Don Perry, Chick-fil-A’s VP of Corporate Public Relations, has passed away after an apparent heart attack.
Erica M. Martinez, a Chick-fil-A spokeswoman, confirmed the news Friday afternoon in a statement to The Daily Caller.
“We are saddened to report the news to you that our dear friend Don Perry, vice president of public relations, passed away suddenly this morning,” she said. “Don was a member of our Chick-fil-A family for nearly 29 years.”
Martinez added: “For many of you in the media, he was the spokesperson for Chick-fil-A. He was a well-respected and well-liked media executive in the Atlanta and University of Georgia communities, and we will all miss him.”
Perry worked his way up from Chick-fil-A’s original PR staff to the top tier of the company ladder. His death leaves a void in the Chick-fil-A family, particularly in light of the restaurant chain’s escalating PR battle.
Twitterers paused to pay their respects:
https://twitter.com/USElection_2012/status/228929328979775488
Despite perhaps disagreeing with Perry’s personal views, some on the Left put aside ideological differences and expressed their condolences:
https://twitter.com/theLeoTheory/status/228926424873062400
Unfortunately, those liberals were among very few who showed respect.
As Jon predicted, Perry’s death brought out the worst in the Left.
https://twitter.com/AKMF27/status/228926133763186688
https://twitter.com/nichugme/status/228928112925224961
https://twitter.com/el_svid/status/228927951842967552
https://twitter.com/nanakepichu/status/228928487757594626
Notable classy “comedian” Rob Delaney weighed in on Perry’s death with his trademark grace:
Despicable. We await the day when such vitriol is the exception rather than the rule. We will likely have to wait a very long time.
May Don Perry rest in peace. Our thoughts are with his friends and loved ones.
