Stephen's death shows importance of supporting homeless men
Citizen, The (Auburn, NY) - Saturday, July 2, 2011
Recently, a news headline came out stating the body of a 40-something-year-old man had been found near the water in Auburn. Many people wondered about "foul play" and wanted to hear more to know what safety precautions they should take. At Chapel House, we worried for another reason.
You see, we had a man whom we had grown to know, whom we knew lived near the water in the very areas where his lifeless body was found -- and that he frequented the normal haunts of the homeless. His name was Stephen. As soon as I heard the news of the body, I began to pray that it was not him. Unfortunately, my worst fears were soon confirmed. The dead man by the water was Stephen!
Many people will have read his obituary and believe that Stephen's choices to remain homeless were "on him" and what ultimately became of him was "up to him." Here is what many of you do not know of Stephen. For 18 years, Stephen was a trusted and well-respected employee of a local company, but lost his job so that younger, inexperienced employees could be hired and paid less. Stephen had owned a home, had a wife and a child. He also had a car that he loved to tell stories about; if fact, he loved to talk about cars in general. He also loved nature and was an avid hunter and fisherman. Most importantly, he was a beloved son, brother, uncle and friend to many.
I met Stephen on a freezing cold night this winter when he appeared at the Chapel House suffering from pneumonia, frostbite, exposure and a raging fever. For two months he stayed with us while he recovered, and as the days went on, we all learned to know and love him. Stephen was also troubled. He was an alcoholic and had a seizure disorder. Often the alcohol prevented him from worrying about the seizures. For many people in this world, alcohol seems to make the troubles "go away." However, the seizure disorder didn't go away and ultimately was responsible for Stephen's passing away.
Stephen's family has given me permission to share some of his personal information with all of you in the hopes that you would become more aware of the homeless and to end some myths regarding homeless men especially. I would first like to address some statistics. The average lifespan of a man in the United States is now 74. The average life of a homeless man in America is 34. Stephen beat the odds by just a few years. Additionally, homeless men are not all alcoholics or drugs addicts. In fact, most become homeless due to lack of employment, divorce or other financial struggles. With assistance, 79 percent of homeless men are able to regain employment and stabilized housing within 12 months and will remain stabilized.
I would like the public to know how much Chapel House Inc. does on a daily basis to assist the homeless men of Cayuga County in regaining their dignity in order to rebuild their lives. They are out daily looking for jobs, seeking housing and attempting to gain a foothold back to stability. Although we as a society are taught to protect and shield our women and children, our men often don't get the support that they need. In memory of Stephen, please continue to support Chapel House. As long as I live, I will always believe that, yes, we are our brothers' keeper!
In loving memory of Stephen Shields, and with love and respect to his family, with love and God's blessing from our house to yours...
Amy Ragonese is the executive director at Chapel House, a 19-bed residential homeless shelter for men in Auburn
-----------------------------------------
Stephen H. Shields June 14, 2011 Stephen H. Shields, 48, passed away Tuesday, June 14, 2011. An area resident previously employed at McQuay/Snyder General. Surviving are his parents, Ronald and Barbara, Auburn ; daughter, Brandy Shields, Cayuga; siblings, Sally Entwistle, Pamela DeTomaso, Lisa Sampson, Ron Shields Jr., Tammy Oliver, Sandy Shields, Robert Shields. Private services at the convenience of the family. Memorials may be made to the Chapel House, 36 Franklin Street, Auburn, NY. Farrell's Funeral Service, Inc., 84 South St., Auburn.
Published Syracuse Post Standard on June 16, 2011
Citizen, The (Auburn, NY) - Saturday, July 2, 2011
Recently, a news headline came out stating the body of a 40-something-year-old man had been found near the water in Auburn. Many people wondered about "foul play" and wanted to hear more to know what safety precautions they should take. At Chapel House, we worried for another reason.
You see, we had a man whom we had grown to know, whom we knew lived near the water in the very areas where his lifeless body was found -- and that he frequented the normal haunts of the homeless. His name was Stephen. As soon as I heard the news of the body, I began to pray that it was not him. Unfortunately, my worst fears were soon confirmed. The dead man by the water was Stephen!
Many people will have read his obituary and believe that Stephen's choices to remain homeless were "on him" and what ultimately became of him was "up to him." Here is what many of you do not know of Stephen. For 18 years, Stephen was a trusted and well-respected employee of a local company, but lost his job so that younger, inexperienced employees could be hired and paid less. Stephen had owned a home, had a wife and a child. He also had a car that he loved to tell stories about; if fact, he loved to talk about cars in general. He also loved nature and was an avid hunter and fisherman. Most importantly, he was a beloved son, brother, uncle and friend to many.
