- M
It is with great sadness that I tell you that my father Jim Perez recently passed away.
Jim Perez had many struggles in life, but I know that he loved being my father. Jim was funny, charismatic and a talented visual artist. He was a huge Beatles fan and named me after John Lennon’s mother. For the first decade of my life Jim fully dedicated himself to raising me, teaching me everything he could - from math skill development and telling time, to working on cars and driving a stick shift.
Jim struggled with alcoholism and depression most of his life. It became increasingly debilitating after he suffered a paralyzing injury while working for a computer assembly company in 1982. Ultimately, he had to have two of the disks in his back removed and was left legally paralyzed. Jim spent the next decade homeless in San Francisco, where he moved in order to be closer to me, after I had moved in with my mom at age seven. He was well known in the SF homeless community – I am often approached by people from all walks of life who tell me about how Jim shared his food with them, took them to movies, encouraged them to open a library card, and most of all to have hope.
Over the following years Jim became more connected with his Native ancestry, and we often attended Ceremonies and Pow Wows together. Jim finally got off the streets and moved into the subsidized Bayanihan Housing on 6th and Mission Street in SF. He tried to attend his grandchildren’s birthdays and sporting events, but the alcohol abuse and back pain became too extreme, and he was often unable to leave his room for weeks at a time.
Finally, the burdens and challenges of life became too much for Jim to bear, and he decided to end his life. This has been an incredible shock to me, which I’ll be wrestling with for some time to come.
As Jim’s only child, I have been responsible for the medical examiner cost, funeral expenses, and all other arrangements associated with his sudden departure. And this is where I ask you, my friends and community, if you can help my family out in this challenging time. I know we’re all strapped, just trying to survive in this increasingly expensive Bay Area. But if you’re able to help out with anything, I’d be eternally grateful.
Jim Perez had many struggles in life, but I know that he loved being my father. Jim was funny, charismatic and a talented visual artist. He was a huge Beatles fan and named me after John Lennon’s mother. For the first decade of my life Jim fully dedicated himself to raising me, teaching me everything he could - from math skill development and telling time, to working on cars and driving a stick shift.
Jim struggled with alcoholism and depression most of his life. It became increasingly debilitating after he suffered a paralyzing injury while working for a computer assembly company in 1982. Ultimately, he had to have two of the disks in his back removed and was left legally paralyzed. Jim spent the next decade homeless in San Francisco, where he moved in order to be closer to me, after I had moved in with my mom at age seven. He was well known in the SF homeless community – I am often approached by people from all walks of life who tell me about how Jim shared his food with them, took them to movies, encouraged them to open a library card, and most of all to have hope.
Over the following years Jim became more connected with his Native ancestry, and we often attended Ceremonies and Pow Wows together. Jim finally got off the streets and moved into the subsidized Bayanihan Housing on 6th and Mission Street in SF. He tried to attend his grandchildren’s birthdays and sporting events, but the alcohol abuse and back pain became too extreme, and he was often unable to leave his room for weeks at a time.
Finally, the burdens and challenges of life became too much for Jim to bear, and he decided to end his life. This has been an incredible shock to me, which I’ll be wrestling with for some time to come.
As Jim’s only child, I have been responsible for the medical examiner cost, funeral expenses, and all other arrangements associated with his sudden departure. And this is where I ask you, my friends and community, if you can help my family out in this challenging time. I know we’re all strapped, just trying to survive in this increasingly expensive Bay Area. But if you’re able to help out with anything, I’d be eternally grateful.