From KSTP Television News (Minneapolis/St. Paul):
Brooklyn Park Loses Longtime Council Member--Jeanette Meyer served the citizens of Brooklyn Park as West District Council Member for more than a dozen years. She died Sunday. Meyer was first elected to the council in 1998. In 2010, she was elected to her fourth consecutive term. "Meyer was the longest serving member on the City Council and was an original Citizen Long-range Improvement Committee member, where she served as first vice chair, past chair and retiring vice-chair," said city spokesperson Mary Tan. "Most recently she was on the City Council's Audit Committee and served as the council liaison to the Northwest Hennepin Human Services Board of Directors, Brooklyn Historical Society and Property Manager's Coalition." Tan said Meyer was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer in March. A memorial service is being planned. "Because the timing of the vacancy is occurring during an election cycle, city staff is awaiting direction from the Secretary of State regarding when a special election for the seat may be held," said Tan. Meyer's term was set to expire in 2015.
From Minneapolis Star-Tribune:
A couple of weeks ago, Brooklyn Park City Council Member Jeanette Meyer visited with Mayor Jeff Lunde. Confronting fourth-stage lung cancer diagnosed in March, Meyer was clear that she wanted the city to start looking for her replacement. "She leaned over and said to me, 'Do what you have to do,'" Lunde recalled on Monday. "She was very upfront and honest about that, that we should not wait. The city was more important." Meyer, the longest-serving member on the current council and a tireless champion of the city, died on Sunday at her home. She was 58. She grew up in West Concord in southern Minnesota and came to the Twin Cities to attend the University of Minnesota, said her husband, Terry Gearin. "She was a Vietnam War protester, and I was a Vietnam vet," he said. They were married in 1974 and built their Brooklyn Park home in 1977. She worked as an accountant and business consultant. She first was elected to the council in 1998, representing the West District; voters gave her a fourth term in 2010. Her husband joined her on the council from 2005-2009. Over a career in public service, she also was a charter member and frequent officer of the Citizen Long-range Improvement Committee. Meyer was dogged in sticking to a long view of the city, Lunde said. Even through the recession, when development-hungry Brooklyn Park was presented with opportunities that didn't quite fit the council's vision for the city, she stuck to her guns, he said. "She was focused on making sure that we are patient in development," he said. "When the economy got tough, she wasn't willing to say 'Let's loosen up and take whatever we can get.'" The extension of Hwy. 610 through the city was a high priority to her. On a smaller scale, Meyer also was devoted to neighborhoods, said longtime colleague Mike Trepanier. Those efforts included everything from crime prevention to code enforcement, foreclosure mitigation and single-family rental management. "All of those things," Trepanier said." Everyone on the council has said our rudder is neighborhoods. If you take care of neighborhoods, the city can take care of itself." Still, he noted, while he admired her work and her dedication, that didn't mean the two always agreed. "She and I would disagree, but that was OK," he said. "Both of us understood, and we talked about how having some level of disagreement is really important, because in the long run you make better decisions than when everyone's thinking is the same all the time. We agreed much, much more often." Meyer continued attending meetings and city functions as long as she could. She was answering constituent e-mails as recently as last week, her husband said, noting that someone asked why he didn't prevent her from exerting herself. "She was doing things she loved," he said. "You couldn't stop her. That was her heart." In addition to her husband, Meyer is survived by adult sons Charlie and Joseph Gearin, both of whom live in Brooklyn Park. A memorial service still is being planned to accommodate out-of-town family. The city has not yet determined when or how it will fill her seat. The loss was the council's second in the past 15 months. Mayor Steve Lampi died of cancer in February 2011.
From KARE-TV (Minneapolis/St. Paul) news:
Brooklyn Park, Minnesota--A long-time member of the Brooklyn Park City Council has passed away from lung cancer. According to a city spokeswoman, West District Council Member Jeanette Meyer died on Sunday morning. The 58-yearold Meyer was surrounded by family at the time. Meyer was diagnosed with state four lung cancer back in March.
Meyer was a 35-year resident of Brooklyn Park. She was first elected to office in 1998. She was re-elected to a fourth consecutive term in 2010. Meyer's term was set to expire in 2015. Because the timing of the vacancy is occurring during an election cycle, city staff is awaiting direction from the Secretary of State regarding when a special election for the seat may be held. Meyer is the spouse of former West District Council Member Terry Gearin.