I met Stephen on a freezing cold night this winter when he appeared at the Chapel House suffering from pneumonia, frostbite, exposure and a raging fever. For two months he stayed with us while he recovered, and as the days went on, we all learned to know and love him. Stephen was also troubled. He was an alcoholic and had a seizure disorder. Often the alcohol prevented him from worrying about the seizures. For many people in this world, alcohol seems to make the troubles "go away." However, the seizure disorder didn't go away and ultimately was responsible for Stephen's passing away.
Stephen's family has given me permission to share some of his personal information with all of you in the hopes that you would become more aware of the homeless and to end some myths regarding homeless men especially. I would first like to address some statistics. The average lifespan of a man in the United States is now 74. The average life of a homeless man in America is 34. Stephen beat the odds by just a few years. Additionally, homeless men are not all alcoholics or drugs addicts. In fact, most become homeless due to lack of employment, divorce or other financial struggles. With assistance, 79 percent of homeless men are able to regain employment and stabilized housing within 12 months and will remain stabilized.
I would like the public to know how much Chapel House Inc. does on a daily basis to assist the homeless men of Cayuga County in regaining their dignity in order to rebuild their lives. They are out daily looking for jobs, seeking housing and attempting to gain a foothold back to stability. Although we as a society are taught to protect and shield our women and children, our men often don't get the support that they need. In memory of Stephen, please continue to support Chapel House. As long as I live, I will always believe that, yes, we are our brothers' keeper!
In loving memory of Stephen Shields, and with love and respect to his family, with love and God's blessing from our house to yours...
Amy Ragonese is the executive director at Chapel House, a 19-bed residential homeless shelter for men in Auburn
-----------------------------------------
Stephen H. Shields June 14, 2011 Stephen H. Shields, 48, passed away Tuesday, June 14, 2011. An area resident previously employed at McQuay/Snyder General. Surviving are his parents, Ronald and Barbara, Auburn ; daughter, Brandy Shields, Cayuga; siblings, Sally Entwistle, Pamela DeTomaso, Lisa Sampson, Ron Shields Jr., Tammy Oliver, Sandy Shields, Robert Shields. Private services at the convenience of the family. Memorials may be made to the Chapel House, 36 Franklin Street, Auburn, NY. Farrell's Funeral Service, Inc., 84 South St., Auburn.
Published Syracuse Post Standard on June 16, 2011
Stephen's death shows importance of supporting homeless men
Citizen, The (Auburn, NY) - Saturday, July 2, 2011
Recently, a news headline came out stating the body of a 40-something-year-old man had been found near the water in Auburn. Many people wondered about "foul play" and wanted to hear more to know what safety precautions they should take. At Chapel House, we worried for another reason.
You see, we had a man whom we had grown to know, whom we knew lived near the water in the very areas where his lifeless body was found -- and that he frequented the normal haunts of the homeless. His name was Stephen. As soon as I heard the news of the body, I began to pray that it was not him. Unfortunately, my worst fears were soon confirmed. The dead man by the water was Stephen!
Many people will have read his obituary and believe that Stephen's choices to remain homeless were "on him" and what ultimately became of him was "up to him." Here is what many of you do not know of Stephen. For 18 years, Stephen was a trusted and well-respected employee of a local company, but lost his job so that younger, inexperienced employees could be hired and paid less. Stephen had owned a home, had a wife and a child. He also had a car that he loved to tell stories about; if fact, he loved to talk about cars in general. He also loved nature and was an avid hunter and fisherman. Most importantly, he was a beloved son, brother, uncle and friend to many.
I met Stephen on a freezing cold night this winter when he appeared at the Chapel House suffering from pneumonia, frostbite, exposure and a raging fever. For two months he stayed with us while he recovered, and as the days went on, we all learned to know and love him. Stephen was also troubled. He was an alcoholic and had a seizure disorder. Often the alcohol prevented him from worrying about the seizures. For many people in this world, alcohol seems to make the troubles "go away." However, the seizure disorder didn't go away and ultimately was responsible for Stephen's passing away.
Stephen's family has given me permission to share some of his personal information with all of you in the hopes that you would become more aware of the homeless and to end some myths regarding homeless men especially. I would first like to address some statistics. The average lifespan of a man in the United States is now 74. The average life of a homeless man in America is 34. Stephen beat the odds by just a few years. Additionally, homeless men are not all alcoholics or drugs addicts. In fact, most become homeless due to lack of employment, divorce or other financial struggles. With assistance, 79 percent of homeless men are able to regain employment and stabilized housing within 12 months and will remain stabilized.
