The Thomas H. & Catherine D. O'Neil Charitable Foundation, Inc

12/15/2025

10/24/2025

Dear Friends,
The dedication of the Cocoanut Grove Memorial has been rescheduled to May 2026.

Thanks to your generosity, we’ve raised $725,000 so far. However, unexpected excavation costs at Statler Park have left us $128,000 short of our goal.

What’s been completed:
Granite bricks engraved with all 490 victims’ names
Work has begun on the stainless steel frame and glass wall

What’s next:
We’re applying for grants and corporate support—but your donations remain crucial to finishing the memorial. Every dollar helps us reach the goal.

Please join us for our Annual Vigil
🕯️ Saturday, November 29, 2025, at 3 PM
📍 Piedmont Street, Bay Village

With heartfelt thanks,
Cocoanut Grove Memorial Committee City of Boston Boston Firefighters Local 718 IAFFs Boston Globe

https://www.cocoanutgrove.org/donate

09/16/2025

Looking for an Angel to finish off the fundraising and get this
Memorial finished. Please keep sharing until an insurance foundation, private foundation or private equity firm comes forward. It’s time to honor these people!

Dear Friends,
We have a change with the dedication of the Cocoanut Grove Memorial, it will now be in May, 2026.
Despite our best efforts in raising some $725,000 towards the Memorial thus far, we were faced with an
unexpected cost for the Excavation Site Work at Statler Park, which has put us $128,000 short of funds
to fully complete the project. Our Design Team has purchased the granite bricks, engraved and polished
the 490 names of the victims of the fire. Work has also been started with the stainless steel frame and
the glass wall, however, we need to raise the additional funds for the Memorial to be completed. We
will be submitting applications for grant resources and from corporations, and would welcome any
financial support you can donate.
We regret the delay, and appreciate your understanding and support. It’s been 83 years since the
Cocoanut Grove Fire, and this Memorial is something we can all be proud of. We are very close to
accomplishing this worthy tribute to the 490 victims, as well as the survivors, first responders, brave
citizens and medical professionals. As we have in years passed we plan to hold a Vigil on Saturday,
November 29, 2025, at 3 PM at Piedmont Street in the Bay Village Neighborhood and welcome you to
join us.
We know this is disappointing news, but the dedication in May will bring better weather and allow
everyone to view the Memorial and find family members, who will now be preserved in Boston’s
history.
Paul Miller and the Members of the Cocoanut Grove Memorial Committee thank you for your friendship
and input to this worthy endeavor. We’re inches from the goal line, and together, we can we can
achieve this goal.
Sincerely yours,
Mike Hanlon

09/11/2025

Dear Friends,
We have a change with the dedication of the Cocoanut Grove Memorial, it will now be in May, 2026.
Despite our best efforts in raising some $725,000 towards the Memorial thus far, we were faced with an
unexpected cost for the Excavation Site Work at Statler Park, which has put us $128,000 short of funds
to fully complete the project. Our Design Team has purchased the granite bricks, engraved and polished
the 490 names of the victims of the fire. Work has also been started with the stainless steel frame and
the glass wall, however, we need to raise the additional funds for the Memorial to be completed. We
will be submitting applications for grant resources and from corporations, and would welcome any
financial support you can donate.
We regret the delay, and appreciate your understanding and support. It’s been 83 years since the
Cocoanut Grove Fire, and this Memorial is something we can all be proud of. We are very close to
accomplishing this worthy tribute to the 490 victims, as well as the survivors, first responders, brave
citizens and medical professionals. As we have in years passed we plan to hold a Vigil on Saturday,
November 29, 2025, at 3 PM at Piedmont Street in the Bay Village Neighborhood and welcome you to
join us.
We know this is disappointing news, but the dedication in May will bring better weather and allow
everyone to view the Memorial and find family members, who will now be preserved in Boston’s
history.
Paul Miller and the Members of the Cocoanut Grove Memorial Committee thank you for your friendship
and input to this worthy endeavor. We’re inches from the goal line, and together, we can we can
achieve this goal.
Sincerely yours,
Mike Hanlon