From mnsun.com (Minnesota Sun Newspapers):
Brooklyn Park Councilmember Jeanette Meyer dies. Jeanette Meyer, a West District council member for Brooklyn Park, died of lung cancer Sunday morning surrounded by family. Meyer, 58, was a 35-year resident of Brooklyn Park and was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer this in March. She was first elected to office in 1998 and was re-elected to a fourth consecutive term in 2010. Meyer was the longest serving member on the City Council and was an original Citizen Long-range Improvement Committee (CLIC) member, where she served as first vice chair, past chair and retiring vice chair. Most recently she was on the City Council's Audit Committee and served as the council liaison to the Northwest Hennepin Human Services Board of Directors, Brooklyn Historical Society and Property Manager's Coalition. A memorial service is being planned to accommodate out-of-town family members. She is the spouse of former West District Councilmember Terry Gearin. Meyer's term was set to expire in 2015. Because the timing of the vacancy is occurring during an election cycle, city staff is awaiting direction from the secretary of state regarding when a special election for the seat may be held.
From WCCO-TV News (Minneapolis/St. Paul):
The longest-serving Brooklyn Park city council member died Sunday morning after being diagnosed with stage-four lung cancer last year, the city said. Fifty-eight-year-old Jeanette Meyer, a West District Council member, passed away surrounded by family. She had lived in Brooklyn Park for 35 years and had served on the Citizen Long-Range Improvement Committee, the city's Audit Committee and as a liaison to the Brooklyn Historical Society and the North Hennepin Human Services Board of Directors. She was re-elected to her fourth-consecutive term in 2010; she was diagnosed with stage four cancer in March 2011. A memorial service is currently being planned for out-of-town residents, the city said. Meyer was married to Terry Gearin, a former West District Council member. The city says it is currently waiting to hear from state officials about the possibility of a special election designed to fill Meyer's council seat. Meyer's term was set to end in 2015.
From Minneapolis Star-Tribune, March 13, 2012:
A lung cancer diagnosis isn't deterring Brooklyn Park City Council Member Jeanette Meyer from fulfilling her duty to the city. Meyer recently sought medical attention for what she thought was pneumonia. She was told, "no, sorry, it's cancer," she said Tuesday. Doctors have determined the cancer has spread beyond her lungs. Still, she said, she has no plans to resign her post. She plans to divide her time between work and treatments, though she said she's not hoping for a cure. "Initially, it really knocked me off my pins," she said. "But I still love this community, and that's been my focus: How do I get through this so I can continue to do what I love?" Meyer, 58, has lived in Brooklyn Park for 35 years. She is the longest-serving member of the council, having first been elected in 1998; her fourth consecutive term runs through 2014. In February of last year, the city lost Mayor Steve Lampi to cancer. Meyer said she is taking strength from her work, as well as the support of her family.
Published on May 21, 2012 by twelvedottv:
Brooklyn Park council member loses battle with lung cancer. Long-time Brooklyn Park City Council Member Jeanette Meyer lost her brief battle with lung cancer Sunday morning. Meyer, 58, had lived in Brooklyn Park with her husband, former city council member Terry Gearin, for 35 years. She was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in March. Meyer was the longest serving member on the city council, serving the West District for more than 13 years. Her colleagues remember her as transparent, direct and devoted to her beloved city. "She struck me as thoughtful and committed to her belief system as far as what was best for Brooklyn Park," says fellow council member, Mike Trepanier. Meyer was a big supporter of crime prevention and community engagement initiatives. She was an original Citizen Long-range Improvement Committee member. She also served as the council liaison to the Northwest Hennepin Human Services' board or Directors, Brooklyn Historical Society and Property Manager's Coalition. Many say Meyer didn't believe in serving solely from her council chair. "One thing people will always remember about Jeanette is that she showed up," says Brooklyn Park City Manager Jamie Verbrugge. "If there was a ribbon cutting, if there was a special event going on in the community, if there was a community meeting somewhere, you could count on Jeanette being there because she was absolutely totally committed to this community." That was something the illness could not take away. Even after her diagnosis, Meyer remained engaged in issues and tried to attend events and meetings whenever possible. She was able to attend a portion of the last city council meeting on May 7. Meyer passed away Sunday morning with her husband, Terry Gearin, and their two sons, Joseph and Charles, by her side. 12 News spoke with Terry by phone. He says the family is glad she is no longer suffering. He thanks the public for their thoughts and prayers over the last few months. The family will hold a public memorial service, but no plans have been set yet. Meyer's term was set to expire in 2015. City staff is awaiting word from the Secretary of State on when the city can hold a special election for her city council seat.
From post.mnsun.com (Minnesota Sun Newspapers):
Remembering Jeanette Meyer; Memorial is May 30, By Jonathan Young on May 25, 2012 at 8:06 am
Up to the end, Brooklyn Park West District Council member Jeanette Meyer remained dedicated to serving the city she loved. Surrounded by family, she succumbed to lung cancer May 20 at age 58. She had been diagnosed in early March. A public memorial service is will be 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 30 at Edinburgh USA, 8700 Edinbrook Crossing. Only two weeks before her death, she attended a city council meeting. Her husband, former Council member Terry Gearin, said she answered city-related emails even during the last week of her life. When someone asked him why he didn't prevent her from exerting herself, he said he couldn't. "Her heart was the city," he said. "How do you stop somebody from doing … what she loved doing? She was part of the city." "She loved her community," Council member Mike Trepanier said. "That was real clear." First elected in 1998, Meyer was elected to her fourth consecutive term in 2010. She was the longest-serving member of the current council. Prior to serving on the council, she was a member of the first Citizen Long-range Improvement Committee, also known as CLIC.
