Our 2011 Boston Bakes Honoree
This year’s honoree is Colleen O’ Farrell. It was Kim Carrigan, our spokesperson and anchor at Fox 25 Morning News, who first brought us the news of Colleen’s struggle. Kim has been a supporter of Boston Bakes for Breast Cancer for many years and so has the entire team at Fox 25. News of Colleen first came to us at a kick-off celebration being held at Finale for Boston Bakes for Breast Cancer 2008. We were celebrating Executive Pastry Chef Nicole Coady, her mother and her late grandmother, when we learned the story.
Kim shared with us that breast cancer had touched our very good friends at Fox 25. They were deeply affected and heartbroken that one of their own “family” members was fighting the disease.
Every year, during the week of Boston Bakes For Breast Cancer, the Fox 25 Dedham studio recorded a promotional segment for us. And we would see and work with Colleen O’Farrell, who was the floor director for the Fox 25 Morning News.
It seemed that in 2007, at the age of 36, Colleen was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer. At the time that we learned of her illness, she had already been struggling for over a year and for the next two years continued to fight. Unfortunately, in early 2010, Colleen lost the her final battle, leaving behind her husband Pete and two young children.
Last year was the first year we did our Boston Bakes segment at the Fox studio that Colleen was not present. Being at the studio you could feel the loss. But Colleen was in everyone thoughts.
It is only fitting that we dedicate Boston Bakes 2011 to the memory of Colleen O’Farrell-a special young woman who touched the hearts of all she knew, including ours.
Boston Bakes Past Honorees
BITTERSWEET MEMORIES
At Boston Bakes For Breast Cancer, we strongly believe in hope. We support every effort being made in the battle to beat breast cancer. That’s why we think it’s so important to honor the lives of those touched by the disease.
Everyone’s a Superhero, History of the Honoree
Initially, Carol Sneider, our founder, never thought to dedicate each year’s Annual Boston Bakes For Breast Cancer Event to an individual. But she became inspired to do so after a conversation she had with the Pastry Chef, Stacy Klein.
The year was 2005, and Stacy Klein had just joined as a new Boston Bakes volunteer. Carol and Stacy’s family stories were both very similar, each had lost a mother to breast cancer. Which got Carol thinking- what motivates a volunteer to join the cause?
It didn’t take her long to discover that every member of the Boston Bakes volunteer group had encountered the disease. Each member had been touched in a way that was truly personal. Each story was different, but the loss was the same.
That’s when Carol realized it was vitally important to recognize and remember these special women and sometimes men, who had been lost, but whose lives had touched our participant’s lives.
That’s how the Dedicated Honoree idea came to fruition. The concept brought a new, wonderful dimension to Boston Bakes for Breast Cancer. It made it personal in a way that everyone could relate to.
Past Honorees
In 2005, the first honoree became Mary Klein, Stacy’s mother. What a memorable year Boston Bakes 2005 was! And what a pleasure it was to work with Stacy and hear the stories about her mom.
In 2007, Boston Bakes for Breast Cancer was dedicated to the memory of Wendy English, sister of our friend and Boston Bakes participant, Todd English. Wendy lost her battle with breast cancer at the age of 42.
Boston Bakes for Breast Cancer 2008 was dedicated to breast cancer survivor’s Dianna Ryan and Lucille Messenger, mother and grandmother of Finale’s Executive Pastry Chef, Nicole Coady.
Boston Bakes 2009 was dedicated to breast cancer survivor and 92 year- old grandmother of Tim Fonseca, Executive Pastry Chef Four Seasons Boston Hotel.
In 2010, Boston Bakes for Breast Cancer was dedicated to the memory of Patsy Nasson, mother of Pastry Chef and Owner of the Mediterranean, Leslie Hewson.
