By the time friends and neighbors gathered into Roslyn Heights resident Guy Allen’s backyard on Friday, he and his two sons had already seen the complete renovation that crews from the NBC home repair show “George to the Rescue” had made to his kitchen.
But as cameras rolled and host George Oliphant led Allen and the boys outside, tears welled in their eyes and hugs were shared as thoughts turned to Allen’s late wife Linda, who died in December 2013 following a lengthy battle with breast cancer.
“When I first walked in, it was almost like being in a new home,” Allen said. “Me and the boys looked at each other like, you’ve got to be kidding me. It just blew me away, the way it was done, because it also incorporated our family pieces and history and pictures of Linda spread about. It all came together. It was certainly one of our most emotional days in a long time.”
Filming began on July 16 and wrapped on Friday with shots of Allen embracing the crowd and Oliphant providing a tour of the new kitchen, which includes new appliances, cabinets, flooring and a compact seating area. A wall was also removed to connect Allen’s kitchen and dining room.
Allen’s episode of “George to the Rescue” will air sometime in October, NBC officials said.
“It was a total and complete gut job and renovation,” said Allen, who during filming stayed at the Inn at Fox Hollow in Woodbury. “If you saw before and after pictures, there’s nothing from the original kitchen that’s still standing.”
“It blew me away. I got very emotional, but it was emotional to begin with,” he continued. “To see this being done, and then see the pictures of Linda right there too, it was tough stuff. She was the inspiration behind all of this.”
Linda Allen, 48, was diagnosed with breast cancer in late 2012 and was given months to live after it spread to her brain and abdomen the following summer.
During that time, Linda spoke with neighbor Deborah Baum about remodeling the kitchen, but the conversation never became serious because of how quickly her condition worsened.
Baum, an interior designer with “George to the Rescue,” said she suggested submitting Linda’s story to the show but said Linda was reluctant to publicize the severity of her illness.
Linda died on Dec. 7, 2013, leaving behind Allen and teenage sons Landon, now 15, and Jarred, 13.
With Baum’s help, Allen renovated his master bedroom, master bathroom and backyard. Baum and members of Team Linda, a group of supporters living in the East Hills area, also contacted NBC about remodeling Allen’s kitchen for an episode of “George to the Rescue.”
Oliphant told Blank Slate Media in July he was inspired by the Allens’ story after reading an essay Landon wrote for the cancer support group Gilda’s Club New York City – named after former “Saturday Night Live” performer Gilda Radner – that won first place in the organization’s annual “It’s Always Something” contest.
“It’s one of the best essays I’ve ever read. I couldn’t believe a 15-year-old wrote it and could be so much more articulate than I could ever be,” Oliphant said. “When I was finished, there was a puddle of tears by where I was sitting. This kid is inspiring.”
Filming required the approval of the Village of East Hills board of trustees, which in June passed the “Linda Allen Law” amending fee rates for small commercial film crews.
“I’m just so indebted to this community and the community leaders and friends that live here. They completely enveloped me and the boys to carry us through this tough circumstance, and I don’t know where I would be without the help of this warm and embracing community,” Allen said. “It’s not easy being on the receiving end of this, and I could never repay them enough for the incredible things that have been done for me. It’s just so overwhelming.”
On Friday, Oliphant had another surprise in store, as members of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in East Hills presented the Allens with a $2,500 check to the American Cancer Society to honor Linda’s memory.
“The people who worked on this project never knew Linda, but just in meeting you and seeing your boys and the reflection of her is present, and I hope you know she is in all of our hearts,” Oliphant said.
