Councils Respond to a Member’s Tragedy and Grief

by Marie Elena Giossi

When tragedy struck a local Knight of Columbus and his family far from home, his brother Knights in two states and their local communities responded with overwhelming concern and support.

On Holy Saturday, March 30, the Malave family of St. Fidelis parish, College Point, was involved in a car accident in Florida. Carlos Malave, his wife, Hilda, and their teenage daughters, Melissa and Alyssa, all sustained serious injuries. Their son, Cristian, 11, did not survive.
News spread quickly through the tight-knit community of College Point, where the family is known and loved. Carlos belongs to St. Ambrose Council No. 1463 of the Knights of Columbus at St. Fidelis and is the local FedEx deliveryman. Hilda is a familiar face at the dancing school the daughters attend. Cristian was enrolled in the St. Fidelis’ religious education program and played for the College Point Little League.
Being that the family was 1,000 miles away, Robert Graziano, past grand knight of St. Ambrose Council and the local district deputy, knew he and other area Knights were too far to offer any personal assistance. So he reached out to a network of men he knew – not by name, but in spirit – stand for the same principles of unity, charity and fraternity.
He sent an urgent appeal via e-mail to Knights of Columbus councils near Shands Hospital at the University of Florida, Gainesville, where the family was taken after the crash. He received an immediate response from Joseph Solenski, grand knight of Pope John Paul II Council No. 13900, which is comprised of college students at the University of Florida.
As soon as Solenski read the e-mail, he went to the hospital and found the family. He later visited the mother and daughters at the local Ronald McDonald House where they were staying.
“I promised them they would be taken care of,” said Solenski, a senior finance major at the University of Florida, and he kept his word.
He reached out to neighboring councils, informing members of the family’s situation and asking for assistance in finding them a place to stay and basic supplies.
“It became a district-wide effort,” said Solenski, who estimates that about 100 Knights and their families across the district already have and continue to contribute in various ways to help the family.

Helping a Fallen Brother
“As Knights, there’s a sense of fraternity,” he said. “We’ve come together to answer the need of a fallen brother.”
Jerry Woodward, grand knight of Father Patrick J. Lynch Council No. 6108 of St. Patrick Church, Gainesville, spread the word among his council members, including Knight Andrew Mitchell. When Mitchell and his wife, Kim, heard about the situation, the couple offered the family a three-bedroom house with all utilities included, for as long as they need it.
“Jesus said that what you do for the least of my brothers, you do for me. We couldn’t sit there and not help,” said Mitchell, who was getting ready to rent the property. “Everyone has to do their part, and we’re grateful to have the means to do it.”
Knight John Barli of neighboring Council No. 13207, who serves as regional director of Catholic Charities Gainesville, arranged for Catholic Charities to supply the family with queen-size mattresses and box springs. Bed frames and furniture were provided courtesy of Woodward’s friends at Dumas Discount Furniture.
Knights and their families from Solenski’s and Woodward’s councils, along with Council Nos. 13207 and 11448, and the thrift store at St. Patrick’s parish, Gainesville, have donated money, labor and living supplies. Area restaurants donated meals, and a spa offered free services to the mother and daughters.
While his own council members couldn’t necessarily offer financial assistance, given that they are college students, Solenski said they gave their time and labor instead. They scrubbed toilets, moved furniture and made the house move-in ready. Home Depot provided materials to a contractor who built a wheelchair ramp free of charge.
Beyond material assistance, Solenski said local clergy, including Father David Ruchinski, pastor of St. Augustine Church and Catholic Student Center at the university, visited the couple and their daughters to ensure their spiritual well-being.
Having spent time with the mother and daughters, Solenski’s impression is that they are “a strong family… positive people who are trying to pull through this.”
Back in Queens, St. Ambrose Council created an emergency relief fund and has collected close to $33,000 for the family’s medical and funeral expenses.
A good portion of those funds was raised at a Family Pasta Night fundraiser, hosted by the Knights and Columbiettes at the council April 26. Organizers raffled 52 baskets and several high-end items, including a television – all of which were donated.
“I was totally amazed,” Graziano said. “We had over 200 people and so much food was donated that we had to set up extra tables.”
The council plans to donate a portion of the proceeds from its annual golf outing in June to the family as well.
“This is what the organization (Knights of Columbus) was formed to do – to care for brother Knights and their families in distress,” Graziano said.
The Knights aren’t the only ones offering support. The College Point Little League held a fundraiser for the family last month.
Family friend Daniel Rinaldi is also conducting an online fundraiser on the website GoFundMe.com. He set up The Malave Family Support Fund with the family’s permission just days after the accident.
Setting the original goal at $1,000, the musician spread the word to friends and fans through Facebook. Within days, that goal was met and surpassed by individuals and businesses as close as College Point and as far as London.
At press time, the online fund had amassed 790 donations totaling over $54,000. The fund will remain active until the family returns home.
Rinaldi said he last spoke to Hilda in late April and at that point, Carlos was still in the hospital. There was no date set for the family’s return to College Point.
“They’re all on the road to healing and recovery,” he said, “and they have a long road ahead of them.”