One of the few perks about working in media is that you get nice tributes when you pass away. In movies and television, maybe your name is mentioned in the closing credits. In newspapers, there is the obituary.
It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that we report the loss of one of our own. Mark Perry, 50, was a designer, one of the creative production types who build the newspaper pages. Within the confines of the advertising already placed on pages, designers determine the size and placement of stories and pictures on the page, choose type styles and lend their creative expertise to the production process.
Mark, a lifelong Naperville resident, died Saturday after a short bout with colon cancer. His colleagues at The Sun are shocked and saddened by the quickness of his passing . He was at work just two weeks ago, having returned from vacation, looking thinner, and that typical good-natured attitude of his was missing. By the time the cancer was diagnosed, it was too late.
His wife, the former Lois Michel, worked at The Sun in the old days, down on Jackson Avenue, for Harold White, as an entertainment reporter. Our thoughts and prayers are with her, and the rest of Mark's family, during this time of incredible sadness.
Life is precious, and much too short.
I got to know Lois Michel Perry while working as a fellow reporter at the Naperville Sun. She watched my life quietly from a distance for awhile, and in time befriended me. I had moved to Chicago to marry a guy who broke up with me (nastily) within a month or two of arrival. Within a year, my mom died of cancer. Lois could see I was falling apart. In time, she generously invited me to her ladies Bible study, and I got to know her best friends quite personally. That led to later meetings and outings and dinners with husbands and boyfriends, including Mark. Lois, who went to a college (Greenville) that was the same denomination as my parents' church, gradually let me know how she and Mark met. At the time they both worked at the Sun. He was Catholic, and shorter (smile), and different in several ways that made her wonder if he was the right guy. Evidently Mark loved her and was sure about her from the beginning. But soon before Lois' father died, her Dad told her to take a second glance at a man who loved her so much (Mark). It was a delight to see Lois's genuine happiness with Mark -- and at times, surprise and slight embarrassment at that happiness. Having been single awhile before marriage, she related to all of my horror stories. But Mark was the one in a million -- the sincere soul, the truly nice guy. And the Christian. Sometime before they got married, Mark came to a real faith in Jesus Christ, just as Lois and I shared. It was fun to see that faith play out in creative and interesting ways. For two years in a row, I attended a Seder dinner at their home, where they (not Jewish) had each reading and each food course down to the last detail. It was a deeply meaningful and moving experience -- Mark as the man of the house on one side of the VERY long table, and Lois as the lady of the house on the other. Mark was super smart, and enjoyed life, and this I remember -- was an amazing movie person, up on every kind of movie. Although Lois, Mark, and I were all among the many casualties of the Sun at different points, losing our jobs for various reasons, our shared interest in artsy things (Lois went into horticulture) continued to be a bond. At one point, still at the Sun, a community member suggested I write about the Perrys -- Mark's parents -- as community heroes for all their work in sports announcing. Mark's father was in the late stages of skin cancer then, and for one of the rare times in my life, I could not bring myself to put in the story all of the personal details that made them so touching as a couple. It was too special to share. Given all the difficulty and pain of life (although many wonderful happenings too), I lost touch with the Perrys when I moved to Indiana, except for one wonderful reunion party at Barbara Greenwald's house. Letting go was my loss. It is my hope, in the face of this tragedy, that I can reach out to Lois once again and let her know how much her friendship meant to me at my most hurting time. I also believe that Mark is in heaven with the Lord Jesus -- which doesn't make his loss any less, from this side. But for those of us who share faith, and who believe this life is only the Beginning, it may hold some comfort to know it is possible to see Mark again. I think we will. And I have no doubt he is busy tracking sports and movies (whatever their equivalent is), with grace and humor, from that side of eternity.
Blessings and peace to all who knew him.
I worked with Mark at (the former) Liberty Newspapers. He always kept his cool, which is not always easy for a newsroom designer to do. His calm and sense of humor helped get me through some tough deadlines. He was a true professional and a good guy. My condolences to Lois and Mark's family.
Barb Greenwald
I personally believe that grief is the only garland a living can offer to the dead. May almighty give eternal peace to the departed soul and strength and wisdom to his wife, family, friends and loved once in this tough time.
As a former colleague of Mark's, I must say that we have all lost a friend with great talent and a wonderful sense of humor. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family.
I don't want to believe it, but that's the absurdity of life. It goes without our say-so, and life ends just like that.
We'll miss Mark, and I'm glad I got to know him. God bless his family.
May the peace that passes all understanding come upon the Perry Family. We the men at Wheaton Bible Church, enjoyed our fellowship with Mark and will miss him. We look forward to being reunited with Mark around the campfires of heaven.
Totally shocked and saddened by this news. Mark was one of the good guys, with nary a bitter bone in his body. I know we all will be gone one day, but Mark's departure comes much too early.
My thoughts and prayers go out to the Perry family. As former sports editor at the SUN in the '80s and '90s I got to know Mark, Lois and even Mark's parents quite well. The news of this sudden loss really caught me off guard. I hope everyone does their best to cherish every day they have.
Stan
Our hearts go out to the family of Mr Perry.
Sun, Thanks for making the point that life is too short and I must add, "to be up in arms about petty stuff".
We all end up in the grave eventually and guess what? you can't take nothin' with you.
Enjoy and appreciate life. Focus on whats important.