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SSJ Spirit of Courage Honoree

Mel Perry

When considering the transitional period between adolescence and adulthood, “change” evokes many interpretations: so used, the term can suggest a time of maturation and independence or perhaps a period of frustration and rebellion. Paramount in assessing this period is the adolescent’s response to his or her experiences and environment…the choices he or she makes. For Mel Perry, the importance of personal decision-making and faith was a lesson early learned: during the Depression, his parents chose to move to Erie from West Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, blessed only with a second grade education…and hope. Mel remembered well and endorsed this family parable.

As he matured, Mel also upheld his dad’s philosophy that “people lucky to have enough true friends to count on one hand will enjoy a good life.” Finally, Mel speaks metaphorically about his life choices, opting to tread that sometimes lonely path he calls “the high road.” While he acknowledges that it’s often been a lot more difficult to reach his destination, he also observes he’s encountered less traffic along the way. Having chosen a road less traveled, Mel Perry has been well prepared to face, to endure, and to triumph in the face of adversity.

Mel and his family resided in Millcreek. Early on, he had demonstrated such skill as a football player that during his sophomore year, he was privileged to suit up and practice alongside the upperclassmen. During his junior year, however, a painful spinal condition forced Mel to give up football and rising hopes of athletic scholarships for college. Working as a landscape laborer, however, Mel earned sufficient funds to enroll in Penn State Behrend as a business major upon graduation from McDowell in 1969.

Life Shock, Life Shift

On November 29, 1972, however, Mel’s life – both present and future – was changed when he and a friend began the return trip to Erie after an evening at Edinboro University; the collegians had gone to pay their respects to a friend who had died in an automobile accident as he traveled home for Thanksgiving. In a horrible twist of fate, as they made their way back to Erie, Mel’s friend – the driver – lost control as he swerved to avoid potholes, forcing the car to roll repeatedly before coming to a stop. Mel sustained injuries that left him a T-6 Incomplete Paraplegic, rendering him permanently dependent on canes and wheelchair. After a period in intensive care, in an effort to regain some mobility, Mel had no choice but to complete six months of rehabilitation at Saint Vincent Hospital followed by regular sessions of outpatient therapy. In May 1973, he returned to his parents’ home, facing a changed and certainly unexpected future.
About five years later, Mel opened a small engine repair shop in his father’s garage. More and more, Mel experienced increasing pain in his lower back, pain that would eventually force him to forego his business. Then, one of Mel’s most valued customers, Dr. Richard Rahner, urged him to visit the office; in March 1991, Mel scheduled an appointment, making a decision that would, in fact, change his life. Burdened with increasing pain in his lower spine and right leg, Mel met the orthopedic surgeon he regards as “a catalyst for a miracle.”

Life Renewed

First, Dr. Rahner identified the cause of Mel’s lower back and leg pain: the November car accident in 1972 had severely aggravated the football injury Mel had suffered in high school; eventually, he underwent surgery to help alleviate the pain. Next, following Dr. Rahner’s orders, Mel began three months of intense outpatient physical therapy at Saint Vincent Hospital. There, under the care and supervision of Brian Koon, a physical therapist; Mary Jo Laufenberg, a social worker; Anita Stippich, a nurse; and Bob Swain, counselor-intern, Mel began to gain some perspective and acceptance of his life, limitations, and possibilities. Finally, with the support of these kindhearted caretakers, Mel began a healing process that enabled him to envision life anew: in July 1991, after being out of the classroom for more than eighteen years, Mel enrolled in two classes at Edinboro University!

