Scott Gerard Vallee
July 4, 1974 - July 10, 2004
Scott, a friend from High School, died from cancer a few weeks ago. Unfortunately, it wasn't unexpected. He
had been fighting with it for several years, going through a number of surgeries. From what I'm aware, it had metastasized
into his lungs and during a surgery, when they were unable to continue chemotherapy, it grew to the point where
it wasn't possible to reverse. This is my poor understanding of the topic, because I haven't been close
to Scott for a while.
I went to college three hours away from home, which seemed like a long way in those days when I wanted
to be having fun and doing things. My high school friends, Scott included, attended a different college
and I didn't see them except for occasionally on holidays and in the summer. We lost close track of each other
and no one really did anything to prevent that. This is sad, but not my point.
I never really knew Scott as an adult, beyond the occasional email. This was driven home by the number of people
I didn't recognize at his funeral. Aside from the family of his wife, there were at least 150 people there that I had
never met before. The remembrances of Scott done by several people painted a picture of a person driven beyond
usual American societal comfort to reach out and be a Good Person. He read and he taught and he played and he loved, all
while fighting a deadly growth that I imagine he thought would eventually kill him. Whether or not my imagination
is accurate, I am overwhelmed by the strength of character it took to continue his life as it was described by the eulogists.
My conceit and pride took a small beating the weekend of the funeral because I do not believe that I could be
as soulful and strong as Scott was during his long illness. His death taught me a lesson
that I hope I never forget: There's no time like the present to do your best and live life to the fullest degree.
Next time you see me, ask me if I'm following Scott's lesson.
Below is information from Scott's funeral as well as his obituaries:
Scott's Funeral was held at First United Methodist Church of Medford on 55 Otis St in Medford, MA
In lieu of flowers there is a Scott Gerard Vallee Scholarship Fund C/c Stonehan Bank 80 Montvale Ave. Stoneham, MS 02180 Attn C. DiBella
Scott generously donated his organs to researchers who hope to find out why the cancer acted so aggressively
The following is his obituary from ????????
Scott Gerard Vallee, age 30, of Medford formerly of Bedford, New Hampshire, passed away Saturday July 10th following a lengthy illness.
He was the beloved husband of Jessica E. (DiMatteo). Born in Manchester, New Hampshire he was the son of M. Louise (Parsons) and Gerard Vallee of Port Richey, FL.
Scott was a 1997 Graduate of Keene State College in New Hampshire where he was an active member of the KSC Pride Organization. Scott was an avid reader and loved writing. He loved the outdoors and enjoyed as a hobby, flying kites, with his wife Jessica. Scott served as a Cadet Commander with the Manchester Civil Air Patrol and most recently was employed with Health Plans Inc. of Westboro, MA. His true passion was teaching, he loved the time he spent teaching english at the North Andover Alternative High School. Scott also enjoyed chaperoning 8th grade students from the McKelvie Middle School on their Kardigan Mountain hiking and campimg trips
In addition to his wife and parents, Scott is survived by his sister, Kama Marie Vallee of Tampa, FL his grandparents Roy and Mabel Parsons of Newbury, NH. He is also survived by several loving aunts, uncles and cousins.
A memorial service will be conducted at the First Community United Methodist Church, 55 Otis St., Medford, Friday evening at 6 PM. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be sent in Scott’s memory to the Scott G. Vallee Scholarship Fund, C/O Stoneham Bank, 80 Montvale Ave., Stoneham, MA 02180.
This is his obituary from The Boston Globe
Scott Vallee, 30; aspiring writer loved teaching
By Jessica Tanenbaum, Globe Correspondent | July 16, 2004
Scott Gerard Vallee, who loved teaching, studying literature and vampire lore, and flying kites, died of lung cancer Saturday at his home in Medford. He was 30.
Mr. Vallee worked at Tufts Health Plan and Health Plans Inc. adjusting insurance claims, but he was truly passionate about writing and teaching.
After graduating from Keene State College with degrees in English and journalism in 1997, Mr. Vallee worked as an intern and associate editor for Yankee Magazine. He also spent a year teaching English at night school at North Andover Alternative High School to single mothers and students who worked during the day.
When his wife, Jessica, sat in on a class, she noticed that her husband ''glowed when he taught. You could tell that was where his passion was." When funding for the night school program was cut, Mr. Vallee stopped teaching.
Jessica said that after his diagnosis of cancer in 2001, her husband often said, ''When I go into remission, I'm going to teach."
Mr. Vallee was halfway through writing his vampire novel ''The Familiar," set in contemporary Boston, when he died. The novel assumed the point of view of a vampire's disgruntled assistant vampire. But the book's dark mood did not reflect Mr. Vallee, who was ''random and eclectic and spontaneous and fun," said his friend Danielle Gagne.
His wife, a college friend who married Mr. Vallee in 2003, introduced him to kite flying. A member of Kites Over New England, Mr. Vallee regularly flew his colorful lasar stunt kite at Nahant Beach and Hampton Beach.
Mr. Vallee grew up in Bedford, N.H., where he attained the rank of Cadet Commander of the Manchester Civil Air Patrol. As commander, Mr. Vallee trained other high school students for refueling missions and search support. Once, his unit searched for a reportedly missing plane all night. ''It ended up being in somebody's garage," said his wife.
Mr. Vallee could not enter the Air Force after college because of asthma and a knee injury.
Committed to social justice and gay rights, he was president of KSC Pride Organization in college.
Days ago, Mr. Vallee's wife found a graduation card he had bought for Gagne, months before she would finish her oral defense for her doctorate in psychology.
''He was always really thoughtful. As sick as he's been, he went out and bought me a graduation card. He knew I could do it," said Gagne.
In addition to his wife, he leaves his parents, M. Louise (Parsons) and Gerard of Port Richey, Fla.; a sister, Karna Marie of Tampa; and his grandparents, Roy and Mabel Parsons of Newbury, N.H.
A funeral will be held today at 6 p.m. in First Community United Methodist Church in Medford.
© Copyright 2004 Globe Newspaper Company.
|