Atkinson police officer loses battle with cancer
By Meghan Carey
Staff writer
ATKINSON — He is described as both a fighter and a family man, but only cancer could take police Cpl. John Lapham away from the people he loved.
Lapham, 39, of Chester lost his 6-month battle with acute leukemia yesterday afternoon.
"He fought to the last minute, that's for sure," said his best friend, Kevin Donnelly. "That's what everyone who came after the passing said."
Donnelly was at his bedside along with Lapham's wife, Amy, parents, sister and another close friend when he died at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.
Lapham was diagnosed with the disease in December. He received a bone marrow transplant two months ago, but later endured complications from drug reactions and recently developed pneumonia.
Lapham's father, Stan, said throughout his son's illness that he was fighting as hard as he could to stay alive so he could be there for his wife and two young sons, Matthew and Justin. No family members were available for comment last night.
Lapham was a police officer in Hampstead before taking over the midnight shift at the Atkinson Police Department eight years ago.
The shift, according to Donnelly, was Lapham's choice.
"He was a father before he was a cop," Donnelly said. "His goal every day was to be home to eat dinner with his family, and he was successful with that about 99.98 percent of the time."
Donnelly said he hopes all the support people have provided Lapham over the last six months will now be given to his family.
"His poor wife has to go home to his 4- and 6-year-old and break them the news," he said. "We have to keep remembering the family."
Lapham was a favorite of many youngsters at Atkinson Academy, where he was the Drug Abuse Resistance Education officer. Last night, the Atkinson youth baseball league held a moment of silence for Lapham before the evening's first pitches were thrown. It was the first time many of the children heard the news.
"He's going to be sadly missed and the good thing I want people to remember him for is the pivotal impact he had on the school, Atkinson Academy," Lt. William Baldwin said. "He had a huge impact on the students there in the DARE program. They all liked him."
Baldwin said the loss of Lapham is another devastating blow to the Police Department. Sgt. Diane Kinney, who served the town for 35 years, and secretarial volunteer Rose Ann Masello both died of cancer just over a month ago.
"I can't put it into words," Baldwin said.
Lapham's peers at the Police Department were so optimistic he would return that they hired a part-time officer to fill his shift for a year with the hope of having a spot available when he was well again.
Funeral arrangements are expected to be made at Brookside Chapel & Funeral Home in Plaistow today.
Lapham's family still needs help
Anyone interested in donating to the Laphams can make a deposit at any Banknorth location, or send a check to: Cpl. John Lapham Fund, c/o TD Banknorth, N.A., 47 Plaistow Road, PO Box 368, Plaistow, NH 03824.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
ATKINSON's Vietnam HONOR ROLL as VOTED and PASSED by 2005 Town Meeting and re-approved at Special Town Meeting Sept. 12
EDITORIAL-
A voice of compassion, an example of fairness and reasonable government.
One who believes in the strength and comfort you, your children and your family can draw from good government leadership.
A person who knows Atkinson is our home -- our most important possession that must be preserved and protected through fair taxes and sound community planning and where our children must be safe to grow to become a new generation of leaders.
One who knows that the citizens of Atkinson are all neighbors with her leadership to be dedicated and responsive to all.
One who believes that when those from Atkinson have served our nation and honors are deserved, those honors must be given.
In Valerie Tobin, we now have a leader we know we can entrust with these responsibilities because they are part of her character.
It is our honor to endorse Valerie for election to Atkinson’s Board of Selectmen.
Just a note for those who wish to count the deer.
In January 08 this blog had 16,000 hits and 1,500 unique visitors (for the month).
In 2007 this blog had over 100,000 hits and 5,750 unique visitors (for the year).
In 2007 this blog had over 100,000 hits and 5,750 unique visitors (for the year).
EDITORIAL-
"I offer nothing more than simple facts, plain arguments, and common sense . . ." [TP, 1776]
We take no small measure of umbrage at such a hostile official act against this BLOG’s patron. Therefore, a timely Editorial comment is both appropriate and necessary.
Discussion of Atkinson’s financial direction, from any viewpoint, is fundamental and encouraged and we will always attempt to limit and correct errors.
However, Righteous indignation towards purported error of such inconsequential nature is not appropriate.
The ENTIRE car deal is problematic. If it was caused by poor judgement, improper exercise of authority, neglect or mistake or even specious reasoning, this will never trump the facts that the entire questionable transaction started and ended within a very small circle of confidants.
We find the entire circumstances surrounding the disposition of the police Cruiser highly irregular at the least and the "explanations" somewhat trifling and exhaustive of our intellect.
Mr. Consentino: It’s time to go. Being Chief of Atkinson’s Police Department is NOT a birthright. That is a fabled legend of yesteryear.
