GoFundMe For Buffalo Wild Wings Manager Raises Over $100,000

BURLINGTON, MA — A GoFundMe has raised over $100,000 for a restaurant manager who lost his life trying to clean up to a toxic mix of cleaning chemicals Thursday. Ryan Baldera, 32, of Lawrence, Massachusetts, passed away after being exposed to two cleaning products that were mixed together by another employee at the Buffalo Wild Wings on South Avenue. While other people were evacuated from the restaurant, Baldera, according to officials, attempted to squeegee the chemicals out of the building when he was overcome by the fumes.

A GoFundMe effort set up by Ed Araunjo and Nikki Tarbell has raised $117,982 for Baldera's wife and newborn son.

A separate GoFundMe for families with kids at the pre-school where Baldera's wife works has raised another $18,898.

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"Ryan was a beloved husband, father, son, brother, cherished uncle, nephew and son-in-law to his close-knit family and friends," Araunjo and Tarbell wrote in the post. "Ryan's life was tragically taken too soon in an accident at work protecting the patrons and staff at a restaurant he managed. He married the love of his life last year and three months ago they brought their son into the world. Family defined Ryan. His friends. His co-workers. His blood relatives. These were his family."

They noted Baldera worked to make sure everyone in his life were safe and happy and he lost his life doing the same thing.

"His selflessness was why everyone who knew Ryan; loved Ryan," they wrote. "Sadly, that selflessness cost him his life."

For more information, visit the Ryan Baldera Memorial Fund on GoFundMe.com.

GoFundMe is a Patch promotional partner.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at chris.huffaker@patch.com and 412-265-8353.