Legacy

In Memory of Jill Conley

It is with heavy hearts that we announce our dear friend Jill Conley has passed away. She was truly a beautiful soul, and was a shining example of the powers of love and positivity. Her bravery in her battle with cancer continues to inspire us, and we know that heaven has gained an incredible angel.

“Jill was a bright light that sparkled in our office the day she came to visit. She knew nothing of The Life Chest prior to arriving but she walked through our doors with an open heart. Three hours later we had become something reminiscent of long-time friends, laughing and carrying on, sharing anecdotes and brainstorming dreams for the future. She was committed in seeing our dreams becoming a reality and we hers. I am so honored to have known her, and have no doubt that her dreams will live on through her legacy.”

– Julie Donegan

 

From the Jill’s Wish Facebook page:

“With great sadness we share the news that our loving, supportive, tireless, feisty and determined founder Jill Brzezinski-Conley – Breast Friends passed on this morning peacefully with family by her side. Many of you know how much it meant to Jill to embrace her terminal illness and turn it into a passion for helping people all over the world either with her message of body positivity or her foundation, Jill’s Wish. She always said the uplifting messages and words of encouragement she got through social media, email and regular mail were her chemo; they help keep her fire burning. And she was resolute to change just one woman’s life before departing this earth. We believe she surpassed her own expectations by helping millions, and we will continue to honor and cherish her legacy by continuing her mission.


Her mother Rosemary posted this earlier today:


“It is with deepest grief and sadness to post that Jill Brzezinski-Conley passed away peacefully this morning with her loving husband Bart Conley by her side. Over the last 6 1/2 yrs she has handled her illness with grace, determination, humor and generosity. Our Jillybean will be greatly missed by family and friends as she has touched countless lives. Everyone has been in awe of her beauty both inside and out. As her mother she was my best friend, confidante and love of my life. Her light will continue to shine. A celebration of her amazing journey will be held in Louisville and MI where Jill was born and raised. Arrangements will be posted when finalized.”

We have details below for the Life Celebration of Jill Conley, if you can and would like to join us. And by request of the family, in lieu of flowers, please kindly consider donating to Jill’s legacy and inspiration through www.JillsWish.org

Visitation:
Fri., Feb 5, 2016 from 2-8:00 p.m.
Ratterman’s Funeral Home
3800 Bardstown Rd.
Louisville, KY 40218


Funeral Service:
Sat., Feb 6,2016 at 1:30 p.m.
St. Patrick Church of Louisville
1000 N. Beckley Station Rd.
Louisville, KY 40245

Jill is eternally a Life Chest Lifer and our friend.

Book Review: Shark Tales

Reading is great especially when you’re lounging and tanning outside now that it is summer! A great book that we have all read here at The Life Chest, is the novel “Shark Tales” by Barbra Corcoran. Barbara Corcoran’s inspirational novel “Shark Tales” tells the story about how she got to be such a successful businesswoman with very little experience and knowledge about business and the real estate market.

In the novel she humorously tells her readers about how she got straight D’s on her report cards all throughout high school and how she was randomly introduced to the world of real estate with no experience. Barbara explains and justifies each of her business decisions with relating them to the life lessons her mother taught her during her upbringing.The novel is filled with advice and stories of business that Corcoran has picked up along the way of her real estate business. The book is a great book filled with humor and wit that illustrate creative and brilliant ways to guide you through whatever your career is!

Hero Todd Love

Todd Love during his grad jump over Skydive Arizona – flying in the head up orientation

Todd Love’s story will leave you speechless and in absolute awe of his high spirits, drive and enthusiasm. His dedication and ability to bounce back and live life to the fullest will inspire you in a multitude of ways.

In 2010 Todd Love was serving in Afghanistan and was investigating an abandoned compound when he stepped on an IED. He survived the explosion but was severely injured, losing both of his legs and his left arm as a result of the detonation.

Immediately after the explosion Love’s Corpsman found him with signs of life and was able to revive him. After learning that his legs were gone Love asked about his teams leader Cpl. Kyle Thompson, he was told that Thompson had been hit in the face with shrapnel and lost his eye. With a humorous tone,   Love called to him, “Thompson! Thompson! Hey, it sucks to be you right now!” This is an example of his incredible ability to remain in high spirits even in the most disastrous situation.

Upon his return to american soil Todd Love was greeeted by over 300 friends and supporters who clapped as the corporal arrived to Dallas Landing Park in Acworth, GA. Mayor Tommy Allegood even proclaimed April 9 as Todd Love Day.

He spoke to the crowd with a smile and even lightheartedly joked “I was up front with the minesweepers searching for explosives and I found them. I guess that’s the easiest way to put it.”

His bravery moved the large crowd and as he spoke they hung on every word,  “I’m still the same man.I was a boy when I left, but now I’m man. I haven’t lost anything in my eyes.”

After his return Love spent time recovering at the National Naval Medical Center and Walter Reed Army Medical Center. After time in outpatient rehabilitation and with help from his brother Brandon he was able to pursue and conquer a variety of feats and triumphs. From playing Bach’s Solfeggietto on piano, to wrestling an alligator on the discovery channel to competing in The Spartan Race, a 10.5 mile obstacle course of ropes,  ladders, climbing walls and muddy trails. Todd did this all “to prove that overcoming obstacles isn’t just something you attempt, it’s something that you embrace.”