Raised in West Concord, a small town in southern Minnesota, Meyer moved to the Twin Cities to study political science at the University of Minnesota. She and her husband moved to Brooklyn Park 35 years ago. Meyer and Gearin, an unlikely pair, married in 1974. "I was a combat medic in Vietnam, and she was a war protestor," Gearin said. They met at a party where Gearin became intoxicated with Meyer--and more than a little alcohol. "I was totally obliterated," he admitted. He sat near her for hours asking for her phone number, and she kept giving him fake numbers. Finally she gave him her real number, figuring he was too drunk to remember. He called the next day. Shocked, she asked how he could possibly remember her number. "How could I forget?" he answered. Gearin remembered "Jenny" as a generous, unselfish person who didn't seek recognition. He said she valued family. "Her family was the most important thing, and not just the immediate family," he said. "Her family [was] everything to her," said Ronald Swan, a friend for more than 30 years. "She was a very loving person." Swan said Meyer was almost like a godmother to his sons as well. Swan remembers Meyer inviting his family and her own family over for dinner. She'd make multiple cake pans full of chili or lasagna. Some of it would have to go in the freezer for later. "It'd be way too much for one feed, but that's what she'd do," he said. "She liked to entertain …" Swan fondly remembers Meyer's prize-winning chili. Because Gearin, Swan and his son hunt together, she also knew how to prepare wild game. "She [made] the best duck," Swan said.
Outside her family, the city was Meyer's life. Meyer did a little consulting work and software coding, Gearin said, but most of her energy went to her duties as a council member. "They had a full-time person for a part-time salary," Gearin said. "Until Jenny got sick, she didn't miss much." He said one of her favorite events was National Night Out in August. "We'd miss our [Aug. 3] anniversary sometimes because it was National Night Out," Gearin said. "I think [her death] is going to be a big loss for Brooklyn Park," Swan said. "She was really dedicated," Trepanier said. In addition to showing dedication, Trepanier said, Meyer stood by her beliefs, and he respected her for it. He said he and Meyer agreed on many issues, but if two people on the council were going to disagree, it would be them. But he thinks that was positive. "That was a good thing, because a city council needs different views," he said. "If you have different views, you end up with better long-term decisions." Meyer's term was set to expire in 2015. A special election to fill her seat for the remainder of the term will be held along with the regular city primary Tuesday, Aug. 14. Gearin said Meyer was concerned about who might take her seat. Gearin wouldn't rule out the possibility that he or one of his sons might run for city council. Meyer's death comes a little more than a year after former Mayer Steve Lampi died of lung cancer a month after he was diagnosed.
Meyer is survived by her husband, Terry Gearin; two sons, Charles and Joseph; and her daughter Krista Cavanaugh, with whom she was recently reunited.
From www.twelve.tv.news:
Long-time Brooklyn Park council member praised for "tireless devotion." Even after long-time Brooklyn Park City Council Member Jeanette Meyer was diagnosed with advanced lung cancer this past spring, she continued to attend council meetings and serve the city. Meyer's husband said she wouldn't have had it any other way. Wednesday night at a memorial service for Meyer, her family, friends and colleagues remembered the 58-year-old as a tireless champion for Brooklyn Park who relished her 13 years on the city council. "She loved this city," said Meyer's husband, Terry Gearin. "She really loved being a council member." Meyer was first elected to Brooklyn Park's council in 1998, representing the West District. Over the years, Meyer served as a mentor to many other newly elected council members. Brooklyn Park Mayor Jeff Lunde recalled Meyer's humorous response after he sought advice from her during Lunde's early days on the council. "She goes [sic], 'here is all you need to do, just find out which way I'm voting, and vote the same way'," said Lunde. Meyer's older sister, Katherine Baker, remembered a strong and spirited woman who always spoke her mind. "She didn't look to anyone around her for approval when it was time to state what she believed," said Baker. "I was always in awe of that strength in her." Meyer's work on the city council over the years saw a wide range of issues from crime prevention and code enforcement to development and the extension of Highway 610. Meyer died of lung cancer May 20.
