Morgan Brouillard Parton

My wife of 52 years; Laura, has asked me to express some thoughts to you concerning

our son; Morgan Brouillard Parton. Just writing his name brings on a smile, albeit tears begin to

drift down my face.

Before addressing anything else, please allow us to express our gratitude and humble

appreciation for the outpouring of sympathy, compassion and help, generously offered by

all of you to Laura and I. At a time like this, one is simply stunned; unable to address the

simplest of tasks. Your many kindnesses have provided us with tremendous support!

When thinking about our son, there are many memories that come to mind. Allow me to

share just a few such recollections. For example, one weekday morning in the summer of 1981,

I was walking along Wall Street in lower Manhattan of New York City. I was working for a British

bank and had some business to attend to in the City. As I was passing by the J. P. Morgan

Bank, I was struck with an epiphany. The name of our soon to be born second child, if a boy,

was now stamped in my brain. Upon arriving back home later that day, I discussed my idea with

“the Boss," my bride Laura, if you will, but she stopped me from saying the name. She told me that

she herself had that morning picked a boys’ name from within a book of names. She had me write

down my choice, while she went to find her baby name book. When we produced our

names, both of us had chosen “Morgan."  He was very special even before being born.

I was present when Laura gave birth to Morgan and the beginning of his life’s adventure.

Memories jump forward of those early years. One has three year old Morgan laying on his back

next to me in an outdoor, shallow hot tub. It was more like a pool. We were relishing a beautiful

morning while vacationing at Disney World in Florida. He lay there enjoying the sensation of

warmth enveloping his body. I lay there happy to share the moment with him. The memory has

always stayed with me.

Another favorite memory moves us forward just a couple of years later. The two of us

visited a Carvel soft ice cream store on a hot day in July. When we walked back outside,

enjoying big, sloppy cones, Morgan tipped his cone too far over and the ice cream fell out of the

wafer, plopping onto the curb at our feet. He looked up at me with a look of disappointment. I

have always thanked God that my reaction was to blurt out, “let’s go back inside and get

another one!” We did and life was good for both of us.

Morgan was a joy. Even laying down on his bed with him after lunch on a Saturday. His

nap time. I would make up a story about him and his buddy Eric, who lived next door to us.

While describing the two boys sword fighting with pirates and saving the world, I can hear his voice,

“I know what you’re doing, Dad. You just want me to fall asleep!” I would always

deny it, but somehow both of us would drift off anyway.

When Morgan reached the second grade, Laura developed concerns regarding his

school work. She convinced me that he needed to be evaluated by a specialist to determine if

he had any disability issues. Something just was not quite right. Life lesson here: never

dispute a mother’s instincts! After considerable research, Laura found an absolute heroine of a

doctor who met with Morgan. She began patiently testing Morgan, at length, during several

visits. Finally, she formed an expert opinion, concluding that, indeed, our son had a somewhat

unique “auditory perception” anomaly. The good news was that the condition could be successfully treated over time.

I do not pretend I fully understood the issue, but suffice it to say that his brain did not

process spoken words well. Among other things, his ability to spell was impaired. Regardless,

just as the good doctor promised, Morgan’s brain ultimately developed the means to acquire a

plethora of knowledge and apply it like any other student. I clearly recall that whilst all this was

going on, our little boy asked his mother if he was “stupid?" Imagine that! How sad for any child

to be thinking that he, or she, was somehow a lesser person than the other children in the class!

To be sure, Laura and I spent considerable time and expense ensuring Morgan received all the

support necessary to achieve his full potential. We never regretted doing so.

Indeed, by the time he was about to become a college student, he was granted a four

year scholarship to attend Hobart College in Geneva, New York. He was named a Dean’s

Scholar upon completing his first semester. Further, he attended Oxford University in England

for a full semester. While there he was honored by receiving the only HeadMistress’

Endorsement of his Student Teacher Evaluation. By then, Laura and I knew…we knew…that

Morgan would become a teacher. As his career developed, he devoted many hours to earning

a Master’s Degree in order to enhance his abilities to work with children afflicted with autism.

During his last visit with us at Christmas he was full of life as he described both Detroit

and his work at the Academy. He loved talking about sites he had visited around the city and

his passion for the children studying at the Academy. We found his demeanor upbeat and his

talk of the future was altogether positive. Yet the evening before he departed this world, we had

a very brief, confusing telephone call from him. His tone and brief words filled us with worry.

My last words to our son were,

“Morgan, we are your parents and we love you! How

can we help you?” There was no answer and I realized he had ended the call. Laura called

him back. She texted him, numerous times. We spent a sleepless night and when we still

could not reach him in the morning, Laura asked the police in Detroit to conduct a wellness check. Meanwhile,

Laura began reaching out to a number of his friends and a frantic search developed. We

learned in the early afternoon that Morgan had gone home to the Lord. Our world collapsed.

More than six weeks have passed and here we are. Laura and I in the Blue Ridge

Mountains of North Carolina, and you folks gathered together for a staff meeting in Detroit. We

do wonder if you all got to know Morgan during the past two years at the Clippert Honors

Academy? We sincerely hope so! Morgan was worthy of your attention. He would have

welcomed your input while working with “his kids." To be sure, he would want you to be there for them, particularly now!

Indeed, if you think about it, Morgan left you all with a gift. Better still, he actually left you

with a challenge! Honor his memory. Become all you can be as educators of children! By

doing so, you will help to ensure his legacy. Laura and I will be applauding your efforts.

May God bless each of you as you continue on your chosen career path, that same path

our Morgan was on. We wish the very best for each of you along the way. And like the Irish

prayer; may God hold you in the palm of his hand!

Most Sincerely,

Wayne & Laura Parton

A church service will be held on Saturday, May 17th, 11:00 a.m., at St. Ann's Episcopal Church, 257 Middle Road, Sayville, NY.  Interment will follow at St. Ann's Cemetery, Sayville, NY.