More than 40 years after chemicals were dumped on a farm in toms river, residents still dont know what caused a cancer cluster in their children. And although the book concludes that the toms river cancer cluster. She organized a group of families of children with cancer called ocean of love, named after ocean county, where toms river is located. The story of a notorious cluster of childhood cancers the asco. Their story is told by our guest, dan fagin, in his now pulitzer prizewinning book,toms river. 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. 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. Gillick led the community in trying to get at the truth of what caused her sons and other childrens cancers. Winner of the pulitzer prize winner of the new york public librarys helen bernstein book award a new classic of science reporting. New yorker masterful portrayal of the scientific process at work in a town facing environmental crisis. Linda gillick phone, address, background info whitepages.
Healing is a likely outcome of a book imbued with the righteous anger, compassion and humanity of swing low. Danny devitos jersey films 2nd avenue has optioned the screen rights to toms river. Linda gillick whose son michael was diagnosed with neuroblastoma when he was only three. If the smokestack emissions clouding the skies over toms river fighting cancer, was a catalyst. Here are five fun facts about toms river, adapted from a presentation by. We have everything you need in this town only minutes away. Toms river cancer cluster still a mystery despite 20 years of. Toms river, nj ocean of love nonprofit in ocean county. It is ironic that within a week after reading dan fagins book, toms river. More than 35 million people per month use our free and premium people search engine and background checks to reconnect with friends and family, keep contacts up to date, and verify identities. But the towns people like linda gillick and her son michael. Poisoned by industrial pollution mind and body utne reader. Michael gillick said residents of toms river and other towns have to get involved, to question public officials, to make sure their concerns are taken seriously. 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 500 families.
A story of science and salvation, the pulitzer prizewinning book by dan. In this excerpt, author dan fagin focuses on toms river resident michael gillick, and his lifelong battle with cancer. Well field, the main source for townships water utility, united water toms river, only a mile away. Gillick, once at odds with toms rivers water supplier, suez toms river, now considers the company an ally. Mar 30, 20 toms river navigates an environmental legacy. How toms river treaded the murky waters of a health. The pulitzer judges called it a book that deftly combines investigative reporting and historical research to probe a new jersey seashore towns cluster visit from any mobile browser. Linda gillick is the cofounder of ocean of love and had been the executive director of the nonprofit organization for over 25 years. It is about the dumping of industrial pollution by chemical companies including cibageigy, in toms river, new jersey, beginning in 1952 through the 1980s, and the epidemiological investigations of a cancer cluster that subsequently emerged there.
The new york times the 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. 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 of deja vu. 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. And that was the beginning of what became a really serious dumping issue in toms river. Mar 24, 20 dan fagin tells the story of the town in his new book, toms river. A story of science and salvation, was awarded the 2014 pulitzer prize for general nonfiction. 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. It was the home of linda gillick and her son, michael, whose life has been spent battling cancer diagnosed when he.
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. Linda gillick whose son michael was diagnosed with neuroblastoma when he. Michael gillick is one of the people living with cancer, a probable result of pollution in the area. Two of the toms river residents who share their ordeal in the book are linda gillick and her son michael, whose fastgrowing tumors. But the towns people like linda gillick and her son michael, who was born in.
Reading dan fagins account of what happened in toms river the past 50 years the water. Toms river june 24 is officially toms rivers 250th birthday. Dan fagin s new book, toms river, is an edgeofyourseat account of industry and illness in a new jersey town, with plenty of side trips. Research assistant at ucla law school library is presently michaels occupation. Toms river white pages phone books in new jersey nj. 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. Children in this coastal new jersey town were coming down with rare types of cancer. Funeral home services for richard are being provided by silverton memorial funeral home.
As of november 1, 2016, linda has retired and is the executive director emeritus. Gcu hosts community hero, environmental activist linda gillick. Environmentalist and philanthropist linda gillick, whose efforts to remove toxins from local waterways inspired the book toms river. The chemicals were from the manufacturing of plastics at the union carbide chemical plant in boundbrook, new jersey. Dan fagins new book, toms river, is an edgeofyourseat account of industry and illness in a new jersey town, with plenty of side trips. You know, the first 30 years of our lives were carefree, like any young couple.
Michael gillick is 41 years old and was born on 02011979. A story of science and salvation, will speak at georgian. 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. This is linda, followed by michael, speaking to the show earth focus. How much do you know about the townships rich history. Incredible book, maddening in underscoring the collaborative relationships between pollutors and regulators. Mar 24, 20 berkeley, nj a look back at toms river, cibageigy and reich farm. Fagin opens with toms river resident michael gillick, a fully grown. A story of science and salvation dan fagin bantam, 560 pp.