I would like the public to know how much Chapel House Inc. does on a daily basis to assist the homeless men of Cayuga County in regaining their dignity in order to rebuild their lives. They are out daily looking for jobs, seeking housing and attempting to gain a foothold back to stability. Although we as a society are taught to protect and shield our women and children, our men often don't get the support that they need. In memory of Stephen, please continue to support Chapel House. As long as I live, I will always believe that, yes, we are our brothers' keeper!
In loving memory of Stephen Shields, and with love and respect to his family, with love and God's blessing from our house to yours...
Amy Ragonese is the executive director at Chapel House, a 19-bed residential homeless shelter for men in Auburn
-----------------------------------------
Stephen H. Shields June 14, 2011 Stephen H. Shields, 48, passed away Tuesday, June 14, 2011. An area resident previously employed at McQuay/Snyder General. Surviving are his parents, Ronald and Barbara, Auburn ; daughter, Brandy Shields, Cayuga; siblings, Sally Entwistle, Pamela DeTomaso, Lisa Sampson, Ron Shields Jr., Tammy Oliver, Sandy Shields, Robert Shields. Private services at the convenience of the family. Memorials may be made to the Chapel House, 36 Franklin Street, Auburn, NY. Farrell's Funeral Service, Inc., 84 South St., Auburn.
Published Syracuse Post Standard on June 16, 2011
Citizen, The (Auburn, NY) - Saturday, July 2, 2011
Recently, a news headline came out stating the body of a 40-something-year-old man had been found near the water in Auburn. Many people wondered about "foul play" and wanted to hear more to know what safety precautions they should take. At Chapel House, we worried for another reason.
You see, we had a man whom we had grown to know, whom we knew lived near the water in the very areas where his lifeless body was found -- and that he frequented the normal haunts of the homeless. His name was Stephen. As soon as I heard the news of the body, I began to pray that it was not him. Unfortunately, my worst fears were soon confirmed. The dead man by the water was Stephen!
Many people will have read his obituary and believe that Stephen's choices to remain homeless were "on him" and what ultimately became of him was "up to him." Here is what many of you do not know of Stephen. For 18 years, Stephen was a trusted and well-respected employee of a local company, but lost his job so that younger, inexperienced employees could be hired and paid less. Stephen had owned a home, had a wife and a child. He also had a car that he loved to tell stories about; if fact, he loved to talk about cars in general. He also loved nature and was an avid hunter and fisherman. Most importantly, he was a beloved son, brother, uncle and friend to many.
I met Stephen on a freezing cold night this winter when he appeared at the Chapel House suffering from pneumonia, frostbite, exposure and a raging fever. For two months he stayed with us while he recovered, and as the days went on, we all learned to know and love him. Stephen was also troubled. He was an alcoholic and had a seizure disorder. Often the alcohol prevented him from worrying about the seizures. For many people in this world, alcohol seems to make the troubles "go away." However, the seizure disorder didn't go away and ultimately was responsible for Stephen's passing away.
Stephen's family has given me permission to share some of his personal information with all of you in the hopes that you would become more aware of the homeless and to end some myths regarding homeless men especially. I would first like to address some statistics. The average lifespan of a man in the United States is now 74. The average life of a homeless man in America is 34. Stephen beat the odds by just a few years. Additionally, homeless men are not all alcoholics or drugs addicts. In fact, most become homeless due to lack of employment, divorce or other financial struggles. With assistance, 79 percent of homeless men are able to regain employment and stabilized housing within 12 months and will remain stabilized.
I would like the public to know how much Chapel House Inc. does on a daily basis to assist the homeless men of Cayuga County in regaining their dignity in order to rebuild their lives. They are out daily looking for jobs, seeking housing and attempting to gain a foothold back to stability. Although we as a society are taught to protect and shield our women and children, our men often don't get the support that they need. In memory of Stephen, please continue to support Chapel House. As long as I live, I will always believe that, yes, we are our brothers' keeper!
In loving memory of Stephen Shields, and with love and respect to his family, with love and God's blessing from our house to yours...
Amy Ragonese is the executive director at Chapel House, a 19-bed residential homeless shelter for men in Auburn
-----------------------------------------
Stephen H. Shields June 14, 2011 Stephen H. Shields, 48, passed away Tuesday, June 14, 2011. An area resident previously employed at McQuay/Snyder General. Surviving are his parents, Ronald and Barbara, Auburn ; daughter, Brandy Shields, Cayuga; siblings, Sally Entwistle, Pamela DeTomaso, Lisa Sampson, Ron Shields Jr., Tammy Oliver, Sandy Shields, Robert Shields. Private services at the convenience of the family. Memorials may be made to the Chapel House, 36 Franklin Street, Auburn, NY. Farrell's Funeral Service, Inc., 84 South St., Auburn.
Published Syracuse Post Standard on June 16, 2011
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