To the Wesleyan Community:
I want to thank everyone who attended the memorial gathering for Peter Morgenstern-Clarren ’03 on Sunday. Thanks especially to Dean Brown, Rabbi David Leipziger, Kristy Mercado ’05, Emily Pfaff ’07 and everyone who shared their beautiful memories of Peter. I encourage anyone who was not able to attend the gathering to contribute stories, notes of condolence, photos, or other memories of Peter to be included in the memory book that will be compiled and sent to his family. You can send them to me at Wes Box #4362 or drop them off at 60 Home Ave.
As previously mentioned in the Argus, a memorial garden will be established at Peter’s elementary school where he recently worked as a tutor. Contributions can be sent to Shaker Schools Foundation for the Peter Morgenstern-Clarren Memorial at the administration building at 15600 Parkland Drive, Shaker Heights, Ohio 44120.
I would like to share something that Peter’s mother, Patti Morgenstern-Clarren, included in her eulogy. I think that the entire Wesleyan community could benefit from her advice.
“To his friends he would say – Register to vote and vote in every election for the person who will repair this world for you and your children. To all of us, Peter would say – If you want to be a part of me, do something to make this world better: work to develop alternative energy sources to reduce our dependency on oil, plant a tree, adopt a dog from the pound, buy a book from an independent bookseller. To remember Peter, consider the possibility that there is life on other planets, keep an open mind about alternative and complementary medicine, protect our Constitution, replenish the environment, respect the power of a child’s thoughts. To honor Peter, look at the world through someone else’s eyes, seek out someone who is standing outside the circle and invite them in, remember that we are all responsible for each other.”
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