The name was first tom s river, then changed just to toms river. Since age 3, michael has suffered from a brain cancer called neuroblastoma. Williams cuker berezofsky represented families whose lives were impacted by the environmental disaster at toms river, nj. Berkeley, nj a look back at toms river, cibageigy and reich farm. A story of science and salvation is a 20 nonfiction book by the american author dan fagin. Jun 26, 2015 williams cuker berezofsky represented families whose lives were impacted by the environmental disaster at toms river, nj. Chemical found at toms river superfund site didnt cause. Child cancer cluster in toms river, nj williams cuker. It was the home of linda gillick and her son, michael, whose life has been spent battling cancer diagnosed when he was 3. Unfortunately, we have grown bigger than we ever expected.
We would like nothing more than to be able to say childhood cancer no longer exists. Once her son michael was diagnosed with cancer as a baby, ms. So does 20yearold michael anderson, who was diagnosed with. Linda gillick lives in the village of toms river, new jersey, with her 20yearold son michael.
The settlement that was founded in 1712 along the river subsequently took the name as well. A story of science and salvation from the worlds largest community of readers. Jim mastrokalos, general manager of suez in toms river, agrees. The hero of toms river is surely linda gillick, whose son, michael, was. Nineteenyearold michael gillick was diagnosed with neuroblastoma at the age of 3 12 months. Fagin weaves a riveting tale of of chemical pollution in toms river, new jersey, with the story of cancer epidemiology from the 18th century teen chimney sweeps who suffered scrotal cancer to the apparent childhood cluster in toms river. 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. Dec 16, 2001 that month, when the health department held a public meeting in toms river high school, about 1,200 residents listened as michael gillick gave a speech that would set the tone for the evening. Mar 12, 20 how toms river cracked a cancer cluster. Mar 21, 2014 environmentalist and philanthropist linda gillick, whose efforts to remove toxins from local waterways inspired the book toms river. Aug 19, 20 it is ironic that within a week after reading dan fagins book, toms river. We use cookies on this site to enhance the visitor experience. Find inspiration at our craft store in toms river, new jersey nj.
He was a happy, beautiful, cherubic baby for the first three months of his life. 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. His cancerwhich has spread to his face, bones and heart, filling much of his body cavitycould kill him at any time. Michael gillick, 41 toms river, nj background report at. 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. Waterborne destruction has visited toms river before, albeit via less conspicuous. If there is an erin brockovich in this story, it is mrs. Toms river cancer cluster still a mystery despite 20 years. Search our online phone book to find phone numbers. Were 10 minutes from some of the best beaches on the east coast, an hour from philly and nyc, 2 hours from the snowboard mountain, and we have all the seasons. A cancer cluster scenario that affected children was only one part. The toms river was known as goose creek until it was renamed in the early 18th century either for english captain william toms, farmer and ferryman thomas luker, or a native american named tom. Doctors believed that her son, michael, developed cancer while still in the womb. Waterborne destruction has visited toms river before, albeit via less conspicuous channels, which dan fagin traces with marvelous precision in his new book, toms river.
Michael gillick said residents of toms river and other towns have to. One of the most heartwrenching is that of michael gillick. Massachusetts, was chronicled in the book and movie a civil action. A story of science and salvation, i saw a tv replay of the movie, a civil action, starring jon travolta. For the readers of a civil action, the emperor of all maladies and the.
Richard hauenstein obituary toms river, new jersey. That month, when the health department held a public meeting in toms river high school, about 1,200 residents listened as michael gillick gave a. Whitepages, founded in 1997, helps you stay in contact with and verify the people in your world. So lets talk about what started to happen in the community, what people started noticing. Linda believes michaels cancer, along with a cluster of cases in. Michael is just one of more than 100 children with cancer in or near the small town of toms river, n. 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. On the rare occasions when michael gillick needed to know what day it was, he could check his pillbox. Linda gillicks son, michael, was diagnosed with cancer at only 3 months old. Thats linda and michael gillick, two residents of toms river, new jersey. Jun 15, 2017 toms river june 24 is officially toms river s 250th birthday. Whitepages is the largest and most trusted online phone book and directory.
A science journalism professor at new york university, dan fagin is a nationally prominent journalist on environmental health topics. Dan fagin tells the story of the town in his new book, toms river. To find more books that pique our interest, visit the utne reader bookshelf. As in the woburn case, described in jonathan harrs book, a civil. Two decades after that unknown substance got a name. Richard hauenstein passed away on november 17, 2019 in toms river, new jersey. 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.
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