Words: George Oliphant
Photos:
Watch as a community in Long Beach, NY bands together to honor the memory of Casey Skudin, a highly decorated FDNY firefighter and Town of Hempstead lifeguard, by helping to renovate the respective bedrooms of his beloved wife Angela and two sons. 🌊💙 NYC firefighter, Casey Skudin, was on a trip with his wife Angela and their children, Ben and CJ, to celebrate both Father’s Day and his birthday, when a 2000-lb tree crashed through the roof of their car during a windstorm. While the rest of the family was able to crawl out of the crushed vehicle to safety, Casey was killed instantly.
Now, in the aftermath of such an abrupt and heartbreaking loss, the Skudins are bravely trying to pick up the pieces of the life they had once known, as they move forward with strength, healing, and hope — all while remembering the wonderful father, husband, and real-life hero that Casey was in his community of Long Beach, NY. Which was why George Oliphant and the ‘George to the Rescue’ team were beyond thrilled for the opportunity to honor Casey’s memory by providing this warm and loving family of talented surfers with the necessary upgrades needed to make their home, which was in the process of being repaired by Casey at the time, a true sanctuary to retreat to and create beautiful new memories in together.
This ‘George to the Rescue’ episode serves as a testament to the enduring power of unconditional love, the uplifting waves of community support, as well as the promise of new beginnings in the wake of tragedy. Special thanks to all the generous vendors, contracting, and design teams who made this renovation possible for the Skudin family!