About Maggie Tyrrell-Sindaco
Maggie Tyrrell-Sindaco, my loving bride of 22 years lost her battle with ovarian cancer on July 12, 2017. Maggie was a fierce fighter, as her sister Monica stated. Although Maggie strived to constantly be at the top of her game in love, health and sports, this insidious disease took her from us just before her 63rd birthday.
Our Maggie was a truly beautiful woman as best described by a quote from Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross.
“The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.”
Maggie was the middle of 7 children brought into the world by Tom and Mary Jane Tyrrell in 1954. They infused the beaches of Stone Harbor and Avalon, NJ into their lives almost from birth. They spent weeks, months and finally moved the family to Avalon where they all matured into adulthood and flourished. Maggie developed many strong and long-lasting friendships that she made it a point to nourish and enjoy these folks throughout the years.
I was introduced to Maggie by my cousin, Tony when I was looking for a realtor to help us rent a summer vacation home. Maggie was a true professional and accomplished business woman. Having been divorced, she was a single mom with the love of her son keeping her driven. She was focused on him getting the best education, exposure to sports and becoming the best he could be.
Maggie and I married 7 years after my first wife passed away. We had a wonderful 22 years together, rarely being apart and enjoying golf (Maggie), sports, travel and our other interests. It wasn’t easy for us at first but Maggie worked feverishly at blending our 2 families together. My 3 wonderful daughters and her son had a significant adjustment to make and Maggie championed the cause. She insisted that our four children were each given the opportunity of a college education and all the support that was included. We enjoyed much but Maggie never lost sight of her drive to see her son and my 3 girls to become successful.
Maggie just wanted everyone to be happy. Her love for my daughters grew quickly as she guided them into adulthood. Her love of our grandchildren was immense and Maggie was always quick to visit them or invite the family over for our family Sunday dinners. Truth be known Maggie’s greatest joy was when her son had two beautiful children… now Maggie had 2 beautiful grandchildren of her own, a boy first then a girl.
Life was good.
So now it’s up to me and Maggie’s family to keep her love and quest for happiness alive for everyone. As we fought her disease we realized that although it has few if any early symptoms, there are simple blood tests that can show a propensity for a young woman toward the disease. In our case we had just returned from a wonderful week in the Florida Keys with great friends. We had an awesome time touring, exploring and just relaxing by the pool. Maggie went for a checkup 2 weeks later, and 2 weeks after that had a massive 9-hour surgery. We were told that the surgery was successful but that Maggie’s disease was at stage 3c and could return, as it did.
So, this is both a memorial for my bride as well as Maggie’s family’s effort to raise funds for specific ovarian cancer research by the Abramson Cancer Center at the University of Pennsylvania. We all need to fight this disease as well as use this opportunity for us to spread ovarian cancer awareness to as many women as possible.
Your contributions will determine help us reach our goal. We have partnered with the Abramson Cancer Center at the University of Pennsylvania’s Ovarian Cancer Research Fund. 100% of our net proceeds will be donated directly to this fund. These folks helped Maggie enjoy life and be comfortable for almost 2 years and we are all eternally grateful to the Abramson Cancer Center and their research.
Many Thanks
Ron and Maggie
