The weather cooperated at the dedication of a memorial tree, Tuesday evening, with a brief downpour. As someone in the crowd said who gathered to remember Lisa A. Cronin, the rain drops were “tears.”
Lisa worked as a waitress at Trackside Grill in downtown Honesdale, when she was murdered at her home, July 7, 2007- by her husband. On the second anniversary of her death, her boss and owner of the Trackside, Jeffrey Hiller, arranged the planting of a tree in her honor.
Lisa, who was 42, worked at the same location when it was Maple City Restaurant and started with Hiller when Trackside Grill opened in April 2007. Hiller recalled that she had a “kind and giving heart though she suffered more than most of us.” She left behind five children. She was also a social worker at Wayne Memorial Hospital.
The tree in front of the restaurant stands not only for Lisa, but for all victims of domestic violence in our area. Michele Minor Wolf, Executive Director of Victims Intervention Program (VIP), spoke to the family members of Lisa’s, the co-workers and friends who gathered on the sidewalk. She said that the victims go beyond those who are killed or directly injured. Domestic violence touches the broader family.
VIP is here to assist victims of various forms of abuse. Domestic violence is the most frequent of their cases. In the past fiscal year, VIP has assisted over 500 victims of domestic violence, 75 being children. This is up over 10 percent from the year before. VIP fielded over 2,700 hotline calls this past years, including 1,800 concerning domestic violence.
In 2007, the year Lisa was killed, across Pennsylvania 121 persons were killed due to domestic abuse (among these were 23 perpetrators who took their own life and three who were killed by police).
Wolf urged others to listen to people who comes to them crying out for help; believe them and don’t try and shift the blame to them. She advised giving them the crisis hotline phone number of VIP, (570)253-4401.
Michael O’Day (Sr.), a retired State Trooper who worked on the case, said when he began his State Police career there was no VIP. He said we need advocates for victims, and commended Jeff Hiller as one, who since Lisa’s death has kept her picture in view inside the restaurant.
He stated  many people are reluctant to leave violent relationships due to economics or the children. “We all have to help,” he said. “We can’t plant more trees.”
Gail Tucker, Greater Honesdale Partnership Shade Tree Committee, said that the tree is a pear tree, one that will help keep Lisa’s memory alive each spring with white blossoms, and in the fall with purple leaves.
A bag pipe player performed as soil was packed in place, and Lisa’s Aunt Nancy laid a plaque. People huddled under a canopy, drawing closer together as the cold rain fell.
Immediately following a prayer led by Jeff Hiller, the crowd witnessed a colorful rainbow, the rain giving way to what was seen as a sign of hope.
VIP has more information on-line at www.empowervip.org.