Alexandra Renslo reporting
[email protected]
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Brooklyn Park Loses Longtime Council Member--Jeanette Meyer served the citizens of Brooklyn Park as West District Council Member for more than a dozen years. She died Sunday. Meyer was first elected to the council in 1998. In 2010, she was elected to her fourth consecutive term. "Meyer was the longest serving member on the City Council and was an original Citizen Long-range Improvement Committee member, where she served as first vice chair, past chair and retiring vice-chair," said city spokesperson Mary Tan. "Most recently she was on the City Council's Audit Committee and served as the council liaison to the Northwest Hennepin Human Services Board of Directors, Brooklyn Historical Society and Property Manager's Coalition." Tan said Meyer was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer in March. A memorial service is being planned. "Because the timing of the vacancy is occurring during an election cycle, city staff is awaiting direction from the Secretary of State regarding when a special election for the seat may be held," said Tan. Meyer's term was set to expire in 2015.
From Minneapolis Star-Tribune:
A couple of weeks ago, Brooklyn Park City Council Member Jeanette Meyer visited with Mayor Jeff Lunde. Confronting fourth-stage lung cancer diagnosed in March, Meyer was clear that she wanted the city to start looking for her replacement. "She leaned over and said to me, 'Do what you have to do,'" Lunde recalled on Monday. "She was very upfront and honest about that, that we should not wait. The city was more important." Meyer, the longest-serving member on the current council and a tireless champion of the city, died on Sunday at her home. She was 58. She grew up in West Concord in southern Minnesota and came to the Twin Cities to attend the University of Minnesota, said her husband, Terry Gearin. "She was a Vietnam War protester, and I was a Vietnam vet," he said. They were married in 1974 and built their Brooklyn Park home in 1977. She worked as an accountant and business consultant. She first was elected to the council in 1998, representing the West District; voters gave her a fourth term in 2010. Her husband joined her on the council from 2005-2009. Over a career in public service, she also was a charter member and frequent officer of the Citizen Long-range Improvement Committee. Meyer was dogged in sticking to a long view of the city, Lunde said. Even through the recession, when development-hungry Brooklyn Park was presented with opportunities that didn't quite fit the council's vision for the city, she stuck to her guns, he said. "She was focused on making sure that we are patient in development," he said. "When the economy got tough, she wasn't willing to say 'Let's loosen up and take whatever we can get.'" The extension of Hwy. 610 through the city was a high priority to her. On a smaller scale, Meyer also was devoted to neighborhoods, said longtime colleague Mike Trepanier. Those efforts included everything from crime prevention to code enforcement, foreclosure mitigation and single-family rental management. "All of those things," Trepanier said." Everyone on the council has said our rudder is neighborhoods. If you take care of neighborhoods, the city can take care of itself." Still, he noted, while he admired her work and her dedication, that didn't mean the two always agreed. "She and I would disagree, but that was OK," he said. "Both of us understood, and we talked about how having some level of disagreement is really important, because in the long run you make better decisions than when everyone's thinking is the same all the time. We agreed much, much more often." Meyer continued attending meetings and city functions as long as she could. She was answering constituent e-mails as recently as last week, her husband said, noting that someone asked why he didn't prevent her from exerting herself. "She was doing things she loved," he said. "You couldn't stop her. That was her heart." In addition to her husband, Meyer is survived by adult sons Charlie and Joseph Gearin, both of whom live in Brooklyn Park. A memorial service still is being planned to accommodate out-of-town family. The city has not yet determined when or how it will fill her seat. The loss was the council's second in the past 15 months. Mayor Steve Lampi died of cancer in February 2011.
From KARE-TV (Minneapolis/St. Paul) news:
Brooklyn Park, Minnesota--A long-time member of the Brooklyn Park City Council has passed away from lung cancer. According to a city spokeswoman, West District Council Member Jeanette Meyer died on Sunday morning. The 58-yearold Meyer was surrounded by family at the time. Meyer was diagnosed with state four lung cancer back in March.
Meyer was a 35-year resident of Brooklyn Park. She was first elected to office in 1998. She was re-elected to a fourth consecutive term in 2010. Meyer's term was set to expire in 2015. Because the timing of the vacancy is occurring during an election cycle, city staff is awaiting direction from the Secretary of State regarding when a special election for the seat may be held. Meyer is the spouse of former West District Council Member Terry Gearin.
From mnsun.com (Minnesota Sun Newspapers):
Brooklyn Park Councilmember Jeanette Meyer dies. Jeanette Meyer, a West District council member for Brooklyn Park, died of lung cancer Sunday morning surrounded by family. Meyer, 58, was a 35-year resident of Brooklyn Park and was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer this in March. She was first elected to office in 1998 and was re-elected to a fourth consecutive term in 2010. Meyer was the longest serving member on the City Council and was an original Citizen Long-range Improvement Committee (CLIC) member, where she served as first vice chair, past chair and retiring vice chair. Most recently she was on the City Council's Audit Committee and served as the council liaison to the Northwest Hennepin Human Services Board of Directors, Brooklyn Historical Society and Property Manager's Coalition. A memorial service is being planned to accommodate out-of-town family members. She is the spouse of former West District Councilmember Terry Gearin. Meyer's term was set to expire in 2015. Because the timing of the vacancy is occurring during an election cycle, city staff is awaiting direction from the secretary of state regarding when a special election for the seat may be held.
