O’Toole Family fire recovery fund

Around 8 PM on Thursday, December 8th, the O’Toole family lost their home and their beloved pets in a devastating fire. While thinking about writing this, the theme song from Cheers keeps playing over and over again in my head. “Where everybody knows your name…” If you’ve lived in Barnstable in the past almost 40 years, you know their names: Michael, Carol, Barnaby, Grace, Maddie, and Tristan O’Toole. Did you or your kids have Mrs. O’Toole (Ms. Carol) at Cotuit Nursery School? Did you ever sit in a pew with Carol on a Sunday at Cotuit Federated Church and laughed inappropriately while service was going? (You ladies know I’m talking about you). Did you ever have Mr. O’Toole, “that cool elementary school teacher who had a ponytail and played guitar”? Ever listened to Mike play Irish music down Cape or heard him play at Loop Beach during Easter Sunrise Service? Did Carol or Grace teach you how to ride a horse? If you were in high school or middle school in Barnstable circa 1997, does the name Barnaby or a band named "Wick" ring a bell? Have you had your yard landscaped by Tristan with Hand Picked Landscapes? Has a beautiful young lady named Maddie helped take care of an ailing family member? Did you ever buy a painting from Carol at the Brushoff or the Cotuit Craft Fest? And of course the family member that most people have interacted with, has Grace ever helped you at Cotuit Liquors?

The O'Tooles have been this community's teachers, workers, artists, and friends for 40+ years, and now they need help. The house will most likely be a total loss. Barnaby and Tristan have lost everything. Part of the house was spared by flames, but the water and smoke damage is unfathomable. Of course the hardest part was not only losing their home, but also losing their beloved pets: an African Grey parrot named Finbar and their Wheaton terrier August (Auggie). If you’ve ever taken a riding lesson with Carol, you've seen that beautiful goofball hanging out in a puddle. He probably greeted you in the driveway by walking right over to your car without a care in the world. He sure did love going to work at the barn with his mom and we loved having him there. Mud, horse poop, kids and cats… the perfect life for a dog.

Money can't replace Auggie, Finbar, or the decades of memories in that house, but it can make this transition easier. Any donation is greatly appreciated. Please keep the O’Tooles in your prayers.

-Taylor, Katie & Amanda