Head Of New Jersey Cancer Society Killed By Falling Tree

COLTS NECK TOWNSHIP, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- The wicked weather this past weekend was to blame for a deadly disaster, when a woman who dedicated her life to helping cancer patients was killed as a tree fell on her car.

As CBS2's Christine Sloan reported, Stacey Weathers, 46, of Tinton Falls, was the executive director of New Jersey's chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. She was killed Saturday afternoon when a tree fell on her vehicle during the powerful nor'easter.

Weathers was in her Mustang convertible on Route 34 in Colts Neck Township around 4:25 p.m. when the tree fell onto the vehicle, police said. She had rented the vehicle to drive to South Carolina with her husband, Gerald, for their 10-year anniversary.

Gerald was too devastated to talk, but Weathers' ex-husband, Tim Bowman -- the father of their daughter, Emilie – said the family was focusing on the way she lived her life.

"My last thought and image of Stacey is her being happy that day, and excited about going on her anniversary with Gerald," Boman said. "We're devastated, but I keep telling Emilie and Gerald Stacey's love was the beach, the storms, going down and watching the waves."

Weathers' daughter, Emilie Boman, said Weathers "loves seeing other people happy.''

"She never did it for the name, she just wanted to help people,'' said Emilie, 19.

Family and friends also said Weathers was an extraordinary woman who spent her life comforting those who have cancer, and raising money to find a cure.

"She committed to find a cure. She took every patient and family and every loss; every experience personally. It was as if it was one of her own children," said Michael Chevlin, chairman of the board for the New Jersey chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Board members for the charity were gathering Monday in Weathers' office, saying she raised $7 million for cancer research.

"Stacey was a truly special person for what she did for people," said board member John Hyland.

Hyland knows – he himself was diagnosed with leukemia.

"She carried me a long way through my treatment and recovery, so she means the world to me, and it's going to be hard to say goodbye," Hyland said.

Police said the top part of tree snapped and came crashing down on top of the convertible Weathers was driving. They say they don't believe it would have made a difference had she had been in a regular car with a hard top.

"The section of tree that came down was approximately 10 feet long and 2 feet in diameter, so it was a very large tree part," said Colts Neck police Chief Kevin Sauter.

Family members said Weathers was kind not only to those who know her, but every person she came across – including giving $100 tips to employees at her Dunkin' Donuts on special occasions.

"I'm just hoping Stacey is smiling down me, and Gerald and Emilie most important, and she gives me the strength to raise her in her image," added Boman.

Coworkers said they will continue Weathers' cause to beat cancer because it is what she would want.

Anyone with information about the crash is urged to call Sgt. Kristian DeVito of the Colts Neck Township Police Department at (732) 780-7323.

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