Perrin Delorey was a 10-year-old Westport Little Leaguer, ice hockey player and Cub Scout. He died in June of 2018. following a car accident after visiting the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Perrin’s memory has been kept alive by his family, friends, Little League and Staples Tuition Grants. On Wednesday, his father James posted on Facebook:
Today is our son Perrin’s 18th birthday.
Perrin was a thoughtful young man with a great future ahead of him. Angela and I talk about him all the time, as do his little sisters, Mireille and Elodie. He truly is present in our family of 5.
Perrin Delorey earned a Little League game ball in May 2018.
Perrin’s friends and classmates are now high school seniors, making plans for career, public service, university. It is both difficult and wonderful to see all of their accomplishments these last 8 years – performing in school plays, excelling at athletics, making music, volunteering in our community, climbing mountains, becoming Eagle Scouts, becoming adults.
These dreams and hopes are like those we had for Perrin, and what we have now for Mireille and Elodie.
Perrin at McGill University.
This year Perrin’s classmates, led by his “identical cousin” Philip, have created the Perrin Ryan Delorey “Do Your Best” Award, a Staples Tuition Grant that – because of the generosity of so many – will be given in perpetuity to help students pursue their dreams of higher education.
The award is modeled, in part, on Westport Little League’s Perrin Ryan Delorey Sportsmanship Award, presented not to the “best” player, but to the player who works the hardest to improve and help their teammates.
Perrin Delorey at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, with Ted Williams. He was a big Boston Red Sox fan.
We are so inspired by all the recipients of this award, and look forward to the continued adventures of Perrin’s peers as they enter adulthood.
What will they teach us? Where will they take us? What will they teach others? What kind of families will they build? How many people will they help? Who will they love?
We had all these questions and great expectations for Perrin, and now have them for his little sisters.
Perrin in a Princeton shirt, from his aunt Francesca Ryan.
Today, on Perrin’s 18th birthday, please, if you can, take a deep breath, say Perrin’s name out loud, and do your best to help someone else’s dreams come true.
(To donate to Perrin’s Staples Tuition Grants award, click here. Then choose “The Perrin Delorey ‘Do Your Best’ Award,” from the drop-down menu — it’s near the bottom of that list.)
Perrin, with his Cub Scout Eclipse Award.
Perrin at the Westport PAL Rink at Longshore …
… and at his mother Angela’s Hamilton College hockey rink.
Perrin with his godfather, Professor Triadafilos Triadafilopoulos, at the University of Toronto.
At Yale Bowl, for the Yale-Harvard game.
With heavy hearts, we SHOUT, HAPPY 18th BIRTHDAY PERRIN.
Love, The Curran Family
What an incredible way to honor such a special boy. Our hearts are with his family as we wish him a happy 18th bday ❤️
– The Farhat’s
PERRIN.
What a beautiful and heartbreaking tribute to Perrin. You can feel, in every word penned by James, the kind of young man Perrin was, as well as the love and grief of a bereaved father and family who dearly misses their beloved son and brother. And yet, what they’ve created in Perrin’s name is something profoundly meaningful. I know because, I too, am a bereaved father.
A scholarship doesn’t just honor Perrin, it ensures that his life continues to open doors, shape futures, inspire the best from others, and make a difference in ways that will ripple far beyond what any of us can ever see. That is a powerful legacy.
Thank you, James, for sharing Perrin with us. He is remembered, and he matters. Perrin’s love and light continues to shine upon many. Happy heavenly 18th birthday, Perrin. And, peace and love to James and Perrin’s family and friends.
I never knew Perrin or his family and friends, but I lost my friend to a car accident 56 years ago when I was 7 years old. I still think of him every day. Reading the tribute and finding out that he was a Cub Scout was even more special to me. I was a 10 year veteran Boy Scout leader with Troop 721 in Milford, so I am very close to every Cub Scout and Boy Scout family everywhere. The scouting trail is very hard and a Boy needs to earn the rank of Eagle Scout before their 18th birthday, so the heavenly Scoutmaster above has presented Perrin with every scouting award and ultimately his Eagle Scout rank.
The beautiful tribute that his father James made was very touching and Perrin’s light will continue to shine on everyone and lights will continue to shine for him. Tonight, I will light one of the special lanterns in my collection for him.
HAPPY 18TH BIRTHDAY PERRIN!
Happy 18th Birthday Perrin! ❤️😇🙏🎂
After reading this wonderful tribute from a great Westport family- how can I not send in a “HAPPY 18th BIRTHDAY PERRIN” shout out and then visit the Staples Tuition Grants page in Perrin’s honor and memory.