Before Mitchell’s passing on January 11, 2022, Mitchell-Delmotte wanted him to partake in life’s extraordinary adventures. She mentioned that he was the kind of person who would want to say, “You won’t believe what I just did,” after checking off a bucket list item. What followed was a response that no search engine could ever generate.
Numerous strangers reached out, generously offering various local adventures: from a private tour of a helicopter hangar to an exclusive viewing of “The Nutcracker,” from a therapeutic horse session to a one-on-one surfing lesson, from a family photoshoot to piano lessons, a painting session, and a relaxing stay at a local hotel. All of these experiences were offered without charge, and they came from people who were essentially strangers. Each person, they would later discover, had their own personal motivation for responding and sharing a part of their life.
Julie Wright, the spouse of a search-and-rescue swimmer named Justin Wright, offered a tour of a U.S. Navy helicopter squadron. Wright explained to The Post, “Having recently faced cancer and almost losing my own mother last year, I had a small glimpse of what Vanessa might be going through… It’s never exactly the same, but I empathized deeply. It hit me in the core.”
