METHUEN — After nearly 40 years in the private sector, Mayor Neil Perry, 65, spent the final years of his life serving the city he loved.
Perry, mayor since 2020, died Saturday surrounded by his family. He had been battling kidney disease but continued to work enthusiastically until his death.
At a City Council meeting last week, Perry defended a young city employee during a debate over the worker’s promotion and in an interview Friday, Perry, who is bilingual, spoke passionately about Hispanic Heritage Month and embracing the city’s diversity.
He began his tenure during a difficult time for the city, and according to City Councilor Joel Faretra, “He righted the ship.”
An election for Methuen’s next mayor will be held in less than 60 days. But for now, City Councilor D.J. Beauregard will serve as acting mayor.
Perry has said he entered office more than four years ago as a political newcomer during a “crisis of public trust.” Before his tenure, Methuen officials tussled over funding, especially in the case of the Police Department where a contract with high-ranking police officers threatened the city’s finances and public trust.
When he was sworn in, Perry pledged change. At the time, the city was lacking a human resources director, permanent public works director, city engineer, health director and IT leadership, among other key employees.
In his final weeks, Perry oversaw the purchase of the historic Searles Estate. In his final months, he fought to keep Holy Family Hospital from closure following the bankruptcy of its parent company, Steward Health Care. Before it became clear that Lawrence General Hospital would purchase Holy Family, Perry even explored having the city purchase the hospital.
Perry, a lifelong resident of Methuen, went to Central Catholic High School and graduated from UMass Lowell with a bachelor of arts in elementary education and Spanish.
His first profession was as a bilingual educator for Methuen Public Schools before school layoffs following the adoption of Proposition 2½ pushed him toward the private sector. For 38 years, he worked at Raytheon-Integrated Defense Systems.
“He definitely ran this city like a business and that’s what we needed coming back from all of the scandals we have had,” said Faretra, who began his first term alongside Perry. “The school department ran us into a deficit, we were under state oversight, we had no money in free cash, and Neil was exactly what we needed.”
Only three months into Perry’s first term, his leadership was tested with the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We were all learning at the same time, then COVID hit,” Faretra said.
He pointed to Perry’s communication with residents during the crisis, especially through the show “Mayor’s Minutes”. Perry advocated for vaccines to be made readily available in the city and helped residents obtain masks.
“All they had to do was to call the mayor’s office,” Faretra said.
In his first term, Perry pushed for an audit of the Police Department.
In October 2021, Scott McNamara, then captain of the Lawrence Police Department’s Bureau of Professional Standards, was hired as police chief. Perry said it was an opportunity to “put the past behind us.”
McNamara succeeded former Police Chief Joseph Solomon, who goes on trial next year along with Officer Sean Fountain on fraud and perjury charges.
“I’m upset that he is not going to see that finished,” Faretra said of Perry.
McNamara spoke of Perry’s positive impact in a letter to city employees.
“He envisioned a brighter future and worked tirelessly to make it a reality,” the chief said.
“People like him, driven by purpose, leave lasting impacts that ripple through generations,” McNamara added. “His legacy will be no different.”
In recent years, the department has taken steps to build public trust and combat drug use with a more compassionate approach.
“It’s been a complete change and that started with leadership,” Faretra said.
Under Perry’s tenure, the city’s Health and Human Services Department was created. Staff in the department work out of a satellite office at 1 Broadway that aims to bring resources to the community. The office opened this summer.
Perry championed economic development, bringing more businesses to The Loop and offering tax increment financing to businesses. When businesses closed, he was “proactive” in finding others to fill the vacancies,” Faretra said.
Perry was sworn in to his third term as mayor in January after receiving 70% of the vote. He received a similar percentage of the vote when first elected in 2019. As he began his third term, Perry vowed “to finish what he started” and announced a shift in focus from financial stability to increasing growth, innovation and prosperity.
On Sept. 4, the City Council approved the purchase of the Searles Estate for $3.25 million. Perry promoted the purchase as a way to save the more-than-century-old estate from development, but also to give the community access to a location that has traditionally been off limits.
In the past few months, Perry has spoken out against utility companies that failed to repave roads after projects and a state Department of Transportation project that has since been amended following opposition from himself and others.
“Everyone in the commonwealth knew that no matter the situation, Neil never backed down from a fight if it was in the best interest of hardworking families in Methuen,” U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan, D-Westford said. “We will sorely miss his leadership, his determination, and his resilience, and my heart goes out to his family and friends mourning this tremendous loss.”
Perry was mourned by many Sunday, including McNamara and the rest of the Police Department.
“A lifelong resident of the city of Methuen, Mayor Perry’s roots run deep, and his dedication to our city, deeper,” read a statement from the department posted on Facebook. “Mayor Perry was not only a mayor and a leader, he was also a father, a son, a brother, a manager, a beloved family member, and a friend. He was a family man, and he encouraged the value of family in others.”
Faretra said Perry will especially be remembered for how he always listened to what others had to say. He said Perry also donated to various local causes on a regular basis when he could no longer donate his time.
Perry was always among the first to help in the wake of tragedies.
Beauregard said there will be an emergency meeting of department heads Monday morning.
A School Committee meeting scheduled for Monday has been canceled in the wake of Perry’s death. Perry chaired the committee. A City Council meeting has been scheduled for Monday.
“I want to keep up his legacy,” said Beauregard, who called Perry a friend and mentor. “I want to make him proud.”
Calling hours will be held from 2 to 7 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 29, at Methuen Memorial Music Hall, 192 Broadway, according to Kenneth H. Pollard Funeral Home. The funeral will be held at 1 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 30, at St. Monica Parish, 212 Lawrence St.
For more information or to add to Perry’s tribute wall, visit pollardfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Neil-Perry-2/#!/Obituary.