I am raising funds on behalf Curtis Standlee, a 33-year-old who passed away in New York City just a few blocks from where I live. Unfortunately, circumstances led to his wrongful interment in a mass grave on Hart Island. This is a fate that no one should endure and he never should have been buried on Hart Island in the first place. Together, we can right this wrong and bring him home to those who love him.
I am seeking your support to reimburse me for paying for his disinterment, cremation, delivery to a family member, and relocation of Curtis's remains to a more dignified resting place, alongside his late mother where he belongs. Curtis spent so much of his life alone and does not deserve to be alone in an unmarked grave with hundreds of others, thousands of miles away from his loved ones, and on an island only accessible by appointment, by ferry, and allowing visits on four days per month. This doesn't seem right. Curtis and his mother
Curtis's Story
Curtis was pre-deceased by nearly all of his family and passed away in March of 2022. As no next-of-kin was able to be notified, Curtis remained in the custody of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for nearly 200 days before his burial on Hart Island, the potter's field of New York City. At the time of his death, he was homeless but living in a residential vocational rehab. He was in good spirits, optimistic, and enthusiastic about how he was turning his life around. With a great sense of humor and a heart of gold, Curtis was prepared to take his own life experiences and use them to positively inspire and encourage others, working toward certification to become a peer recovery counselor, specifically a Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC). His ultimate goal was to help individuals in recovery choose a vocation and support them right siding their lives, too.
Curtis's mother passed away when he was nine years old. He was given to the custody of his now-deceased father who was an alcoholic. Curtis begged to live with a beloved relative but his father would not agree to this request. Due to childhood trauma and a predisposition to addiction, Curtis struggled with substance abuse and made some poor choices as a teenager, portrayed by many as a troublemaker. He was wrongfully arrested for armed robbery and incarcerated for seven months, always maintaining his innocence. He was eventually acquitted of the crime and, due to the psychological and emotional impact of his wrongful incarceration, in addition to public humiliation and fallout from this incident in his hometown - including an uncle of his in law enforcement who was part of his arrest - Curtis left home to start his life anew. Most of us came to New York City to follow a dream and create a new life for ourselves. Curtis is one of us. I was able to locate his family and have offered to help them. Can you help me?
How You Can Help:
Donate: Your generous contribution will go directly toward the costs associated with Curtis's disinterment, cremation, and proper and dignified disposition. I was able to find the most affordable option in New York City to accomplish this. A Hart Island disinterment is complicated and there's a lot of red tape but I am dedicated to completing this final act of kindness for someone who deserves it.
Share: If you or anyone in your life has been faced with the loss of a parent as a child, addiction, recovery, second chances, or injustice within the legal system, I implore you to spread the word about this campaign and Curtis's story. The more people who know his story, the closer we get to bringing Curtis the peace he deserves.
Offer Support: If you cannot contribute financially, please consider volunteering in your area with those in need this holiday season - and talk to them. If you encounter a street homeless person, humanize them and say hello when asking if they need anything. Most of us are one unexpected event away from being homeless: losing a job, a natural disaster, a fire, or a bad turn of luck can be catastrophic and utterly destabilizing, especially for those who don't have savings or a family to turn to for help.
Every donation, no matter the size, brings me one step closer to ensuring that Curtis is removed from a mass grave and is remembered with the dignity and respect he - and each of us - deserves.
Thank you for your compassion, generosity, and support during this difficult time for his family.
