To those in the religious order, he was Monsignor McDermott. To those he helped on the streets and at Haymarket, he was Fr. Mac. But to me, he was Uncle Ig. I was blessed enough to witness the Haymarket Center being built from the ground up since I was younger. For as long as I can remember, Uncle Ig was helping men and women who struggled with addiction.
It’s difficult to pick just one favorite memory, but my top two would be, first, serving meals at Thanksgiving and Christmas to the residents and their families. Just seeing the families supporting relatives who were there for treatment—whether they had just been admitted or had been there for a while—was heartwarming. They were working on the program with the best support team. My other favorite memory is probably more personal: when Uncle Ig would celebrate Midnight Mass, and we would sing “Happy Birthday” to Jesus with a cake. It was touching to see how many people attended, many of whom had been helped by Haymarket and truly felt the support and love of Uncle Ig.
As for meaningful experiences, I would have to say that when my cousin and I collected gifts for the children at Christmas and Easter baskets at Easter and hosted a party for each holiday to pass out gifts and baskets to the children of mothers staying at Haymarket. It filled our hearts to see how excited the children and mothers were to be remembered during the holidays. Uncle Ig would always make sure to make an appearance because he loved nothing more than to see children smile and be happy.
Reflecting back as Haymarket celebrates its 50th anniversary, I am extremely proud to see that Uncle Ig’s and Dr. West’s mission and vision continue to help those who struggle with addiction. Haymarket continues to provide so many services, and I know that Uncle Ig would not only be pleased, but that the twinkle in his eye would be sparkling brightly.