THE LEGACY OF MOLLY BISH
A
By Kelly Barnhart
We all anguished with Molly’s parents, John and Magi Bish, during those endless hours, days, weeks and months following her disappearance. The gruesome tragedy that ended her life is a stark and cruel reality for her family, our community and in our lives as parents. But that painful moment in time is not how Molly’s story began…and is not how it will end.
According to her dad, Molly was a joy to raise and had become a typical busy, energetic and athletic teen – sometimes a challenge, but a great kid with a good and kind heart. “We taught our kids to help people,” John said, proudly recalling the time when Molly volunteered to clean house for a neighbor with cancer.
Through an experience they wish no other parent will ever have to share, John and Magi have accomplished so much in these recent years for the safety and protection of our most vulnerable citizens. Long before Molly’s earthly remains were finally discovered, they established the Molly Bish Foundation, and it is a rare weekend when one or both of them are not at some event talking with parents and providing free child identification kits. “Participating in these programs is healing, we find, and we love to see so many kids. We want o be an additional shield of protection,” John said. They have so far distributed tens of thousands of these kits.
With notoriety that came at the highest imaginable price, they have forgone their privacy and the notion of leisure time to utilize the power of the media’s attention to Molly’s disappearance. At first their obvious reason was to reach out in every possible way to find their daughter. “We always had hope,” said John. “And we STILL have hope…that another family never has to go through this.”
Ironically,
John is a professional in the field of criminal justice. Before Molly’s abduction, he taught a course
in psychology at the school of criminal justice at
Announcing a new
national resource
Tapping
into the deluge of community support, and reconnecting with
In alignment with the college’s mission to foster social awareness, dedication to justice and peace, and to address one of the most profound issues facing our nation, Anna Maria is creating this center for training, education, and research that will prepare law enforcement professionals, educators, social workers, health professionals and others in public service to prevent and respond to crimes against the most vulnerable among us – children and the elderly. Many of the programs will be open to parents and community members as well.
Faculty
in Criminal Justice, Emergency Management, Nursing, Fire Science and many other
disciplines will team with external agencies such as the
According to Anna Maria’s Dean of Continuing Education, Richard Maguire, “This is a desperately needed resource for the northeast, the east coast, in fact many of our programs will be the first of their kind in the nation.” In addition to serving the needs of professionals, many services will be available to the community as well. “Parents, teachers, nurses, daycare providers…anyone seeking knowledge, advice or counseling in child and elder safety will now have a place to call to get their questions answered.”
It is
expected that the Institute will open a dialogue that will shape local and
national policies and procedures. “The
Bish family has been absolutely inspiring to so many people,” said Richard. “It
is a tremendous honor for
“These issues are hard for parents of young children to think about, but you can’t afford not to consider the unthinkable,” said John, who readily quotes alarming statistics regarding the outcomes of abduction cases, particularly in the critical first minutes and hours. “These guys don’t want to get caught. They hide in the shadows. But if we create an extensive DNA database of felony offenders, an atmosphere of higher awareness, vigilance and responsiveness, they know they are more likely to be apprehended.”
John’s
fatherly concern for his son and daughter, Molly’s brother and sister, is
obvious as well. Although
unselfishly public with their story.
John and Magi cautiously guard the privacy of their two grown
children. “They have been through so
much,” John said, “and none of their peers have a shared experience. It can be very isolating for them.” In their honor, the Bish’s hope to create a
summer camp for siblings of children like Molly, where they can connect with
one another, benefit from expert counseling, take refuge and enjoy the
And when asked what Molly might say about all of her family’s accomplishments since the parted ways, John replied, “I hope she would be proud. Molly loved life, like all children do. She would want every child to have an opportunity to just enjoy life.”
Anna Maria College
and Today’s Parent announce the inauguration of the Molly Bish Institute for
the Protection of Children and the Elderly
April 17th
The
Molly Bish Institute at
10am: A public inaugural ceremony, with the Bish family, Anna Maria faculty, students and administrators, along with a congressional delegation, District Attorney Conti, members of the State Police Search and Rescue Team (who found Molly), Sheriff Flynn, local police chiefs and various community partners.
Representatives from local police and fire departments will be on hand to talk to kids about safety. The Molly Bish Foundation will prepare Child Identification Kits. No pre-registration required.