We first learned about Todd Love through the All Veteran Group and their founder Mike Elliot. Todd and Mike jumped from a plane, tandem style together and you can see it in this video from their YouTube page.

Todd Love’s unbelievable ambition and commitment is a real life example of a quote from Henry Ford:

"Life is a series of experiences, each one of which makes us bigger, even though sometimes it is hard to realize this. For the world was built to develop character, and we must learn that the setbacks and grieves which we endure help us in our marching onward." - Henry Ford

We were extremely honored to have been able to give Todd a Life Chest of his own, his legacy is truly an inspiration for all of us. The multitude of accomplishments he has achieved thus far is astonishing and one can’t even begin to imagine what will come next.

Love’s girlfriend Amanda Sullivan has her own story of inspiration, a life of dedication and good will was interrupted by two car accidents but with some motivation from friends and family she was able to overcome the obstacles and doubts she had. Amanda and Todds story is like a fairytale and their commitment to each other is both heartwarming and uplifting.

Amanda's words of wisdom : “If I learned anything from sports, I learned that it doesn’t matter what the scoreboard reads at halftime,” she said. “It could say Sullivan zero, life 100. But if there’s still time left in the game, that means I can turn things around.”

To read more about Amanda Sullivan, please visit this article on the Marine Corps Times website.

One of Todd’s friends, Brett May, has posted Todd’s personal story along with a series of beautiful photographs and this incredible video. Please visit his page to read his personal account of his hero’s story here : Brett May Photography

,

“Living the Dream” with Mark “Ranger” Jones

,

Mark “Ranger” Jones is a retired Master Sergeant who describes his experience in the military as “living the dream.”

While in his sophomore year of college Ranger joined the Army as a cook with the Airborne Rangers because of his wife (and high school sweetheart) Lorries medical condition, she had suffered an aneurism and he wanted to be able to provide her with good medical benefits.

Before arriving at the Fort Benning Jump School Ranger had no idea that he would have to jump out of a perfectly good aircraft. Ranger has said “It was probably noon, but it was my first night jump because my eyes were closed tight the whole way down.”

In addition to serving in Desert Storm, Desert Shield and the Haitian Campaign, Ranger Jones went on to become the Senior Aide to the Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff, General Hugh Shelton. In his US Army career Jones has completed more than 4,000 airborne jumps, even jumping with former President Bush.

Interesting Facts:

To this day, Ranger Jones remains the only Airborne and High Altitude, Low Opening (HALO) jump-qualified cook in US Army history.

After his retirement Ranger Jones continued to be a strong advocate for service men and women alike, recently he appeared in the Veterans Business Journal to discuss opportunities in the Federal Government for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses and has assisted in a major ad campaign for the US Army’s recruiting efforts.

Mark “Ranger” Jones in Todays Military Ad

Jones serves as a Board Member for the Greater Southeast Hospital Foundation and Salute America’s Heroes Foundation as well as the Fisher House™ Foundation.

“You can’t judge an individual by how much money they make, but you can always judge someone by their character,” Jones has said, and it’s obvious that he applies this to his company The Ranger Group.

“The Ranger Group is a global general construction and commissioning services company founded in 2006 by U.S. Army veteran Mark “Ranger” Jones. It is a Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) company as well as a certified Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) with Virginia-Certified Small Minority Owned Business (SWaM), Maryland Department of Transportation® (MDOT), and South Central Texas Regional Certification Agency™ (SCTRCA).” – http://www.ranger-group.com/

The Ranger Group Foundation is a proud supporter of the Fisher House(TM) Foundation, with Ranger Jones serving on the Board of Trustees. The Fisher House(TM) is an organization that shares our commitment to military and veteran communities and their families, providing a “home-away-from-home” for more than 10,000 families of patients receiving care at major military and Veterans Affairs Medical Centers. Our support also included negotiating a new roof for the West Palm Beach, FL Fisher House(TM) at no cost. To find out more about the program or to contribute to the Fisher House(TM), please visit www.fisherhouse.org

Ranger with Ken Fisher in Iraq 2008, visiting troops and hospitals to learn first hand how to better help Soldiers in their time of need.

The Life Chest team had the pleasure of spending this years Grand Prix in Michigan with Mark “Ranger” Jones.

,

An Inspiration, A Legacy, Barbie Ritzco

,

Barbie Ritzco was an American Hero, not only for serving her country in a military sense, but for being able to publicized her battle with breast cancer, her mastectomy, and her courage to go without reconstruction. Her positive outlook helped her touch and inspire many people to press on and keep pursuing what they wanted in life.

Barbie was in Aviation Administration in the Marines for over 20 years, just like her father and uncle before her. While she was deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan she found a cyst and it was soon discovered that this cyst was actually breast cancer and she had to immediately start chemotherapy. After an unreal amount of medical treatments that year including a mastectomy and radiation she began to push her doctors and then herself to allow her to run, compete and stay active. She put herself back into her element in order to persevere and was able to help other women in turn through inspiration and motivation, she was even coined Marathon Barbie!

