Age 24. 200 West 54th Street, New York, NY. Born 6/04/1918, Manhattan, NY. Died of burns (death certificate). Visiting singer of Irish melodies. Stage name "Grace Vaughn." "She was a so-called 'intimate' entertainer, played her own accompaniment on a baby grand piano as she sang" (Buffalo Courier-Express, Buffalo, NY, 12/01/1942). Had just completed her set in the new Broadway Lounge and left in the direction of the main club. Quickly returned and informed unofficial acting manager James Welansky, age 46 (Born 4/20/1896. Died 4/10/1962, age 65. Last residence Brookline, MA), of the blaze. "She it was who calmly walked into the new Cocktail Lounge, announced that there was a fire in the main dining room...then went back to her post of duty..." (Fire Disaster Memorial, Boston Sunday Advertiser, 12/06/1942). Reportedly, "...died as a result of suffocation, and was found slumped near the piano without any fire having touched her" (Variety magazine, 12/02/1942). An older brother John flew from New York: "...found her, a smile on her pretty lips, in an improvised morgue set up in the Massachusetts General Hospital" (Boston Daily Record, 11/30/1942). More likely account: "Her brother...did not recognize her until she was identified by articles she had carried. She appeared twice as old as...she actually was" (The Greenville News, Greenville, SC, 12/09/1942). On the club entertainment payroll starting November 23. "She didn't want to sing at the Grove, as she was accustomed to the smaller, more intimate places, and accepted the booking only after repeated requests" (Buffalo Courier-Express, 12/01/1942). At $150 was the highest-paid single performer at the Grove during its final week. Was single. Was the youngest of three female visiting performers dead (also singers Ethel Bauer, age 32, and Maxine Coleman, age 37). Was the only unmarried non-patron female casualty (of 490 overall dead). Parents Mr. and Mrs. John E. and Helen McDermott, same address. Father was an accountant for Paramount Pictures, Inc. "The mother, who has heart trouble, had not been told of her daughter's death last night" (New York Times, 11/30/1942). Burial at Calvary Cemetery, Woodside (Queens), NY (one of two Grove victims buried at Calvary Cemetery, the largest resting grounds in the nation, also visiting pianist Karol Bauer, age 27).

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