Live On New York Families Paint Portraits at Cathedral of Saint John the Divine to Mark Anniversary of Donor Who Saved Lives

Families Honor Donors Two Years After Man Self-Immolated Outside Manhattan Courthouse

USA: Two years after 37-year-old Maxwell set himself on fire outside a lower Manhattan courthouse where Donald Trump was on trial, family members gathered to mark the anniversary by celebrating the lifesaving work of organ donors and transplantation. Maxwell, who later died from his injuries, had registered as an organ donor; his decision led to transplants that saved two people, relatives say.

Dozens of donor families assembled at the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine for a Painted Legacy event sponsored by Live On New York. Organ donation advocates and relatives submitted photographs of loved ones that were turned into paint-by-numbers canvases, allowing families to create portraits together as a way to honor a donor’s legacy and the impact of organ and tissue procurement and transplantation.

Richard, Maxwell’s father, traveled from Florida for the anniversary and described how a NewYork-Presbyterian social worker reached out after the hospital confirmed Maxwell’s donor status, offering human connection amid the chaos. The event also drew families of younger donors, including a 29-year-old woman whose relatives said transplantation became the “last gift” she could give in life.

Organ procurement and transplantation remain at the center of these gatherings, which organizers say help grieving families find purpose while spotlighting the immediate, tangible lives saved by registered donors. Those considering donor registration are urged to sign up through their state registry or motor vehicle office to ensure their wishes are known.

Video originally published on 2026-04-25 20:10:07