By: John Marsh
On February 29, 1964, my parents and grandmother were involved in a plane crash at Berz Airport in Troy. My mother was killed. My father was very seriously injured, with extensive head injuries and a broken leg, and my grandmother was also left with a broken arm and a broken nose. My father’s doctor told me that when he saw my father, he felt his life was not worth a nickel.
My mother had been very involved at Christ Church Cranbrook, but I had little involvement while away at school, in college, or in the Army. While in college, I only went to church when a good friend talked me into it – usually a girlfriend. I had met the O’Grady’s- Reverend O’Grady being the Rector of Christ Church Cranbrook at the time -but I did not know them well.
The morning after the crash, I flew from Philadelphia to Detroit. Christ Church Cranbrook arranged for family friends to pick me up at the Detroit airport, and I arrived at the church just as the 11:00 o’clock service was letting out. Reverend O’Grady told me to go home, and he would be there to visit with me soon. At the house, I found Mrs. O’Grady, Ann, taking on the weight of running our house! She was preparing lunch for us and helping with the many visitors dropping by. My sister, who was in college in Ann Arbor, had also spent the previous night at the rectory as a guest of the O’Grady’s, where they cared for and comforted her.
That afternoon, the Reverend took me to Beaumont to see my father and grandmother. Neither were conscious. He asked me if I knew if my mother had left any instructions for her burial, and I told him I knew of none. We started that day planning a funeral service for my mother. Because of their condition, Reverend O’Grady and I decided that my father and my grandmother would not be able to attend a funeral service for my mother. The funeral took place a few days later, and it was well attended by friends and family. My father and grandmother were not able to know of the funeral until after it happened.
During this time, the O’Grady’s and the Christ Church Cranbrook staff were very helpful and surrounded me with love and care. I will always be very grateful for what they did for my sister and me! My father and grandmother recovered in time, and four or five years later, my father remarried. He and his wife were very involved at this church while they lived in Michigan. My grandmother recovered and lived another 30 years. My sister was married at Christ Church Cranbrook and then moved to Boston. When I married my wife, we both became very involved at Christ Church Cranbrook. She was an active ECW. She taught Sunday school and had many friends at Christ Church. When my wife passed away a couple years ago, we had her service at the Church where she is buried in the columbarium. For every life event since that tragic accident, good or bad, this church community has been there for me and my family.
My experience in 1964 led me to have a high respect and love for the church. I became a regular churchgoer thanks to the help and support I experienced when my mother died. What makes Christ Church Cranbrook special is that we welcome everyone and try to help everyone in any way we can! I lived next door to the church, and the O’Grady’s took such good care of me and my sister for many years following that tragic event. Over the past 60 years, I have seen that love that I experienced here has been shown to so many others. I love belonging to a church that welcomes and supports everyone, because I believe that is why churches like ours exist! It is an honor to share my story with you on this Founder’s Day.
Dear John,
Thank you for sharing your beautiful story with us! I will always think of it when I see you and feel blessed to know you better today than I did yesterday. Blessings always, Suzy