UPDATE: Veteran's Lost Money Found

MYSTIC, CT — Spoiler: A man about to go on a business trip Monday, found an envelope full of cash, $4,200 in cash, in a pizza restaurant bathroom and, concerned about "turning in such a large amount to the restaurant," left with the money for his trip planning to turn it in to police upon his return. Then his wife saw the story, Patch first published the story early Tuesday, and the man made a call.

"There's good people out there in the world! Thank you from the bottom of my heart Bill Palifka! He found the money at Angie’s Pizza in the bathroom, was weary of turning in such a large amount to the restaurant, left for a business trip that day, was going to turn in to the police today but his wife saw one of the multiple news stories and he contacted me! The ultimate kicker, he’s a Vet, too! Thank you so much to everyone that cared enough to reach out, share the story, share kind words or donate. Any donations will be returned. What a beautiful Day!"

The original story:

"Happy Veterans Day to me," Benjamin Donovan said facetiously. Donovan lost a bank envelope with $4,200 in it, a deposit for a painting job while having lunch at a pizza place in Mystic. Someone picked it up, and didn't say a word.

"Had to have fallen out in my pocket when I went to the bathroom as soon as I got there. Someone took it so thank you to whoever that is and have fun. Hope you sleep well tonight."

Donovan is a veteran. And the money was lost, and then taken, on Veterans Day.

An Iraq War veteran, Donovan was at a Mystic, Connecticut pizzeria when the envelope disappeared. A copious search in and around turned up nothing. Now, the vet, his family and the pizza place is pleading for whoever "found" it to please return the money.

Donovan was at Angie's Pizza and Pier 27 for lunch at around noon on Monday, Nov. 11. The envelope filled with cash fell out of his pocket, he said, either inside or right outside the restaurant. The eatery took to Facebook to say that its staff and customers who'd been in the pizzeria "scoured the restaurant in search of the envelope, but with no success."

"Ben is like so many of us; an honest, hard working family guy. Losing $4,200 hurts; badly. The fact that Ben is also a veteran of the US Army and this occurring on Veterans Day is a fact that shouldn't go unnoticed," Angie's Pizza wrote on Facebook.

"To anyone who may have happened on this envelope with the thought that 'it's your lucky day, you found $4,200 laying on the floor' all for you, understand the other side of the story. You've taken someone else's money. That someone else was a local Army Veteran with a family, kids to feed, bills to pay that lost weeks worth of pay on Veterans Day. A special day his services should be remembered and acknowledged. Let that sink a little bit."

Angie's is a well-known and popular downtown Mystic restaurant. And it is often filled with customers. Thousands follow the restaurant on social media. A Facebook post might be shared then by thousands. And perhaps, this message will resonate with whoever discovered the envelope.

"There's still an opportunity to make this right. You can have the decency to return the money to it's rightful owner. Contact us or Ben himself and turn this all around. We hope you make the right decision!"

Donovan wrote that police were contacted and as of Tuesday afternoon, no updates. His mother also took to Facebook saying she is, "trying to have faith in humanity."

Susan Johnson-Donovan said she is, "Praying that someone kind found it and will do the right thing. Trying to have faith in humanity..."

Donovan owns a painting business, All Star Painting. He's a former US Army combat medic. Donovan attended New London High School and St. Bernard's School. Originally from New London, he lives with his family in Waterford.

On his Facebook post, shared more than 1,600 times, people are incensed.

"So, so sorry ...please someone step forward and return this hard-earned money." one wrote, with many thanking him for his service, and, suggesting a GoFundMe be set up.

In a few hours, one had been.

"I don’t know Benjamin personally but I thought as a community we could help him get his money back as whoever found it has not returned it yet," Trish Adams wrote on GoFundMe.

The page has about $350 donated so far.

GoFundMe is a Patch partner.