In August I sat through a tearful interview with Dawn Whalen, whose son, Tony Mabie, was struck by three alleged drunk drivers on Toronto Road. He died from his injuries. The criminal cases against the drivers, one of whom was a firefighter, are pending. This story was the result of the interview with Whalen.
Mom: Hit-and-run victim deserved a better life
Aug. 29, 2009
Tony Mabie coped with a learning disability as a youngster, a debilitating injury as an adult and lifelong feelings that he did not measure up.
His biggest enemy was himself, but he had dreams for the future, said his mother, Dawn Whalen of Buffalo. Now, she is hurt and angered by her son’s death at the hands of multiple hit-and-run drivers.
Mabie, 26, was walking along Toronto Road about 2 a.m. Tuesday, when he was struck by as many as three vehicles, two of which fled the scene.
The driver of one of the vehicles, a Springfield firefighter, allegedly was intoxicated, based on court filings, but had the presence of mind to stop and call 911. He was arrested for driving under the influence, but has not been charged with any other crimes.
It is unclear what happened from there. Springfield police said earlier this week they’ve recovered all three vehicles involved in the crime. Investigators would not comment otherwise on Friday.
“It hurts me to think my son felt so discounted all his life, and that’s the way he left this life,” Whalen said Friday. “Tony was not a fighter, he was not aggressive. He’s never hurt a soul. He fought to try to be a better person. He deserved a chance to have a better life.”
Mabie attended Franklin Middle School and went to Southeast High School, but dropped out during his junior year. He later decided he wanted to earn a diploma, so he enrolled in the Chicago Paul Simon Job Corps and eventually graduated.
He wanted to become a union painter, but in 2007 in Chicago, he slipped on some ice and fell, causing painful damage to a nerve in his side. The pain made it difficult for him to work, even to lift five-gallon paint buckets at the store where he’d landed a job.
No job meant no health insurance, so he turned to alcohol and medication to deal with the pain. He spiraled into depression.
Mabie moved in with his father, who had been badly injured in a car wreck, thinking he could care for him.
The night of the hit-and-run, Mabie had been at Bootleggers Lounge on Toronto Road. After he left, police say, he was involved in a minor wreck and left his car sitting on the side of the road. His mother believes he decided to walk home since it wasn’t far.
He was a great kid,” Whalen said. “Tony’s worst enemy is that he never thought he could live up to everybody’s expectations of him.”
Mabie played soccer, bowled at Strike ‘n’ Spare East, enjoyed drawing, played the drums, took photography classes and raced BMX bikes.
On Friday, Whalen, her husband, Michael Whalen, and other family members sorted through old photos of Tony and prepared for today’s funeral service. Whalen pulled out Mabie’s youth BMX racing uniform and flipped through his baby book. The Whalens said they are grateful for the support they’ve received from friends and acquaintances.
“I am overwhelmed with all the people and the cards and the food. This is showing that my son did exist,” Whalen said.
But, “I’ll never understand. My life will never be the same,” she said. “My sweet Tony … who wouldn’t have hurt a soul.”
Jayette Bolinski can be reached at 788-1530.
Memorial
A memorial gathering for Tony Mabie is from 10 a.m. until noon today, with a service at noon at Ellinger-Kunz and Park Funeral Home, 530 N. Fifth St.
That family asks that memorial donations be made to the Lincoln Land Community College men’s soccer program, where Tony’s brother, T.J. Mabie, is assistant men’s soccer coach. The team has decided to wear black bands in honor of Tony for the rest of the season, Mabie’s mother, Dawn Whalen, said Friday.