From WCCO-TV News (Minneapolis/St. Paul):
The longest-serving Brooklyn Park city council member died Sunday morning after being diagnosed with stage-four lung cancer last year, the city said. Fifty-eight-year-old Jeanette Meyer, a West District Council member, passed away surrounded by family. She had lived in Brooklyn Park for 35 years and had served on the Citizen Long-Range Improvement Committee, the city's Audit Committee and as a liaison to the Brooklyn Historical Society and the North Hennepin Human Services Board of Directors. She was re-elected to her fourth-consecutive term in 2010; she was diagnosed with stage four cancer in March 2011. A memorial service is currently being planned for out-of-town residents, the city said. Meyer was married to Terry Gearin, a former West District Council member. The city says it is currently waiting to hear from state officials about the possibility of a special election designed to fill Meyer's council seat. Meyer's term was set to end in 2015.
From Minneapolis Star-Tribune, March 13, 2012:
A lung cancer diagnosis isn't deterring Brooklyn Park City Council Member Jeanette Meyer from fulfilling her duty to the city. Meyer recently sought medical attention for what she thought was pneumonia. She was told, "no, sorry, it's cancer," she said Tuesday. Doctors have determined the cancer has spread beyond her lungs. Still, she said, she has no plans to resign her post. She plans to divide her time between work and treatments, though she said she's not hoping for a cure. "Initially, it really knocked me off my pins," she said. "But I still love this community, and that's been my focus: How do I get through this so I can continue to do what I love?" Meyer, 58, has lived in Brooklyn Park for 35 years. She is the longest-serving member of the council, having first been elected in 1998; her fourth consecutive term runs through 2014. In February of last year, the city lost Mayor Steve Lampi to cancer. Meyer said she is taking strength from her work, as well as the support of her family.
Published on May 21, 2012 by twelvedottv:
Brooklyn Park council member loses battle with lung cancer. Long-time Brooklyn Park City Council Member Jeanette Meyer lost her brief battle with lung cancer Sunday morning. Meyer, 58, had lived in Brooklyn Park with her husband, former city council member Terry Gearin, for 35 years. She was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in March. Meyer was the longest serving member on the city council, serving the West District for more than 13 years. Her colleagues remember her as transparent, direct and devoted to her beloved city. "She struck me as thoughtful and committed to her belief system as far as what was best for Brooklyn Park," says fellow council member, Mike Trepanier. Meyer was a big supporter of crime prevention and community engagement initiatives. She was an original Citizen Long-range Improvement Committee member. She also served as the council liaison to the Northwest Hennepin Human Services' board or Directors, Brooklyn Historical Society and Property Manager's Coalition. Many say Meyer didn't believe in serving solely from her council chair. "One thing people will always remember about Jeanette is that she showed up," says Brooklyn Park City Manager Jamie Verbrugge. "If there was a ribbon cutting, if there was a special event going on in the community, if there was a community meeting somewhere, you could count on Jeanette being there because she was absolutely totally committed to this community." That was something the illness could not take away. Even after her diagnosis, Meyer remained engaged in issues and tried to attend events and meetings whenever possible. She was able to attend a portion of the last city council meeting on May 7. Meyer passed away Sunday morning with her husband, Terry Gearin, and their two sons, Joseph and Charles, by her side. 12 News spoke with Terry by phone. He says the family is glad she is no longer suffering. He thanks the public for their thoughts and prayers over the last few months. The family will hold a public memorial service, but no plans have been set yet. Meyer's term was set to expire in 2015. City staff is awaiting word from the Secretary of State on when the city can hold a special election for her city council seat.
From post.mnsun.com (Minnesota Sun Newspapers):
Remembering Jeanette Meyer; Memorial is May 30, By Jonathan Young on May 25, 2012 at 8:06 am
Up to the end, Brooklyn Park West District Council member Jeanette Meyer remained dedicated to serving the city she loved. Surrounded by family, she succumbed to lung cancer May 20 at age 58. She had been diagnosed in early March. A public memorial service is will be 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 30 at Edinburgh USA, 8700 Edinbrook Crossing. Only two weeks before her death, she attended a city council meeting. Her husband, former Council member Terry Gearin, said she answered city-related emails even during the last week of her life. When someone asked him why he didn't prevent her from exerting herself, he said he couldn't. "Her heart was the city," he said. "How do you stop somebody from doing … what she loved doing? She was part of the city." "She loved her community," Council member Mike Trepanier said. "That was real clear." First elected in 1998, Meyer was elected to her fourth consecutive term in 2010. She was the longest-serving member of the current council. Prior to serving on the council, she was a member of the first Citizen Long-range Improvement Committee, also known as CLIC.
