Tag Archives: Maddy Massabni

Local Life

Scene Around: Remembering Rumson’s Maddy Massabni with Purpose

Maddy Massabni’s grave
Photo/Dawn Tilton Massabni

The Rumson sign says it all. It tells the singular purpose that was borne out of immense tragedy.

In bright red, the sign at the corner of River Road and Bingham Avenue flashed today, March 30, the day six years ago that 19-year-old Maddy Massabni died of menstrual toxic shock syndrome, “The Borough Recognizes March 30th as Menstrual Toxic Shock Awareness Day.”

It’s a day to look back. A day to forge forward. A sign of the time for Maddy’s memory to save lives. Educate “so others may live,” the sign adds. That’s the mission of Don’t Shock Me, the foundation created in Maddy’s memory by her mother Dawn Tilton Massabni and brother George.

“At 4:55 p.m. six years ago today forever changed our lives & they will never be the same,” Dawn said in a social media post for the foundation. “My son & I lost the most amazing beautiful person in the world, our very best friend & the person we love more than anything with all our hearts as she became an angel. Maddy was exactly what life should be. She was genuine, smart, creative, kind, caring, spirited, funny, pure sunshine, and beautiful in every single way … My sweet beautiful daughter please send your sunshine & love down to us in your magical ways.
Please continue to look over everyone you love & care about so that they may feel your presence.”

And the caring nature that emanated from Maddy continues with the foundation in its mission to educate, raise awareness and save lives.

Many remember. More learn. The sign marks the day, the remembrance, the purpose.

For more information about Don’t Shock Me, click here.

Local Life

Focus: Maddy Massabni’s Birthday Gifting

Gallery

It was a milestone birthday meant to embrace and roll softly away with the tide, the color, the sunshine, the love, the reminder of her …

Twenty-one pink roses in hand, they walked from Maddy Massabni’s home to her favorite spot on the beach at Anchorage in Sea Bright. They were the loved ones of the Rumson teen who passed away suddenly two years ago on March 30, just three days after her 19th birthday, from toxic shock syndrome.

Maddy would have turned 21 on March 27. That’s why there were 21 pink roses, her favorite. For those who could get to the beach, there was a poem read by Maddy’s mom, Dawn, and a little celebration with hugs, tears, gratitude and a tossing of the roses into the surf Maddy so loved. Out with the tide.

Those who couldn’t be at the beach, celebrated Maddy’s 21st by creating their own home memorials, gravitating to a body of water to signify the Sea Bright spot or just displaying a single pink rose, even giving one to someone to brighten their day unknowingly with Maddy’s love.

In Maddy’s memory, a non-profit foundation dubbed Don’t Shock Me has been created to raise awareness of toxic shock and pay Maddy’s kind spirit forward. Stay tuned for more on that. In the meantime, Happy Birthday, Maddy Massabni! You are remembered.

Take a look at snippets of the celebration in photos from friends and remember … (Don’t forget to click on each to enlarge!)

Local Life, News

A Mourning Walk for Maddy Massabni & Many Others

Gallery

Hundreds walked A Mourning Walk on Sunday to honor their loved ones who have passed. Rumson mom Dawn Tilton Massabni was one of them. So was her son, Georgie and a host of other Team Don’t Shock Me supporters who honored the memory of Maddy Massabni.

Maddy, a Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School graduate, lost her life at 19 to the ramifications of toxic shock syndrome. That was Dawn’s particular cause. There were many messages to be heard in the mourning of the many others as well.

Continue reading A Mourning Walk for Maddy Massabni & Many Others →

Local Life

A Mother’s Mission: Maddy’s Gift of Love

What’s a mother to do when the light of her life is extinguished? Dawn Tilton Massabni has been looking for an answer to that question for about a year now — since the day her dauntless, bright spirited 19-year-old daughter Maddy died unexpectedly from toxic shock syndrome on March 30, 2017 at 4:55 p.m.

That answer, or any other, has hardly come easily for the longtime Rumson mom and Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) graduate who grew up in the area and raised her family there. But now she thinks she’s found a way to keep the light that she and so many knew as Maddy shining bright.

Continue reading A Mother’s Mission: Maddy’s Gift of Love →

Obituaries, Opinion

Remembrance by Surf, Candlelight: RFH’s Maddy Massabni, 19

Madalyn Elizabeth Massabni
Photo/RFH yearbook

The sun had just set. Darkness fell on Sea Bright beach Sunday night as hundreds of friends, family, loved ones of 19-year-old Maddy Massabni made their way to a spot on the beach where they quietly brought light … candlelight and memories of the light that was known to embody the recent Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) graduate’s spirit.

Maddy passed away on March 30 “following an unexpected and rare bout with septic shock,” her obituary prepared by family said, adding that Maddy was “given her angel wings.”

The soft sound of the surf seemed to cradle those who loved the Rumson girl with the gift of an infectious dimpled grin as they huddled somberly in her memory. They spoke of her with sniffles and smiles. They bowed their heads. They reminisced.

They remembered a gentle, sweet soul … a girl they knew as someone whose “beautiful smile melted the hearts of those who knew and loved her” … whose “sense of humor could always make people laugh,” her obituary said.

They remembered a twinkly-eyed teenager who “lived life to the fullest,” loved basking in the sun at that beach with her buddies, cheerleading, and managing the track team.

“The sunshine of her parent’s eyes,” as her loved ones called her in her obituary, “Madalyn’s life would seem too short to many, but those who were touched by her understood that the quality of existence far exceeds the quantity of time in which one lives.

“With Madalyn’s passing we remind others that her life is one to be celebrated,” it added. “Although we will miss her dearly every day she will forever remain in our hearts. Throughout her life we were able to create wonderful memories and it has been an honor and a privilege to be the parents and brother of this beautiful, loving, amazing and caring young woman.”

Notes of sympathy flooded Facebook in the days following Maddy’s death.

Val’s, where she worked, posted this: “We are heartbroken at Vals. One of the kids that worked for us passed away today at 19. Suddenly tragically unbelievable. She was just starting her life. We will miss her beautiful smile and generous spirit. ‘My tears don’t flow like rivers just a mist that comes and goes and I feel a coldness start to grow deep within my soul’ … Hug your kids a little tighter tonight.”

The Fair Haven Fire Department sent out a note of condolence.

Classmates of Maddy’s mother, Dawn Tilton Massabni, an RFH graduate, hold her in their hearts, hundreds of notes expressed.

Her Uncle Harvey (Tilton), also a Rumson resident, started a gofundme page.

Maddy will be sorely missed, no doubt. Not forgotten.

In addition to her many friends, Maddy is survived by: her loving mom and dad, Dawn and George Massabni III; brother, George Massabni IV; paternal grandparent, Nan Massabni; and maternal grandparents Geraldine and Harvey Tilton; and many loving aunts, uncles and cousins.

Her service will take place on Tuesday, April 4, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Thompson Memorial Home, 310 Broad St. Red Bank, NJ. There will be a funeral service on Wednesday, April 5 at 10 a.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 94 Tindall Rd. Middletown, NJ followed by burial at Mount Olivet Cemetery, 100 Chapel Hill Rd., Red Bank.

For the complete obituary, click here.

To Maddy’s loved ones: Mom, Dawn, who we know, dad, George, and all …

We, at Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect, offer our heartfelt condolences. We cannot express adequately how deeply sorry we are for your loss. Thank you for bringing her into this world to brighten so many lives in such a short time. We see and hear what a gift Maddy was to so many.

Rest in peace, Maddy. You are remembered.

May the candles keep burning … May her light shine on …

— Elaine Van Develde