Historically in Atkinson, police chief appointments were made "under the hand of the selectmen" for terms of one year at a time, as was also the case in the beginning of Mr. Consentino’s assorted and discontinuous stream of appointments to this position.
Your only remaining credential established on a claim of indispensability has faded.
So time is neigh. Plan a graceful exit, Clean out your desk, Accept the gratitude and tearful sentiments from some. We plan no editorial recriminations. It is time. Thank you for your service, We wish you a long and happy retirement. Bon Voyage.
LETTER
"To All Atkinson Residents,
I am writing to ask for your help. A member of the Atkinson Police Department needs our help. I am here to ask for your help in Corporal John Lapham's fight for his life. As you are aware, John has been diagnosed with Leukemia. He has been once again hospitalized with an infection that is threatening his life. He is one of the bravest people that I have ever met. He has never asked of anything from the residents of the town. Now is our chance to step up and help both him and his family out. As everyone is aware John has been out of work for a few months. His family has been busy helping John to get better. He needs our help, and I am hoping that this town can step up to the plate and help. From the moment that I met John, I have admired him. He does alot, but never asks for anything in return. He has helped so many people in this town. I for one am one of those people. Please help him.
There is a fund set-up in his name at TDBanknorth in Plaistow. Any amount will help John, while he is out of work. It would be great if this town could help ease a burden off his wife.
Thank You
Also if anyone would like to send a card, please address it to:
John Lapham
c/o Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Ctr.
Inpatient mail
75 Francis Street
Boston, MA 02115
United States
Please show Corporal John Lapham, that this community can stand up and show our support to those in need. I for one, miss John and can not wait until he can get better and return to work. Please show him that we support him. "
16 comments:
My thoughts and prayers go out to the Lapham Family. John will be greatly missed. You could not have a more stand up guy then John. He fought the fight and held on for as long as he could.
My sincere condolences to Cpl. John Lapham's Family. He was an outstanding individual, who always had an easy laugh, and a great sense of humor to add to any situation. Many times we would meet while he was on detail at Tornadoes games, and I was either announcing, coaching, or volunteering, and we would share a laugh, about the goings on in town. He was great with the kids at the Academy, and they admired him as much as they respected him.
John will be sorely missed here in Town, and his shoes will never be filled. I am saddened that I will not get to tease him about detail pay, while hearing him needle me about town politics.
John, I hope you have found Peace. To His Wife Amy, John's closest friends here in Atkinson, all know how to reach me, If there is anything I can do for you or your family, please let me know. I am sorry, both for your loss, and that I can't be more eloquent in honoring it.
- Mark R. Acciard
Anonymous said...
My thoughts and prayers go out to the Lapham Family. John will be greatly missed. You could not have a more stand up guy then John. He fought the fight and held on for as long as he could.
Very hard this one is. I can't even come close to putting into words how a great person you were. I will miss you, as anyone who knew you will also.
My thoughts and prayers also go out to John's family. He put up a good fight and will be missed by some many people. I was lucky enough to have had the opportunity to know him through the academy and I can't begin to tell you how many lifes he had an impact on. John we will miss you and as we question why God did this to you and your family I guess the answer is God needed you more.
For those who knew her, another 40 years town resident died this week. Nancy Connell, lived on Woodlawn ave. Graduated from Timberlane class of '79 with me, and lived in town most of that time. I do not know how she passed having just read it in the paper today, and I have obviously missed the services, but if her family reads this blog, Nancy, too, was an extraordinary individual, who was taken too early.
Rest easy Nancy.
- Mark Acciard
CANCER - WATER
Doesn't everyone find it odd how much cancer there is in Atkinson? Much research was done on this several years ago.
Check out the following
Per 2007 Granite State Analytical Report for Hampstead Area Water shows
bromodichloromethane (a byproduct when chlorine is added to the water) - can cause cancer, problems with the liver, kidney and/or central nervous system.
2007 measures 9.1 ug/L
In 2001 it measured 2.2!!!
thm's(trihalomethanes)formed when chlorine reacts with natural organic matter (a byproduct is chloroform).
2007 chloroform measures 23 ug/L
In 2001 it measured 4.7!!!
2007 total THM's measure 34 ug/L
In 2001 measured 7.5!!!
2007 chloride measures 40 mg/L
2001 measured 24
Now with the water withdrawal issue ask yourself is it all connected? Is the water making us sick? If this water withdrawal issue moves forward will Atkinson be spreading the wealth?
Regarding the comment on the Cancer Water.
