Darien restaurant raises money for family of longtime employee whose husband was shot to death in Bridgeport
Proceeds from all sales Wednesday will go directly towards a college fund for Bethea's two kids, the restaurant says.
The community is rallying behind the family of a 38-year-old man who was shot to death a block from his home in Bridgeport last week.
Bridgeport police says Bernard Fludd died on the night of Nov. 2 on Mill Hill Avenue near Barnum Avenue.
His wife, Regina Bethea, has worked at Rory's Restaurant in Darien for nearly 20 years.
The restaurant is channeling its grief into something positive for her and her two children.
"When something happens to someone in your family, you do something to support them, and that's what we're aiming to do," said chef/owner Bryan Malcarne.
Proceeds from all sales Wednesday will go directly toward a college fund for Bethea's two kids, the restaurant says.
"This is her second job, not her first job," Malcarney says. "It's going to be hard for her to make ends meet, let alone trying to set something up for her kids to try and have a better future... so if we can do that for her, that's what we want to do."
Longtime patrons who have gotten close to Bethea over the years are hoping to help her and her family.
"I remember when all her kids were born," Katie Vance of Darien says. "She'd come up and you'd see her belly... and she'd be so excited about her children."
"She's been a staple here for years, and everybody loves her," Jim Rossetti, of Norwalk says. "That's what I think about... her children."
Fludd's celebration of life is set for Friday.
"Time, family, and friends," Anthony Conte says. "Those are the only things that get people through things like this because it's awful.
"If you couldn't come out today to Rory's, please support through the GoFundMe for her family and their future," Bethea's former co-worker at Rory's, Kaitlyn Cleary says. "It's really important to all of us to make sure that they make it through this."
