and give them strength in this incredibly difficult time.
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dose says:
my modest donation is on the way. this is the first i’ve read of this heartbreak and i would have missed it entirely if not for this site.
CB at his best. -
Mook says:
RIP, such a tragic loss.
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sean says:
Feel so sorry for the families my prayers and condolences go out to them.
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Swan says:
Horrible loss. Condolences to all the families.
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isles66 says:
Chris- thanks for this post. I’ve been following this story each morning in Newsday and it rips my heart out to think what these families are going through.
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Tommy H says:
My prayers go out to the families and friends. I will most certainly give each of my four healthy children a “special” hug tonight.
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MARIO E says:
this is a terrible tragedy. you often hear of similar ones in the news but it is related to alcohol or street racing but these kids were doing something they loved and God has a special place for them in heaven. may the rest in peace. my donation is on the way in thier name and I hope many people follow.
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RIP to the young women and the young man. Thoughts and Prayers are with the families during this terrible tragedy.
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ars9x says:
A terrible loss. A member of the Islanders’ family who will be greatly missed. I hope both families find peace.
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kingbet123 says:
My prayers to all the families.
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Seth says:
my thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of everyone involved. My heart breaks after reading about young people that leave us way to young.
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Irish Isle says:
My condonlonces go to both families. No parent should have to bury their own childern. Especially such young lives filled with such promise.
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Kai says:
So tragic. My condolences to their families. RIP
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Gary9-19-22 says:
Always to the good ones.. Just plain tragic…..
Condolences to the families…..
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vukotaismyhero12 says:
Extremely sad that such young people had their lives taken from them so shortly…RIP
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Niteislander says:
Check in the mail. Nicely done CB.. Thoughts and prayers with the families of these kids. RIP and God Bless..
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hockeytime says:
My prayers and condolences to their families.. May they rest in peace.
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kallur says:
Thanks, Chris.
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Tony says:
As the parent of 2 special needs kids, this story really hit home. I have seen what special people the various teachers, therapists and counselors are. I will definitely give what I can.
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Lorne says:
This is beyond a tragedy, I just wish we knew more details about the exact cause of the crash.
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Also my thoughts and prayers are with the families during this difficult time.
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jimisles says:
With all of the negative news that we are feed on a daily basis, what a shame we never get a chance to learn about folks like those five who were in that horrific crash. I knew what Camp Anchor was, yet never knew the process of what these kids had to do to become paid staff. The three who perished were beautiful young souls. For someone who is on the outside looking in it has been heartbreaking no less. As a parent it is magnified that much more. Deepest condolences go out to both familys, friends, and co-worker of these fine people. And let us not forget about this poor girl (the driver) who will unfortunately have to live with this for the rest of her life……
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Jim says:
A very sad story. May these 3 young people rest in peace and may their families find some confort in the happy memories they shared. God Bless
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Scott says:
We miss you and love you Mulhall. And as a Rangers fan it doesn’t hurt me to say, Go Islanders, win it for Mike.
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JD says:
My thoughts and prayers with the families. My contribution will be in the mail.
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I was in Penn Station going home to DC this afternoon, and I had to smile. Six or seven royal blue shirt-wearing volunteers with Camp Anchor logos over their (probably heavy) hearts. With them, around 20-30 adults clothed in turquoise shirts with special needs. So many smiles and laughs between them. I’m not even from Long Island, but it was really touching, from reading the initial story in the Post to this afternoon. God bless those volunteers and those who wanted to help them.
Touching and well-written. It will be nice if something wonderful can come out of something so tragic.