There are several indications that the water quality is getting worse and the radon is not addressed at all. I have HAWC for my water source and each year it tastes worse and leaves behind more deposits. There has been a significant drop in pressure since they sent out a letter restricting water usage, months ahead of the usual summer dry spell. I am very concerned that HAWC is not supplying adequate water even before any large withdrawals. I caution everyone in town to take the upcoming warrant articles very seriously and show up to the deliberative session and vote them down.
Clarification of previous comment.
Please vote FOR the new water articles to show you are against large withdrawals by HAWC.
Atkinson and Derry sit on radon hot spots. I've been dealing with this problem for over 20 years. Anyone who has not had their water checked, well or HAWC, is living either in denial or foolishly.
The the thing about radon is, it is not drinking it that harms you, its breathing it after the water has released it. Radon is extremely soluble in water. It acquires it easily and gives it up just as easily. If you have a water radon problem the most dangerous place in your home is your shower. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer behind smoking.
The good news is that it is easily mitigated. Though some might think the upfront cost is too high, the rear end cost of cancer is very high also.
As far as the water petitions. Ask yourself. Is HAWC doing everything it can to protect your water? Go to the water site, read the reports. You might want to ask them some very hard questions. Good luck though. Mr. Morse doesn't like to talk much and that scares many of us. Sorry your pressure is low, but least you have pressure. Many of your neighbors are threatened with having no water and no guarantee HAWC will take any responsibility if that happens after you get your pressure. (I just saw the latest comment after June 9, 2008 8:28 PM. Since the retraction is 13 hrs delayed one cannot be sure it is from the same person). Vote Yes on the Water Petitions.
I truly feel for the Lapham family. Whatever caused his disease, it was not fair. I've donated to their fund and plan to do so again. I urge the rest of you to do the same.
To June 10 2:43 PM.
Yes, previous two comments were from me. I can't always wait for the posting to show up on the blog and I saw my typo late.
I have HAWC but I believe they do not provide adequate water or service and therefore I fear that if this goes through, their HAWC customers will not be their only victims. Learn from what is happening to me as their customer and vote FOR these petitions. We do not want to be putting others in a bad positions just to put more money in HAWC pockets. If they are not taking care of their present customers, they will certainly not care for the residents who have wells.
I then apologize for my tone. It's emotional for me because I live uncomfortably close to one of the proposed wellheads.
We should also apologize to the readers of this thread. This is not about HAWC, but Cpl. Lapham. He will be missed. We can continue this discussion in the Water thread posted farther down.
How indecent and disrespectful are you people? One of you takes the opportunity to mention antoher person in a posting for John and the rest of you talk about HAWC. You make me sick...its not about you...it's about John and his family and friends and the department he left behind.
I was never so proud to be an Atkinson resident when I saw his Atkinson brothers in blue bearing his flag drapped casket and the sea of fellow police officers and firefighters paying tribute in a final salute to one of their own. They didn't turn it into something about them or use it to further some narrow minded political agenda. They were there for their brother.
You want to post about other deceased persons in town? Start your own "obit" page.
You want to post about water? Do it someplace else!
Only 12 comments...disgraceful
The spin off the conversion came from comments about cancer water. I cannot help but wonder if the reason we have just lost 2 police officers to cancer is due to the water. Peter also had cancer. All were too young to die.
Sorry the discussion got hijacked, but I also believe does have a certain relevance.
Radon has been discussed. I know for my well, and have anecdotal evidence, that local water sources are also high in radium and uranium, which cannot be mitigated like Radon. I know of one other town employee who lives/lived (data is 6 years old) who had cancer, quite possibly from the water. Even HAWC has measured over the limit uranium at one of the new well sites.
Ingested radium and uranium does cause cancer and it is in our water. I use a reverse osmosis system for drinking water.
Everyone, including well owners or those who get it from other sources, should have your water checked. The radium and uranium test are special and should specifically be asked for.
I don't know enough about Cpl. Lapham's disease to speculate a source. But, the water in this general area, and perhaps much of the state, needs to be considered a risk because of the large granite deposits we sit on and the number of town employees who have been victims of cancer is a good reason to be concerned.
I too agree that this section has gone the wrong way. This is not about the water, this is about John.
I met John approximately 4 years ago, John was a true friend. John taught so many people that an officer can be compassionate. John loved this community, and it showed with the time he spent giving back to it.
When we lost John to a devistating illness, it was felt throughout the town. The funeral was hard to watch. It was nice to see that so many police offcers, firefighters and honor guards come out to say goodbye. This town is a better place for having John for the past six years. To the Police Department, I say, strive to be like John. In our busy lives, we should be thankful for what we have, because you never know when you will lose the things we care about. I am glad that I took the day off to watch the funeral procession, I would not have missed the chance to say good bye to John.
Go rest John, because you deserve it. We will see you again someday. We miss you greatly.
Post a Comment