Raised in West Concord, a small town in southern Minnesota, Meyer moved to the Twin Cities to study political science at the University of Minnesota. She and her husband moved to Brooklyn Park 35 years ago. Meyer and Gearin, an unlikely pair, married in 1974. "I was a combat medic in Vietnam, and she was a war protestor," Gearin said. They met at a party where Gearin became intoxicated with Meyer--and more than a little alcohol. "I was totally obliterated," he admitted. He sat near her for hours asking for her phone number, and she kept giving him fake numbers. Finally she gave him her real number, figuring he was too drunk to remember. He called the next day. Shocked, she asked how he could possibly remember her number. "How could I forget?" he answered. Gearin remembered "Jenny" as a generous, unselfish person who didn't seek recognition. He said she valued family. "Her family was the most important thing, and not just the immediate family," he said. "Her family [was] everything to her," said Ronald Swan, a friend for more than 30 years. "She was a very loving person." Swan said Meyer was almost like a godmother to his sons as well. Swan remembers Meyer inviting his family and her own family over for dinner. She'd make multiple cake pans full of chili or lasagna. Some of it would have to go in the freezer for later. "It'd be way too much for one feed, but that's what she'd do," he said. "She liked to entertain …" Swan fondly remembers Meyer's prize-winning chili. Because Gearin, Swan and his son hunt together, she also knew how to prepare wild game. "She [made] the best duck," Swan said.
Outside her family, the city was Meyer's life. Meyer did a little consulting work and software coding, Gearin said, but most of her energy went to her duties as a council member. "They had a full-time person for a part-time salary," Gearin said. "Until Jenny got sick, she didn't miss much." He said one of her favorite events was National Night Out in August. "We'd miss our [Aug. 3] anniversary sometimes because it was National Night Out," Gearin said. "I think [her death] is going to be a big loss for Brooklyn Park," Swan said. "She was really dedicated," Trepanier said. In addition to showing dedication, Trepanier said, Meyer stood by her beliefs, and he respected her for it. He said he and Meyer agreed on many issues, but if two people on the council were going to disagree, it would be them. But he thinks that was positive. "That was a good thing, because a city council needs different views," he said. "If you have different views, you end up with better long-term decisions." Meyer's term was set to expire in 2015. A special election to fill her seat for the remainder of the term will be held along with the regular city primary Tuesday, Aug. 14. Gearin said Meyer was concerned about who might take her seat. Gearin wouldn't rule out the possibility that he or one of his sons might run for city council. Meyer's death comes a little more than a year after former Mayer Steve Lampi died of lung cancer a month after he was diagnosed.
Meyer is survived by her husband, Terry Gearin; two sons, Charles and Joseph; and her daughter Krista Cavanaugh, with whom she was recently reunited.
From www.twelve.tv.news:
Long-time Brooklyn Park council member praised for "tireless devotion." Even after long-time Brooklyn Park City Council Member Jeanette Meyer was diagnosed with advanced lung cancer this past spring, she continued to attend council meetings and serve the city. Meyer's husband said she wouldn't have had it any other way. Wednesday night at a memorial service for Meyer, her family, friends and colleagues remembered the 58-year-old as a tireless champion for Brooklyn Park who relished her 13 years on the city council. "She loved this city," said Meyer's husband, Terry Gearin. "She really loved being a council member." Meyer was first elected to Brooklyn Park's council in 1998, representing the West District. Over the years, Meyer served as a mentor to many other newly elected council members. Brooklyn Park Mayor Jeff Lunde recalled Meyer's humorous response after he sought advice from her during Lunde's early days on the council. "She goes [sic], 'here is all you need to do, just find out which way I'm voting, and vote the same way'," said Lunde. Meyer's older sister, Katherine Baker, remembered a strong and spirited woman who always spoke her mind. "She didn't look to anyone around her for approval when it was time to state what she believed," said Baker. "I was always in awe of that strength in her." Meyer's work on the city council over the years saw a wide range of issues from crime prevention and code enforcement to development and the extension of Highway 610. Meyer died of lung cancer May 20.
Alexandra Renslo reporting
[email protected]
Thursday, May 31, 2012
From KSTP Television News (Minneapolis/St. Paul):
Brooklyn Park Loses Longtime Council Member--Jeanette Meyer served the citizens of Brooklyn Park as West District Council Member for more than a dozen years. She died Sunday. Meyer was first elected to the council in 1998. In 2010, she was elected to her fourth consecutive term. "Meyer was the longest serving member on the City Council and was an original Citizen Long-range Improvement Committee member, where she served as first vice chair, past chair and retiring vice-chair," said city spokesperson Mary Tan. "Most recently she was on the City Council's Audit Committee and served as the council liaison to the Northwest Hennepin Human Services Board of Directors, Brooklyn Historical Society and Property Manager's Coalition." Tan said Meyer was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer in March. A memorial service is being planned. "Because the timing of the vacancy is occurring during an election cycle, city staff is awaiting direction from the Secretary of State regarding when a special election for the seat may be held," said Tan. Meyer's term was set to expire in 2015.
