Toms river started out as a large but sparsely populated agrarian town near the atlantic ocean, barnegat bay, and the toms river, which gave the town its name. For the readers of a civil action, the emperor of all maladies and the. At the heart of the book are linda and michael gillick, a mother and son whose live were completely reshaped by michael s devastating cancer and treatments. The more attention the suspected cancer cluster got, the larger the stain on. Making the round trip was a fivemile walk, but it was worth it, just to get away. To get there i walked down prospect avenue, and then cut corners to bayside avenue. Aug 14, 2018 gillick, once at odds with toms rivers water supplier, suez toms river, now considers the company an ally. One of the most heartwrenching is that of michael gillick. Jim mastrokalos, general manager of suez in toms river, agrees.
The new york timesthe riveting true story of a small town ravaged by industrial pollution, toms river melds hardhitting investigative reporting, a fascinating scientific detective story, and an unforgettable cast of characters into a sweeping. The riveting true story of sixty years in the life of a small town ravaged by industrial pollution, toms river melds hardhitting investigative reporting, a fascinating scientific detective story, and an unforgettable cast of characters into a sweeping narrative. Danny devitos jersey 2nd avenue options dan fagins pulitzerwinning book toms river. A story of science and salvation is a 20 nonfiction book by the american author dan fagin. In this excerpt, author dan fagin focuses on toms river resident michael gillick, and his lifelong battle with cancer. This study guide consists of approximately 49 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of toms river.
Select this result to view michael gillick s phone number, address, and more. The story of a notorious cluster of childhood cancers the asco. Richard hauenstein obituary death notice and service. Toms river was two and a half miles west of the school.
The list of materials that were used to construct this building includes wood. Dec 16, 2001 if there is an erin brockovich in this story, it is mrs. A recent study found that one chemical in the water did. Children in this coastal new jersey town were coming down with r. Joel perlmutter obituary 1936 2017 80, toms river, nj. While the grand story arc encompasses hundreds of years of history, the parts relating to toms river focus on approximately the last 60 years. Michael is related to leigh gillick and linda l gillick as well as 2 additional people. Michaels arts and crafts stores offer a wide selection thats sure to cover your creative needs. Hello friends, as ive mentioned before, i dont give a lot of talks anymore about the toms river book because im so deep into my next book project, but princeton university has invited me to give the opening keynote of what looks like a wonderful and exquisitely well timed online symposium on truth and evidence oct. Mar 04, 2017 the warm colors of this world were dimmed today by the loss of a man who brought joy, humor, generosity and charity to so many lives. Apr 23, 2014 two of the toms river residents who share their ordeal in the book are linda gillick and her son michael, whose fastgrowing tumors decimated his body. His cancerwhich has spread to his face, bones and heart, filling much of his body cavitycould kill him at any time.
Fagin subtitled the book as story of science and salvation. The truth about what happened in toms river would never emerged without their passion, skill, and commitment. Michael s present occupation is listed as a research assistant at ucla law school library. Michael gillicks phone number, email, address spokeo. Arts and crafts stores toms river, new jersey michaels. About our childhood cancer charity toms river, nj ocean. Plant memorial trees opens send flowers url in a new window. Mar 19, 20 dan fagins new book, toms river, is an edgeofyourseat account of industry and illness in a new jersey town, with plenty of side trips. Toms river a chemical found in the treated water of a superfund site in toms river believed to be associated with a childhood cancer cluster did not cause cancer in rats but the laboratory. Michael gillick is one of the people living with cancer, a probable result of pollution in the area.
Fagins book may not endear him to toms river s real estate agents, but its exhaustive reporting and honest look at the cause, obstacles, and unraveling of a cancerous trail should be required environmental reading. Linda gillick s son, michael, was diagnosed with cancer at only 3 months old. Born in beachwood, he lived most of his life in toms river. Toms river cancer cluster still a mystery despite 20 years. Michael gillick phone, address, background info whitepages. Initially, with research underway on many fronts and conclusions expected, the toms river families had hesitated to involve attorneys.
Poisoned by industrial pollution mind and body utne reader. We would like nothing more than to be able to say childhood cancer no longer exists. Linda gillick it started over 25 years ago when a hauler illegally dumped thousands of 55 gallon drums of chemical waste in our town of dover township toms river new jersey. Mar 19, 20 winner of the pulitzer prize winner of the new york public librarys helen bernstein book award a new classic of science reporting. Feb 17, 2017 shots of toms river over the years can be spotted in episodes of mtvs jersey shore, but to look deeper into the towns past a reader can delve into the investigative reporting by author and. Two of the toms river residents who share their ordeal in the book are linda gillick and her son michael, whose fastgrowing tumors. Nineteenyearold michael gillick was diagnosed with neuroblastoma at the age of 3 12 months. Find the best information and most relevant links on all topics related tothis domain may be for sale. Linda gillick is the cofounder of ocean of love and had been the executive director of the nonprofit organization for over 25 years. The chemicals were from the manufacturing of plastics at the union carbide chemical plant in boundbrook, new jersey. Unfortunately, we have grown bigger than we ever expected. May 23, 20 in addition to weaving the science and history through the story, fagin adds the faces of the people who lived and died in toms river. A story of science and salvation traces the story of a.
