When Bob Gannon arrived at his auto repair shop the day after Tropical Storm Irene hit, he found nearly $30,000 worth of equipment destroyed.
Bob Gannon, owner of Bob's All Service on Clifton Avenue, in Westfield, stands in the garage that was flooded by Tropical Storm Irene resulting in nearly $30,000 of uninsured losses.WESTFIELD - When Bob Gannon arrived at his auto repair shop the day after Tropical Storm Irene doused the region with flood waters, he found five customer vehicles with water up to their dashboards and nearly $30,000 worth of equipment destroyed.
Bob’s All Service automotive repair shop is on Clifton Street, which runs parallel to the Westfield River and Route 20 and is also where the neighboring Mercy Adult Day Facility is located.
Cheryl A. Johnson, a Westfield resident and director of the adult day facility, arrived at work that day to find water in the center two feet high along the walls and soaked into sheetrock that would have to be replaced.
Although both Gannon and Johnson were faced with the devastating aftermath of yet another natural disaster to hit Western Massachusetts in a year of formidable weather, Johnson had only to pick up the phone to start the cleanup process while Gannon was confronted with the possibility of losing a business 25 years in the making.
“I just had to pick up the phone, but Bob didn’t have any help,” Johnson said. “He spent a week shoveling mud out of his garage.”
Throughout the years as neighbors and business acquaintances from the days when Gannon brought his mother, Theresa, to the adult day center, Johnson learned that Gannon was a hardworking and honest man, and she wanted to help him get back on his feet - a process that has proven to be a challenge in light of the fact that Gannon did not carry flood insurance on his shop.
“He was really struggling, and he thought he was going to have to shut down,” she said. “I’ve known him for 15 years, and I thought I had to do something to help.”
Johnson, along with her co-worker, Peggy McKinstry, organized a benefit to help save Bob’s All Service, a benefit where she hopes enough money will be raised to not only keep Gannon in business, but help his business grow.
“Bob has been a good mechanic, friend and neighbor to many people in the Westfield area,” Johnson said. “The one positive thing that comes out of a natural disaster is that it brings out the compassion and generosity of others.”
When he learned of the event organized to benefit his auto repair shop, Gannon said he was moved by the thoughtfulness and generosity of all those who contributed to the cause, especially Johnson and McKinstry.
“I am astonished that these people went out of their way to put this together,” he said. “It’s really quite amazing. They are great ladies.”