Father Of Girls Killed In 2011 Christmas Day Fire Dies; Charity Says
STAMFORD, Conn. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A charity started by a man whose three daughters were killed in a Connecticut fire on Christmas morning in 2011 says he has died at the age of 51.
The death of Matthew Badger was announced Thursday by the Lily Sarah Grace Fund. It did not provide further details.
"We are deeply saddened to share the news of the passing of Matthew Badger," the fund wrote on Facebook.
His ex-wife Madonna posted, "His death was sudden and peaceful. He is with his children, and his parents, and his brother...My heart is broken. But also joyous that they are together."
The fire at a Victorian home in Stamford owned by the children's mother, New York advertising executive Madonna Badger, killed 7-year-old twins Grace and Sarah Badger, 9-year-old Lily Badger and their maternal grandparents, Lomer and Pauline Johnson, formerly of Louisville, Kentucky.
Two years ago Badger spoke with CBS2's Cindy Hsu about his daughters.
"One thing about Lily, Sarah, and Grace is that they were happy and they were joyous and they were creative, and had tremendous energy," he said at the time.
He said without the girls he had lost purpose and value in life, and needed to find a way to honor them, so he started the fund to give supplies to underserved public elementary schools across the country. He said all three girls had dyslexia and he know the importance of giving teachers and students the resources they need.
"It does make me feel proud of the girls. It makes me feel like I they have a legacy here," he said at the time.
Madonna Badger and her boyfriend at the time, Michael Borcina, escaped the flames.
Borcina, a contractor, had been renovating the house. Matthew Badger filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Borcina, his construction company, other contractors and the city of Stamford.
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