Michael gillick, who defied all the odds and lived to be a young adult, has fought neuro blastoma, a rare nervous system cancer, since he was 3 months old. Ocean of love was cofounded by linda gillick and the late george goldt and it began by assisting 12 families in 1988 and, to date, has helped over 600 families. Cibageigy and the toms river cancer cluster settlement. Toms river nj quotes 2 quotes meet your next favorite book. The prologue of fagins book tells the story of a neuroblastoma survivor, michael gillick, who was born in toms river in 1979. Mar 30, 20 their story and their drive to answer what happened at toms river, where too many kids turned up sick with cancer for coincidence in the 1980s, is the soul of the book. Find inspiration at a toms river, new jersey craft store near you. As of november 1, 2016, linda has retired and is the executive director emeritus.
The second best result is michael gillick age 40s in toms river, nj. Fagin opens with toms river resident michael gillick, a fully. Toms river cancer cluster still a mystery despite 20 years of. Hazardous waste in toms river was responsible for a sudden outbreak of childhood cancers there. More specifically, it was coal tar being processed by the largest coal tar dye facility in america. May 24, 20 gillick marshalled the families of toms river to demand the state and federal governments to study their water supply. Relatives and friends are invited monday, beginning at 11. Mar 21, 2014 environmentalist and philanthropist linda gillick, whose efforts to remove toxins from local waterways inspired the book toms river. The book goes beyond the toms river phenomenon itself to examine the many factors that came together in that one spot, from the birth of the synthetic chemical industry to the evolution of epidemiology to the physicians who invented occupational medicine. A story of science and salvation, environmental reporter dan fagin recounts the 60year saga of rampant pollution and inadequate oversight that makes toms river a cautionary example. It is about the dumping of industrial pollution by. Linda believes michael s cancer, along with a cluster of cases in toms river were all associated with a chemical found in the treated water of a superfund site in the area. Dan fagin handles topics of great complexity with the dexterity of a scholar, the honesty of a journalist, and the dramatic skill of a novelist. Michael gillick is 42 years old today because michael s birthday is on 02011979.
Find michael gillick s phone number, address, and email on spokeo, the leading online directory for contact information. Michael is just one of more than 100 children with cancer in or near the small town of toms river, n. Once her son michael was diagnosed with cancer as a baby, ms. Mar 19, 20 former newsday environmental journalist fagins work may not be quite as riveting in its particulars as skloots book, but it features jawdropping accounts of senseless wastedisposal practices set against the inspiring saga of the families who stood up to the enormous toms river chemical plant. Toms river when scientists recently told a group of toms river residents that a substance found in their drinking water nearly 20 years ago doesnt cause cancer, there was a collective sense. Childhood cancer awareness toms river, nj ocean of love. William armstrong obituary 2021 83, toms river, nj. Williams cuker berezofsky represented families whose lives were impacted by the environmental disaster at toms river, nj.
As a professor of environmental history i would consider this a book that is essential reading. His father and then his mother noticed very scary things happening with michael. Gillick, once at odds with toms rivers water supplier, suez toms river, now considers the company an ally. This book covers a lot of territory, but i found it all quite interesting. Gabrielle pascarella never had much of a chance to fight. If there is an erin brockovich in this story, it is mrs. And as one reads this book, it becomes evident how human grief and a. Gillick led the community in trying to get at the truth of what caused her sons and other childrens cancers.
You know, the first 30 years of our lives were carefree, like any young couple. Michael gillick, 42 toms river, nj background report at. But michael s mother linda is one of the absolute most important. He was a happy, beautiful, cherubic baby for the first three months of his life. This is linda, followed by michael, speaking to the show earth focus. Mar 29, 2019 toms river when scientists recently told a group of toms river residents that a substance found in their drinking water nearly 20 years ago doesnt cause cancer, there was a collective sense.
Apr 02, 20 fagin michael s mother, linda gillick, was there were many people in this story that played crucial roles in propelling this thing forward and eventually getting some semblance of the truth out about what really happened in toms river. Chemical found at toms river superfund site didnt cause. Child cancer cluster in toms river, nj williams cuker. Deemed a new classic of environmental reporting by the new york times when it was originally published in hardcover, toms river island press, 20 is the story of how the town of toms river, nj, was plagued by industrial pollution, and how the community fought for justice. Danny devito options dan fagins pulitzerwinning book toms river. Find more earth focus content at toms river had a problem. A story of science and salvation, environmental reporter dan fagin recounts the 60year saga of rampant pollution and inadequate oversight that makes toms river a cautionary example for industrial towns, not just in the united states, but also in other countries like china.
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