In all, Mel, who enrolled full-time at EU in September 1991, spent six years at the Boro, the spot he regards as the love of his life. Mel, as a forty-year old freshman, recognized – but was not concerned – that most of his classmates were the same age as his own friends’ children! Edinboro opened a fresh world to Mel, enabling him to renew his interests and participation in sports including adaptive scuba diving, wheelchair basketball, and road racing. Scuba diving did much to help Mel overcome the anxiety he had often experienced. Basketball, which had been a club sport at EU, became Mel’s primary sport. Mel and his teammates, in fact, made basketball history as their team was the first Boro squad to win a Keystone Conference game: near the buzzer in the fourth quarter, the team was down by 1. With only seconds remaining, Mel attempted a shot and was fouled. Skilled enough to make both foul shots, his team triumphed. Despite such humble beginnings, today’s Fighting Scots’ wheelchair basketball team enjoys high respect and national ranking. Supporting this new generation of players has, in fact, become one of Mel’s favorite winter pastimes and philanthropies.
In 1992, Mel began training as a racing wheelchair marathon athlete; that September, he completed his first marathon in 2 hours, 21 minutes. In 1993, Mike Ruzzi named Mel “Sports Person of the Week.” Also featured in The Erie Daily Times, he raced for many years until health issues prohibited further competition. In addition to his obvious devotion to athletics, Mel, who had served three years in Student Government, was elected SGA President for the 1994-1995 academic year. Unquestionably, his younger peers regarded Mel as a capable leader and spokesperson, leading to a feature story in the Boro’s newspaper, Spectator. Mel had found himself; despite the limitations imposed by his injury, he had discovered value and self-worth through faith, support of good friends and advisors, and the community support and fellowship of Edinboro University.

Heartbreak...and Hope

Once more, an accident battered Mel’s sense of well-being: in November 1993, his father suffered a traumatic brain injury in an automobile accident and spent two months in a coma before being transferred to a nursing home. In March 1994, Mr. Perry died. Resolute, Mel continued working on his degree, graduated Cum Laude in May 1995, having achieved Dean’s List status for seven of eight semesters, and enrolled in the graduate counseling program. While carrying a full course load, participating in athletics, and serving as SGA President, Mel also worked as a graduate assistant in the Office of Student Development, gaining invaluable experience and earning the necessary income to pay tuition.
Mel was faced with yet another tragedy just a year later when his mother, 82, suddenly passed away in April 1996. Along with the grief of having lost both parents, Mel faced the necessity of selling the family home, settling the estate with his five siblings, and finding a new place to live. Once again, confident in faith and comforted by friends, Mel found a new home, completed graduate school in May 1997 – attaining a 4.0 and a Master’s Degree in Counseling, Student Services. As Mel reflects on this two-year period of tribulation, he perceives the time as a personal and professional gift which endowed him with the ability to inspire clients to face and overcome life’s adversities, empowered to declare “I did…you can too.”

Moving On, Giving Back

Mel, after a month of remembrance and renewal, accepted a position as a Mental Health Therapist at Erie’s Achievement Center where he worked for two years helping children and their families. Moving to Community Resources for Independence (CRI), he has worked in two capacities – as Coordinator of Adaptive Sports and Recreation and as Service Coordinator for the Attendant Care Program; he now serves as Senior Service Coordinator of the latter program. Devoting himself to this position at Erie’s CRI – the largest of more than 500 federally-funded centers networked throughout the U.S. – Mel is justifiably honored that for 10 years, he’s helped individuals with disabilities to gain independence. He has also highlighted, as well as participated in, adaptive sports programs in the local area: Mel served as captain of CRI’s-sponsored Bay City Lightning wheelchair basketball team, a team recognized for its 2001 undefeated season and National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA) Keystone Conference Championship. Even though medical issues forced Mel to forego participation in the sport in 2002, it’s a game he follows avidly.
Always, Mel Perry’s philosophy of life centers on choice. While each of the life trials he’s faced could easily be termed grave, Mel has always made the decision to move on, firm in hope and purpose, a response he credits to his parents’ teaching and example. In 1993, he achieved even more spiritual serenity when he opened himself to God and discovered the peace and joy of “letting go and letting God,” relinquishing his human hunger for control. Guided by psalms and proverbs, he’s found strength to face life’s continuing challenges. While Mel still experiences pain in his spine, surgery in 2004 to fuse his lower spine alleviated much of this aggravation; in fact, he stepped up his training for September’s 26.2 mile Erie Marathon, targeting a finish under two hours for two laps around Presque Isle in his hand cycle!

Viewing life as a partnership with God and inspired by friends and parents, Mel Perry celebrates each day and each experience: he attributes a catastrophic car accident and resulting physical disabilities as the catalyst that empowered him to recognize the power of choice. Following this revelation, Mel has faced heart-breaking physical, emotional, and financial tragedies, and each time, despite the burden, he has moved forward, with hope…with optimism...with confidence. In times of tragedy, in times of pain, he’s chosen “the high road,” and that choice…that response…has, indeed, made all the difference!