{"id":28838,"date":"2023-12-20T10:22:50","date_gmt":"2023-12-20T15:22:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=28838"},"modified":"2023-12-20T10:22:52","modified_gmt":"2023-12-20T15:22:52","slug":"outabout-253","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=28838","title":{"rendered":"Out&About"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Ron Clifford, RIP<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

By Paddy McCarthy<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNollaig shona duit!\u201d Merry Christmas<\/strong>, \u201cI hope the magic of Christmas fills every corner of your heart and home with joy, now and always.\u201d \u201cOur family wishes you love, joy, and peace\u2014today, tomorrow, and always.\u201d \u201cMay your family have a holiday season that\u2019s full of wonderful surprises, treats, and nonstop laughter.\u201d Merry Christmas!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I know it is Christmas week but I have to start with the sad news of Ron Clifford<\/strong>, a great friend of mine, who passed away last Friday in Santa Fe, New Mexico. I was back and forth with Ron on Thursday and Friday last as he needed some information to help another friend of his who had a legal problem and I gave him the details he asked for. He was, together with his wife Bridget, on his way to spend the Christmas holidays in Los Angeles. The last contact I had with him was at 2.21 pm on Friday. I texted him again at 5.20 pm on Friday but got no response from him. Little did I know he had already died just before 5 pm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ron was originally from Ballintemple, Cork City. He was on the ground floor of the World Trade Center when the first of the 9\/11 attacks occurred there. He survived uninjured. However, his 44-year-old sister Ruth Clifford McCourt<\/strong> and her four-year old daughter Juliana <\/strong>died on United Airlines Flight 175 which was flown into the south tower of the World Trade Center. Tragically, Juliana\u2019s godmother, Paige Farley Hackel<\/strong>, was on the second aircraft \u2013 American Airlines Flight 11 \u2013 which smashed into the other tower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ron campaigned for many years to have those who masterminded the terrorist attacks brought to justice. In 2021 he told RT\u00c9 News: \u201cThe justice system here has just prevented it and it\u2019s just going around in a circle for years and years. I hope in our lifetime we will get our day in court.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Describing how his family coped with their tragic losses, he continued: \u201cThe world has changed. The catastrophic event that we as a family have gone through \u2013 I think we have lived our lives since. I think that is the positivity that we give as a family.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was a very good friend of mine; may he \u201cRest in Peace\u201d I did speak to Ron\u2019s wife Bridget in Santa Fe on Saturday to give her my condolences. He will be in my prayers during the Christmas holy days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I hope that you understand that I had to let my feelings out even though it is the most wonderful time of the year that I always look forward to as it it always the happiest and I know that Ron would say to me \u201cPaddy go and enjoy yourself\u201d and I will for him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Now for some very happy news that another friend Mary O\u2019Dowd<\/strong> has sent into me: \u201cDear Friends of Franny, Hope you are doing well and having a lovely holiday season. And thank you for helping to make this the best Christmas ever for Jimmy O\u2019Neill<\/strong> and your generosity helped pay the mortgage for Mom and Dad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBrian O\u2019Neill<\/strong>, father of Jimmy\u00a0\u2018The Crusher\u2019 O\u2019Neill<\/strong> wanted to say thanks and share with you that Jimmy was able to return to school this Monday, December 11th after a very long time enduring the cure for cancer.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHis school is fantastic and pulled out all the stops. We\u2019ve been waiting for this day for such a long time. It\u2019s hard to believe that Jimmy was diagnosed in the\u00a03rd\u00a0grade and is coming back to a new floor, with new teachers and classmates in the\u00a06th grade. Once we got the all-clear from his doctors, he couldn\u2019t get back in the classroom soon enough!\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe just turned 11 this Thursday. His older brother Tommy <\/strong>will be 13 in January and his sister Meghan <\/strong>is 9. They were both so happy to walk their brother into school Monday.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis time last year, we were sitting in Cohen\u2019s Children\u2019s Medical Center<\/strong> getting daily transfusions and\u00a0not\u00a0making counts for chemo. It was a difficult 2023 for certain, but this year Jimmy\u2019s back at school and feeling great. All of the many prayers are being heard and Jimmy is thankfully getting better by the day. We could not think of a better Christmas gift than a healthy Jimmy. As always, thank you, Mary and the Frances Pope Memorial Foundation<\/strong> for everything you have done for us. Have a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thank you, Mary that is just beautiful, and I know you have always done so much down the years helping kids of all ages, well done. Wishing you and your family and all your friends a very Happy Christmas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Now I am sending you all a special greeting on behalf of The Irish Examiner USA<\/em> staff to thank you all for the great support that you have giving us in 2023, to thank at you, our readers, friends and our advertisers. Because of you we are growing from strength to strength. We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and I hope to see you all when I am Out&About in 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During this festive season, I want to express my sincere gratitude for your friendship and support. Wishing you a Merry Christmas filled with love, peace, and cherished moments. These two beautiful granddaughters of mine would also like to wish everybody a very Happy Christmas! <\/p>\n

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