Discovering Saratoga: Fulfilling Morrissey’s Last Wish

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. ( NEWS10 ) – John Morrissey was a champion boxer, politician and businessman. He founded the Canfield Casino, was a founding member of the Saratoga Race Course, and has even been called the “Founding Father of Saratoga.” Decades after his death, Lawrence Wilder, with help from community leaders, fulfilled his dying wish.

“Well, I had been looking for Susannah not realizing she’s been here with John, then the question became how could she possibly be here without her name engraved,” said Lawrence Wilder, a tour guide at the Saratoga Race Course.

Wilder immediately started looking for answers. He was surprised at what he learned.

“I found an article that John said he wanted, was his dying wish, his name placed first on the blank side of the monument, inferring her name be under his,” said Wilder.

Susannah passed away long after John, without a penny to her name. She was unable to fulfill the wish on her own. Wilder, with help from community leaders and groups, went about fixing it. They restored the monument by sandblasting it, had the steps repaired and had Susannah’s name, date of birth and death engraved on the monument.

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