Barbie Ritzco died at the age of 39 after a recurrence of breast cancer, her legacy lives on through her stories, her photographs and her incredible mission: to prove to other women that life after a mastectomy can be fabulous. 

Barbie Ritzco we salute you!

To Learn More:

Flat and Fabulous Group–  Co- Founded by Barbie as a source of empowerment for other women looking for information or support for living breast free.

USAA Athletic Inspiration Award Video

The Warrior Queen : 10 things to learn about Barbie

‘Flat and fabulous': Topless tattoo selfie inspires cancer survivors

,

Legacy Monday with Mike Elliott and Therapy in the Air

,

With the launch of our CrowdRise Campaign this week we would like to introduce you to Mike Elliott,  Founder of The All Veteran Group.

Mike Elliott with Former President George H.W. Bush Sr. After Their Tandem Jump on his 90th Birthday


Mike Elliott’s mission is one of hope and inspiration,  “With AVG, we are changing directions and changing lives. We provide a blueprint to translate aspiration for change into action, and a new sense of freedom. Traditional values of teamwork, effort, accountability, trust and selflessness are the cornerstones of AVG’s Programs.”

95% of the All Veteran Group is comprised of Golden Knights, Mike Elliott himself is a Golden Knight who served a Combat Tour in the Persian Gulf War, Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Mike has completed more than 8,000 freefall parachute jumps, 2,000 tandem jumps and 92 military static line jumps. He is also a military Jump Master, a certified Federal Aviation Administration Parachute Rigger and a Tandem Instructor Examiner and Accelerated Free Fall Instructor. Mike has  jumped with former President George H.W. Bush three times, the last time was on on the former Presidents 90th birthday and we were lucky to attend and gift our Freedom Life Chest to George H.W. Bush when they landed! (Check out our post about this event here)

Mike made a great video which allows you to take a look at his greatest accomplishments and cherished memories, he keeps them inside his Freedom Life Chest and we are honored.

Through creating our CrowdRise campaign and partnering with the All Veteran Group, our goal at The Life Chest is to complement the Therapy in the Air program with the donation of one hundred Freedom Life Chests. 

The AVG program for Veterans, Therapy in the Air is “…[a skydiving program that] helps warriors thrive through post-traumatic growth (PTG). PTG refers to positive psychological change experienced as a result of the struggle with highly challenging life circumstances. Skydiving has an unparalleled sense of freedom mingled with excitement unlike that of any other sport. Therapy in the Air inspires individuals during rehabilitation, reintegration and during the healing process. They assist with helping individuals realize that they have the power to tell new stories that will help them overcome adversity and move forward. Through telling new stories, warriors are able to rebuild a sense of self—to reconstruct an understanding of who they are, their place in the world and what their expectations of the world are.”

Here are a few other exciting stories from Mike Elliott and the All Veteran Group:

A Jump with Harry Rosen

A Jump with Bob McGrath from Sesame Street

Ruth Adler: Detroit Textile designer picked as Kresges 2015 Eminent Artist

Interesting article about a strong woman who’s art has been influencing Detroit and beyond since the 1940s.

The Kresge Foundation announced Thursday that Ruth Adler Schnee, pioneering designer of modernist textiles, will be its Eminent Artist for 2015.

A Detroit Life Chest Moment for Ruth Adler!

The artist, below, in 1947, with “Slits and Slats.”

(Photo: Anzea Fabrics)

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/entertainment/arts/2015/01/29/schnee-named-kresge-eminent-artist/22494863/



,

Louise Cantrell – Dancing Angels Foundation

,

The Green Beret Foundation created a series of videos about “Everyday Heroes in the Special Forces Community”. The videos share the story of these heroes’ military service and their work in their communities as they come home from war.

This is Duane and Louise Cantrell’s Story –

Louise is a constant inspiration to all of us here at The Life Chest, she started the Dancing Angels Foundation to honor her beautiful daughters who had a love and passion for dance.

On March 6, 2012 a tragic fire took her family home in Hope Mills, NC. In this fire Louise lost her husband and best friend Duane and her two daughters Isabella and Nathalia.

“I had to literally figure out how to start my life again.  I could not crawl into a hole and give up.  I created the Dancing Angels Foundation for two reasons.  As a parent who has lost her children, my biggest fear is that they will be forgotten.  So this foundation will honor and perpetuate their memory.  They loved to dance. Anywhere they heard music they were dancing.  Secondly, I want to help a child who shares the same love and passion for dance as my girls did to continue to dance.  It is the best way I know how to honor my dancing angels and help others. It is a bittersweet endeavor, but one that I need to do for myself, my daughters, and any child that has a love of dance.”

Thank you for sharing your story Louise, your foundation is changing the lives of so many young girls and you are truly an unbelievably caring and uplifting person.

Learn more about the Dancing Angels Foundation:

http://www.dancingangelsfoundation.org

 

Learn more about the Green Beret Foundation:

http://www.greenberetfoundation.org