From Minneapolis Star-Tribune:
A couple of weeks ago, Brooklyn Park City Council Member Jeanette Meyer visited with Mayor Jeff Lunde. Confronting fourth-stage lung cancer diagnosed in March, Meyer was clear that she wanted the city to start looking for her replacement. "She leaned over and said to me, 'Do what you have to do,'" Lunde recalled on Monday. "She was very upfront and honest about that, that we should not wait. The city was more important." Meyer, the longest-serving member on the current council and a tireless champion of the city, died on Sunday at her home. She was 58. She grew up in West Concord in southern Minnesota and came to the Twin Cities to attend the University of Minnesota, said her husband, Terry Gearin. "She was a Vietnam War protester, and I was a Vietnam vet," he said. They were married in 1974 and built their Brooklyn Park home in 1977. She worked as an accountant and business consultant. She first was elected to the council in 1998, representing the West District; voters gave her a fourth term in 2010. Her husband joined her on the council from 2005-2009. Over a career in public service, she also was a charter member and frequent officer of the Citizen Long-range Improvement Committee. Meyer was dogged in sticking to a long view of the city, Lunde said. Even through the recession, when development-hungry Brooklyn Park was presented with opportunities that didn't quite fit the council's vision for the city, she stuck to her guns, he said. "She was focused on making sure that we are patient in development," he said. "When the economy got tough, she wasn't willing to say 'Let's loosen up and take whatever we can get.'" The extension of Hwy. 610 through the city was a high priority to her. On a smaller scale, Meyer also was devoted to neighborhoods, said longtime colleague Mike Trepanier. Those efforts included everything from crime prevention to code enforcement, foreclosure mitigation and single-family rental management. "All of those things," Trepanier said." Everyone on the council has said our rudder is neighborhoods. If you take care of neighborhoods, the city can take care of itself." Still, he noted, while he admired her work and her dedication, that didn't mean the two always agreed. "She and I would disagree, but that was OK," he said. "Both of us understood, and we talked about how having some level of disagreement is really important, because in the long run you make better decisions than when everyone's thinking is the same all the time. We agreed much, much more often." Meyer continued attending meetings and city functions as long as she could. She was answering constituent e-mails as recently as last week, her husband said, noting that someone asked why he didn't prevent her from exerting herself. "She was doing things she loved," he said. "You couldn't stop her. That was her heart." In addition to her husband, Meyer is survived by adult sons Charlie and Joseph Gearin, both of whom live in Brooklyn Park. A memorial service still is being planned to accommodate out-of-town family. The city has not yet determined when or how it will fill her seat. The loss was the council's second in the past 15 months. Mayor Steve Lampi died of cancer in February 2011.
From KARE-TV (Minneapolis/St. Paul) news:
Brooklyn Park, Minnesota--A long-time member of the Brooklyn Park City Council has passed away from lung cancer. According to a city spokeswoman, West District Council Member Jeanette Meyer died on Sunday morning. The 58-yearold Meyer was surrounded by family at the time. Meyer was diagnosed with state four lung cancer back in March.
Meyer was a 35-year resident of Brooklyn Park. She was first elected to office in 1998. She was re-elected to a fourth consecutive term in 2010. Meyer's term was set to expire in 2015. Because the timing of the vacancy is occurring during an election cycle, city staff is awaiting direction from the Secretary of State regarding when a special election for the seat may be held. Meyer is the spouse of former West District Council Member Terry Gearin.
From mnsun.com (Minnesota Sun Newspapers):
Brooklyn Park Councilmember Jeanette Meyer dies. Jeanette Meyer, a West District council member for Brooklyn Park, died of lung cancer Sunday morning surrounded by family. Meyer, 58, was a 35-year resident of Brooklyn Park and was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer this in March. She was first elected to office in 1998 and was re-elected to a fourth consecutive term in 2010. Meyer was the longest serving member on the City Council and was an original Citizen Long-range Improvement Committee (CLIC) member, where she served as first vice chair, past chair and retiring vice chair. Most recently she was on the City Council's Audit Committee and served as the council liaison to the Northwest Hennepin Human Services Board of Directors, Brooklyn Historical Society and Property Manager's Coalition. A memorial service is being planned to accommodate out-of-town family members. She is the spouse of former West District Councilmember Terry Gearin. Meyer's term was set to expire in 2015. Because the timing of the vacancy is occurring during an election cycle, city staff is awaiting direction from the secretary of state regarding when a special election for the seat may be held.
