Whether it’s from booster club meetings or breakfast at Mister Bagel, John Cottrell’s face is a familiar one in Westbrook. After being diagnosed with cancer in its late stages, the friendly, social man couldn’t have asked for a better response from friends and family than what they’re giving him – a party.
The primary purpose of the benefit for Cottrell, which is being held Saturday at the Italian Heritage Center in Portland, is to raise money to help cover medical bills and support his family as Cottrell battles colon cancer and its complications.
With more than 500 people attending, the event has already sold out. Though Cottrell is grateful for the financial support, it’s the night of dinner, dancing, comedy and camaraderie that he expects will have the greatest healing power.
“What I’m really just hoping is that everybody comes and has a good time,” Cottrell said last week.
Cottrell, 40, was diagnosed with colon cancer in October, when he visited a doctor for problems with his heart. By that time, the cancer had already spread to his liver, and Cottrell immediately underwent surgery. Complications led to another diagnosis – septicemia – a life-threatening infection caused by bacteria in the bloodstream. Doctors put Cottrell into a coma in November for about six weeks in order to help him recover.
“It’s the Rumplestiltskin feel,” said Cottrell, who woke up one day in December to find he’d missed his son’s school play and Thanksgiving with his family. A dedicated father to his daughter Katie, 18, and sons Matthew, 15, and Alex, 10, Cottrell has come to count those special occasions even more preciously.
“I don’t blow those moments away,” he said.
Now, the fact he was asleep for a month has sunken in for Cottrell, and it’s become more of a joke – especially with his brother, Andy, who teases him about “seeing the light.” Andy Cottrell, 38, lived out of state for many years, but has been working together with his brother since they opened Mister Bagel in Westbrook in 2006.
John Cottrell used to come in and bake bagels every morning before tending to his own carpet-cleaning business, which he has had to give up after six years. Though he is undergoing chemotherapy and suffers nearly constantly from nausea and fatigue, Cottrell still shows up at Mister Bagel most mornings to help his brother and do what he loves most – chat with friends and customers.
After all, it’s from that morning ritual that the Cottrells first met some of the people behind Saturday’s benefit. Connie Swasey said she and her husband, Doug, were Mister Bagel customers before becoming friends of the Cottrells.
“They’re almost like our kids to us,” Swasey said of the brothers.
The Swaseys are two of about 15 people who came together to put on the benefit, which will include a silent auction and a performance by comedian Bob Marley, who graduated from high school in Portland with Cottrell.
Steve Corey, who has known John Cottrell since they were involved in Westbrook Little League together over a decade ago, came up with the idea for the event.
“He’s a very young man to have what he’s got,” Corey said. “We’re trying to get him back up on his feet so he can keep going.”
Party a boost for popular city man
Send questions/comments to the editors.
