Roosevelt Island resident Catherine Same Mahouve died and 3 Firefighters were injured last Saturday night, November 15, in a Roosevelt Landings fire at 560 Main Street. A Go Fund Me campaign has been created by friends and neighbors to support the family victimized by this terrible fire.
According to the Go Fund Me page:
On 15 November, the Roosevelt Island community suffered a heartbreaking tragedy.
Our neighbor, Justine Mahouve, lost her mother, Catherine Same Mahouve, in a devastating fire at 560 Main Street.
Catherine was a long-time Roosevelt Island resident who found joy in visiting the local library and spending time with friends over lunch at the Senior Center. She was the first female Minister Counselor at the Permanent Mission of Cameroon to the United Nations, and a beloved mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and pillar of the Cameroonian community.
Justine is now facing the unimaginable: grieving her mother while trying to rebuild her life from nothing. Many neighbors have asked how they can help. We created this page to support the funeral costs for Catherine, so Justine can honor her mother with the dignity and respect she deserves. Any additional contributions will help Justine with basic needs and the long road ahead.
Thank you for standing with her. Roosevelt Island has always shown deep compassion, and your kindness will mean more than words as Justine begins to heal and rebuild.
The organizer of the Go Fund Me campaign told me on Wednesday:
I met with Justine yesterday, and she’s still in shock and focusing on the funeral for now. She was at work when the fire erupted and I believe her mother was home alone. She is waiting for the official report…
She was staying in a shelter provided by Red Cross …
Firefighter and photographer Juliane Leigh Forsyth shares these pictures from the November 15 Roosevelt Island fire.
The FDNY reports that the cause of the fire is under investigation and the Firefighters are “recovering, in good condition.”
More info on the fire at this prior post.
It’s heartwarming to see how In times of trouble, our Island can become a united family. Justine and Antoine, through no fault of their own, suffered a devastating loss. They truly deserve the support our community is capable of providing!
It is very sad for me to hear this devastating way of leaving the world
This my deepest condolences to the family
Let her soul RIP 🙏