March 29, 2024

East Providence Mourns Loss of a Beloved Townie.

Posted

Sadness from East Providence to California:

"There truly is no place like home. Thanks for the hometown love, East Providence, RI!" Those were some of the last sentiments Stacie Schifino Cahoon would share with family and friends in EP. Stacie, living in Los Angeles, California, was reacting to a social media post from close friend and fellow Townie, Kevin Robinson, Aka, KRob. Robinson had shared a photo with his friend Stacie of a new sign welcoming visitors to East Providence. Stacie Schifino is a 1989 graduate of East Providence High School and class secretary. She was a member of the large and athletically and academically talented Schifino family. A cheerleader in high school she should would also go on to become one of the more famous New England Patriot Cheerleaders some years ago.Stacie was a cherished friend to so many In East Providence and across the country. That's why it was particularly hard when Stacie was diagnosed with cancer in June of 2014. A fundraising page was set up by a friend, Kristen Dawkins. "Stacie gave birth to Jake Thomas and Katie Jeanne on May 10, 2014, the day before Mother's Day. Both babies are healthy and needless to say, the apple of Stacie's eye. I guess that makes two apples, one for each eye!" writes Dawkins. "In June, (2014) results of a PET scan confirmed that Stacie has bone cancer. That's the bad news. The good news is that her doctors expect a full recovery: they reassured her that she will live to see her grandchildren," continued Dawson. Predictions don't always come true.Donations poured in to help Stacie with Child Care and other pressing needs during this difficult time for the young family. "Those of you who have met Stacie know how much she lights up a room and that she is the type of person who is genuinely loved by all. To those of you who haven't met her, and who have donated regardless, your generosity humbles us. Thank you all so very much."A co-worker of Stacie Schifino wrote that "A former professional cheerleader for the New England Patriots, she's always been a cheerleader to me, keeping me going through my hard times. And she's always been a mother hen to all of us, her co-workers. She looks out for us, counsels us, and always has a smile for us. She's hardworking, loyal, proud, and lighthearted. And since the day she came to join our restaurant family, all she's ever wanted was children. Two weeks ago she let us know: she had good news and bad news."Before her twins were born, there was surgery after Thanksgiving and while it went well, there was a long hard road ahead of nausea, headaches, stomach aches and worry. "This woman is tough. Especially now that she has a husband and not one, but two children to fight for," wrote her friends. There was chemotherapy and other treatments and the worries of being pregnant with twins. Luckily the babies were born healthy. But Stacie would face difficulty ahead. One day, leaving work to go to a chemo session, Stacie heard the theme song to Rocky blaring away. "I look up and my husband is holding up a portable speaker with my Superfamily! Man am I the luckiest girl alive!!! Thanks for the support!," Stacie would write in a Facebook post. Her husband, whom she loved fiercely, was wearing a superman costume and playing her "Rocky" theme song as her young family accompanied her to a treatment session.This is not a story with a happy ending. Stacie's legion of East Providence friends have kept in touch with her and with each other during these past few years of illness. On Thursday, January 28th, 2016, a group of Stacie's friends dropped everything and flew to Los Angeles, fearing things were getting worse. They were. One of Stacie's closest friends since high school is EP at-large councilwoman Tracy Capobianco. Capobianco was on the flight to visit her friend on Thursday. Included in the flight to be with their lifelong friend was Jodi Shelton, Carolyn Studley, Susan Savastano Stallman, Lu Ann Furtado and Gina Marie Norcini Nadeau. We reached out to Capobianco today (Saturday) where she is still in California. Stacie's sister Sharon also lives in California. "Stacie lit up every room she entered, her smile was contagious. Her laughter and excitement was the loudest you've ever heard!" said a devastated Capobianco.Carolyn Studley would write, "I don't think I can come up with the right words to explain the heartbreak. But what I can say is ... through our families, Stacie Schifino and I met in grade school. But through friendship and love we chose to share 30 plus years of memories. And that can never change. I am so thankful for being a part of her life. I am a better person because she was a part of mine. Love you my friend."No, the story doesn't end happily. Stacie Schifino Cahoon died on Thursday, January 28, 2016. Her husband Mike wrote to friends; "I'm so sorry to have to say I lost my girl this morning. She was the brightest light in my life. Everyone she ever met felt her kindness radiate everywhere she went and anyone she came into contact with. It breaks my heart into a million pieces and makes my whole body heavy with the loss of the most special person I've ever met. I know she was loved by so many people and it breaks my heart for all of you too. She was all of ours. We all lost so much today but please remember how kind she was. Please carry on her spirit in your own life, being kind to friends and strangers alike. Know what a difference it makes in our time here to have a little love and kindness in our lives. I love you all. Stacie loves you all."After she died, many of Stacie's California friends gathered at one of their favorite places called 'The Garage', a Cheers kind of sports bar. The Garage is owned by Stacie's friend Jim Conners, from Foxboro, Mass. "It was good to be around so many people that loved Stacie today at The Garage. My heart is broken. I've never met anyone like her, and I doubt I ever will again," writes a friend. As Stacie's friends comforted one another at the Garage, an impromptu "cheer" began to wave through the bar. "Not a Stacie, Stacie cheer," said a friend who was there. "It was more like a cheerleaders chant. We were all cheerleaders, like Stacie, just cheering out loud in honor of our friend." Stacie Schifino has certainly made her mark from coast to coast in this nation. A lasting impression especially within her Riverside, R.I. world and all of Townie nation. "There truly is no place like home. Thanks for the Hometown Love, East Providence, RI!" - Stacie Schifino Cahoon, a beloved Townie. To send a donation to help the family, go to: https://www.generosity.com/medical-fundraising/help-a-mother-of-twins-conquer-cancer.

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  • Debemery

    Bob,

    I am a friend of Stacie's in Los Angeles and also a journalist. This is a beautiful tribute to truly an amazing person -- the best anyone can hope to meet and we were lucky to have her in our lives.

    However, you spelled her name incorrectly twice -- it is Stacie not Stacey -- please correct when you have the opportunity. Also, The Garage is a sports bar not a cafe, which is owned by another dear friend of Stacie's, Jim Conners, her former boss at Sonny McLean's and a Foxboro native.

    Thanks for your help and kind words,

    Debbie

    Sunday, January 31, 2016 Report this


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