Marilyn Becker has been undergoing a challenging course of chemotherapy treatments at Backus Hospital since being diagnosed with breast and lymph node cancer last year. But through it all, she always felt better knowing that no matter how hard things got, she still had a roof over her head.
But even that sense of security began unraveling last month when Becker received a notice from the City of Norwich informing that the roof on her house was in bad disrepair. The citation said she had 60 days to have the roof repaired, or she would be subject to fines and other penalties.
Becker, who is 64 and lives on her own, did not know how she would be able to come up with the money to comply with the order. She confided her situation to Rosemarie Neilson, the Backus Hospital social worker who has been helping Becker with her care.
Neilson in turn decided to contact local roofer George Denison, who had done work on Neilson’s roof in the past and who had a reputation for charitable work. It was a few weeks before the Christmas holiday when Neilson spoke to the roofer, and Denison decided he would go to Becker’s home to see what he could do.
“I got over there and I could see the roof was in bad shape,” Denison said. “I knew this lady was going through a hard time, so I thought I would help her out in the spirit of the holidays.”
Denison told Becker he would replace her roof free of charge.
“I couldn’t believe there were people like him still in the world,” Becker said about her meeting with Denison. “When he told me what he was going to do, I was in seventh heaven and beyond. I still am.”
Denison even let Becker pick from an array of shingle colors and designs to find the right choice for her roof. The tiles are set to arrive any day now, and Denison said he plans to replace the roof within the next couple of weeks.
“I try to do something like this a couple of times a year,” he said. “If all of us do something like this, just a little bit, it can make the world a better place.”
Neilson said she never expected Denison to make such a generous offer, but knew he was an honest and compassionate man.
“I figured he would take a look and let her know the situation with her roof, but that was above and beyond,” she said. “I’m so happy for Marilyn, she needs this right now.”