Megan (Meg) Perry, 1979 - 2005

Meg with kids © Brian Kane 2005 Somewhere in the Gulf Region

After my return back to Boston many events took place, some happy, others sad. On Tuesday, 6 December, I lost my grandfather who had been a tremendous source of guidance to me throughout my whole life. On the Sunday of that same week, 11 December, I learned about Meg's death.

For over a week I meant to write something in memory of Meg but couldn't. The words just wouldn't come - not that there are right words to be spoken on such an occasion. My thoughts are with her family and friends. While no words can make up for their loss I believe that Meg was a true inspiration, a noble person, a person who lived for the others, who gave of herself and died while in service of her fellow human beings.

The following is an obituary put forth by United Peace Relief, one of the many groups Meg volunteered with:

Megan Blythe Perry, 26, died Saturday, December, 10, 2005 in a vehicle accident in New Orleans, LA.

Megan was born in Würzburg, Germany November 24, 1979, daughter of Robin C. and Rosalie A. Perry, while the family was stationed overseas with the U.S. Army. Megan graduated in the top 10 of her 1998 Brunswick H.S. class. She attended Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY and graduate with honors in 2002.

At the time of her death, Megan was working with multiple grassroots organizations in the gulf area to aid in the hurricane relief and rebuilding efforts in that region. Megan was a resident of Portland, Maine where she was an active and vocal participant in the humanitarian organization, People's Free Space. She was passionate about social justice, sustainable energy, organic agriculture, and protection of the earth's resources and environment.

Megan is survived by her parents, Robin and Rosalie Perry, of Brunswick, ME and Vero Beach, FL, a sister and brother-in-law, Jennifer and Jason Lanter, of Oxford, OH, her maternal grandmother M. Doris Small of Oakland, ME, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Family and friends are invited to share in a celebration of her life at
the Brunswick United Methodist Church, 320 Church Road, Brunswick, ME at 2pm, Saturday, December 17, 2005.

The "Meg Perry Memorial Fund" has been established to support the continuation of educational programs for hurricane survivors and to sustain the humanitarian efforts to which Megan dedicated her life. Contributions may be mailed to "The Meg Perry Memorial Fund" c/o Key Bank, 172 Maine Street, Brunswick, ME, 04011.

Additional materials

My collection of Meg's pictures

People's Free Space, a group Meg was part of in her home town of Portland, ME

Covington LA hurricane relief friends Yahoo! group dedicated to hurricane relief in the Gulf

tags: obituary  katrina