Brian Dagle Foundation honored at the 10th Annual Social Service Breakfast

On November 20th, 2019, Sava Insurance Group had the immense honor of presenting awards to all of the recipients at the 10th Annual Social Service Breakfast with The Chamber of Commerce Eastern Connecticut.

It was a day filled with immense gratitude for our community. Each year, we are reminded of just how many selfless individuals we are blessed to have in this community.

East Lyme family’s suicide-prevention group finds a home

The Brian T. Dagle Memorial Foundation was always supposed to have a permanent home.

Three years after Brian — an East Lyme High School graduate — died by suicide at age 19, his parents, Ann and Paul, and his two brothers started the foundation and began hosting school forums, support groups and training for those grieving a loved one or hoping to prevent suicide…

Dagle’s family and friends have used his tragedy to help others

It was in the wake of Brian Dagle’s suicide almost four years ago now that his friend Kevin Miao posted the following lyric from Brooks & Dunn on his Facebook page:

“I can’t quote the book, the chapter or the verse. But you can’t tell me it all ends in a slow ride in a hearse. I know I’m more and more convinced, the longer that I live that this can’t be, no this can’t be all there is.”…

Jingle Bell 5K Run in Niantic benefits suicide prevention and awareness

East Lyme — One of the first runners to finish the 2nd annual Niantic Jingle Bell 5K Run Saturday morning wore a Santa-themed Speedo along with his red velvet hat and white clip-on beard.

Other athletes slipped Christmas-themed tutus over their running clothes or sported reindeer antlers on their heads. Some pushed strollers or ran the course…

East Lyme suicide-prevention foundation to start a young-adult support group

Between hosting support groups and providing a safe space to cope with grief, Ann Dagle said that since she found a permanent home for the Brian F. Dagle Memorial Foundation on Main Street a year ago, things have been going very well.

“The house has taken on a life of its own and done its own thing…

East Lyme forum focuses on mental health, suicide prevention among veterans, law enforcement

Speakers at a community forum Thursday evening on mental health and suicide prevention among veterans and law enforcement personnel stressed the need to listen to others and fight the stigma around asking for help. 

U.S. Army veteran Doug Capazzi told the audience a story of an…

For son’s birthday, ‘Brian’s mom’ starts day of free meals

On a normal day, a plate of four chocolate chip pancakes dusted with powdered sugar at The Shack costs $8.49.

But dozens of local diners got their pancakes free Saturday — and a pay-it-forward scheme gave a free lunch to even more — after a woman left a note and $100 and signed it only “Brian’s mom.”
“She looked familiar, but … she kind of came upon me fast,” said Jeremy Han, one of The Shacks…

Dagle foundation reaching out to grieving families

Ann Dagle wants people in the depths of grief to know that they are not alone.

Three years ago, in the very early days after the death of her son, Brian Dagle, by suicide, she felt isolated in her loss and unsure where to turn, in spite of kind words from friends.

But she found comfort in meeting and talking to others who had…