Fund established for children of Ann Arbor firefighter killed on I-696
The family of Ann Arbor firefighter Daniel Armitage, who died on Interstate 696 in Farmington Hills last week, has set up a fund for his children, the City of Ann Arbor announced today.
Daniel Armitage
Armitage died Thursday after being struck by several vehicles on I-696 near Farmington Road. The Oakland County Medical Examiner’s Office on Monday ruled his death a suicide.
Armitage had parked on the north shoulder of westbound I-696 and was lying in the right lane when when he was hit, police said. Initially, police said he appeared to have been trying to change a tire.
A funeral for Armitage was scheduled for today at 11 a.m. at St. Hugo of the Hills Church, 2215 Opdyke Road, in Bloomfield Hills.
Resources exist in Washtenaw County for people who may be experiencing thoughts of suicide. Anyone in that circumstance is urged to get immediate help. 1-800-273-TALK (8255) is a 24-hour National Suicide Prevention Hotline (Military veterans press #1 ). 734-662-2222 Ozone House is a 24 hour hotline for youth. 734-996-4747 is a 24-hour hotline at U of M Psychiatric Emergency Services.
Comments
Ann23
Thu, Jan 12, 2012 : 3:37 a.m.
@BornNRaised and @huh7891, I don't think you're quite hearing what my point here is. I completely agree that the children's mother should be able to spend money from a fund for her children however she feels fit without being scrutinized on it. I think that donating money to benefit the children is a wonderful thing and should be done. They have been through a lot and have a lot of healing ahead of them. Also, their mother is in the hospital and they no longer have a father to financially support them. The wife and children should absolutely be given support. Besides having to pay for everyday living expenses counseling and therapy can be very expensive. My questions arise because I have a personal understanding of how complicated custody and family issues can be in situations that involve accusations of domestic violence, because the mother is as of the last public report still in the hospital and, primarily because of the lack of mention of her in the article (this point is a little more detailed in my second comment) . It would be good to have reassurance that the money I donate will be managed by somebody who will use it to really help these children and prevent them from more damaging effects. I do not know this family or the people involved and do not want to say that whomever set-up the fund would not have the best interest of the children at heart. It is very possible they do and they would be excellent at using the funds for what is really the best interests of the children and that they did a wonderful thing in doing this for this family. I just wonder if the exclusion of the mother in this could be something to be concerned about.
BornNRaised
Wed, Jan 11, 2012 : 10:32 p.m.
Tell you what... If you feel the need to dig down and scrutinize every dollar she's about to spend after the death of her husband, then do the family a favor and don't. This is a simple fund to help the kids out. If that means she buys groceries or sets up a college fund, then what do you care? You people amaze me. If you feel something isn't right, then just don't offer anything. You were never asked. Just as you were never asked to question what she spends the money on. Funny thing is... that the people that will write articles here about how their 'entitled' to knowing everything most likely won't offer a penny. And that's fine if you choose not to. No one is asking you to. But pick another article to seek your enlightenment on.
mkm17
Wed, Jan 11, 2012 : 1:49 p.m.
I think it's reasonable to ask what funds will be used for, whenever there is a request for funds. For example, when there's a home fire and the family is said to have "lost everything", it's natural to wonder whether the family had homeowners' or renters' insurance. I am much more likely to donate funds to a cause (medical expenses, care of surviving children, funeral expenses, humane societies, etc.) if the person requesting funds is up front about what expenses are covered and what expenses are not. Donors should be prudent in making charity decisions just like any other financial decision.
Carole
Wed, Jan 11, 2012 : 11:41 a.m.
My thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends. God bless.
Ann23
Wed, Jan 11, 2012 : 3:15 a.m.
Seriously, I don't think it is too much to ask to know who exactly would be in charge of the account and how the funds would be used. For counseling? For every day living expenses? What if, based on my lack of information on the above, their mother doesn't survive, is incapacitated, and/or there are legal custody battles between the children's paternal and maternal family as a result of the events? Will the funds be used for that?
huh7891
Thu, Jan 12, 2012 : 12:22 a.m.
Ann23.. I read your remark at work and was fuming. It' very simple, you don't have to donate .....
Ann23
Wed, Jan 11, 2012 : 5:28 p.m.
Craig, I think I agree it is a stretch to say the donations are being asked for. It would have been more accurate for me to say that the fund has been made available to the public for donations.
Craig Lounsbury
Wed, Jan 11, 2012 : 4:39 p.m.
"Second, since the readers are basically being asked to donate money to this fund, ..." I think that is a stretch. I think readers are merely being made aware that the fund exists. To me that is different from being asked to donate.
Ann23
Wed, Jan 11, 2012 : 4:15 p.m.
BornNRaised, you refer to the wife quite a bit in your comment. However, in the article she is not referred to at all. That is a part of the reason behind my questioning this. The article states that the fund has been set up by the Father's family (the specifically mention only the father) for the benefit of the children (again the mother is not mentioned here). Second, since the readers are basically being asked to donate money to this fund, yes, I not only think it is appropriate to want information on how the funds will be used or managed but I also think it is a the responsible thing to do. Knowing exactly what you are supporting is being responsible. And, yes, I do question where the money put in the red bucket is going to. I'm not asking to know what exactly every dollar will be spent on, I don't care as long as I know that it going to be used in a way that is really beneficial to the children and that it will be in the hands of somebody who has that as their top priority who can be trusted not to misuse it. In my opinion that would be the mother but the lack if mention of her in the article is why I raise these questions.
Craig Lounsbury
Wed, Jan 11, 2012 : 3:52 p.m.
when you put a dollar in the "red Kettle" the Salvation Army has an open book on their finances. Plus they have been in place with an open book for many years. So one can readily do their homework on the "red kettle people" before putting a dollar in the red kettle. So what folks are doing is their "homework". Your right that it is none of our business. But ask me for money and tell me its none of my business why you need it and I am more likely than not to say no if I don't know you personally. I think some folks want to know there is truly a need. <a href="http://annualreport.salvationarmyusa.org/_pdf/2011_Position.pdf" rel='nofollow'>http://annualreport.salvationarmyusa.org/_pdf/2011_Position.pdf</a>
BornNRaised
Wed, Jan 11, 2012 : 1:59 p.m.
Just out of curiosity, when/if you put a dollar in the red kettle, do you grill the volunteer on where your dollar is going and who it's going to? Question what happens if the person you want the dollar to go to doesn't survive? It's to help the family out. No income and 3 children. Simple as that. Past that, really it's none of your business. Sorry if that sounds rude, but with all she and the kids have been through already, do you really this is in anyway appropriate?
pbehjatnia
Tue, Jan 10, 2012 : 9:18 p.m.
fund for what? what is the fund for?
BornNRaised
Tue, Jan 10, 2012 : 11:28 p.m.
His 3 children left behind.
Craig Lounsbury
Tue, Jan 10, 2012 : 10:03 p.m.
I don't think we are allowed to ask such questions
djm12652
Tue, Jan 10, 2012 : 8:15 p.m.
Rest in peace
djm12652
Tue, Jan 10, 2012 : 7:10 p.m.
May God be with Daniel and his family. Thank you for your service to our community.