From WCCO-TV News (Minneapolis/St. Paul):
The longest-serving Brooklyn Park city council member died Sunday morning after being diagnosed with stage-four lung cancer last year, the city said. Fifty-eight-year-old Jeanette Meyer, a West District Council member, passed away surrounded by family. She had lived in Brooklyn Park for 35 years and had served on the Citizen Long-Range Improvement Committee, the city's Audit Committee and as a liaison to the Brooklyn Historical Society and the North Hennepin Human Services Board of Directors. She was re-elected to her fourth-consecutive term in 2010; she was diagnosed with stage four cancer in March 2011. A memorial service is currently being planned for out-of-town residents, the city said. Meyer was married to Terry Gearin, a former West District Council member. The city says it is currently waiting to hear from state officials about the possibility of a special election designed to fill Meyer's council seat. Meyer's term was set to end in 2015.
From Minneapolis Star-Tribune, March 13, 2012:
A lung cancer diagnosis isn't deterring Brooklyn Park City Council Member Jeanette Meyer from fulfilling her duty to the city. Meyer recently sought medical attention for what she thought was pneumonia. She was told, "no, sorry, it's cancer," she said Tuesday. Doctors have determined the cancer has spread beyond her lungs. Still, she said, she has no plans to resign her post. She plans to divide her time between work and treatments, though she said she's not hoping for a cure. "Initially, it really knocked me off my pins," she said. "But I still love this community, and that's been my focus: How do I get through this so I can continue to do what I love?" Meyer, 58, has lived in Brooklyn Park for 35 years. She is the longest-serving member of the council, having first been elected in 1998; her fourth consecutive term runs through 2014. In February of last year, the city lost Mayor Steve Lampi to cancer. Meyer said she is taking strength from her work, as well as the support of her family.
Published on May 21, 2012 by twelvedottv:
Brooklyn Park council member loses battle with lung cancer. Long-time Brooklyn Park City Council Member Jeanette Meyer lost her brief battle with lung cancer Sunday morning. Meyer, 58, had lived in Brooklyn Park with her husband, former city council member Terry Gearin, for 35 years. She was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in March. Meyer was the longest serving member on the city council, serving the West District for more than 13 years. Her colleagues remember her as transparent, direct and devoted to her beloved city. "She struck me as thoughtful and committed to her belief system as far as what was best for Brooklyn Park," says fellow council member, Mike Trepanier. Meyer was a big supporter of crime prevention and community engagement initiatives. She was an original Citizen Long-range Improvement Committee member. She also served as the council liaison to the Northwest Hennepin Human Services' board or Directors, Brooklyn Historical Society and Property Manager's Coalition. Many say Meyer didn't believe in serving solely from her council chair. "One thing people will always remember about Jeanette is that she showed up," says Brooklyn Park City Manager Jamie Verbrugge. "If there was a ribbon cutting, if there was a special event going on in the community, if there was a community meeting somewhere, you could count on Jeanette being there because she was absolutely totally committed to this community." That was something the illness could not take away. Even after her diagnosis, Meyer remained engaged in issues and tried to attend events and meetings whenever possible. She was able to attend a portion of the last city council meeting on May 7. Meyer passed away Sunday morning with her husband, Terry Gearin, and their two sons, Joseph and Charles, by her side. 12 News spoke with Terry by phone. He says the family is glad she is no longer suffering. He thanks the public for their thoughts and prayers over the last few months. The family will hold a public memorial service, but no plans have been set yet. Meyer's term was set to expire in 2015. City staff is awaiting word from the Secretary of State on when the city can hold a special election for her city council seat.
From post.mnsun.com (Minnesota Sun Newspapers):
Remembering Jeanette Meyer; Memorial is May 30, By Jonathan Young on May 25, 2012 at 8:06 am
Up to the end, Brooklyn Park West District Council member Jeanette Meyer remained dedicated to serving the city she loved. Surrounded by family, she succumbed to lung cancer May 20 at age 58. She had been diagnosed in early March. A public memorial service is will be 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 30 at Edinburgh USA, 8700 Edinbrook Crossing. Only two weeks before her death, she attended a city council meeting. Her husband, former Council member Terry Gearin, said she answered city-related emails even during the last week of her life. When someone asked him why he didn't prevent her from exerting herself, he said he couldn't. "Her heart was the city," he said. "How do you stop somebody from doing … what she loved doing? She was part of the city." "She loved her community," Council member Mike Trepanier said. "That was real clear." First elected in 1998, Meyer was elected to her fourth consecutive term in 2010. She was the longest-serving member of the current council. Prior to serving on the council, she was a member of the first Citizen Long-range Improvement Committee, also known as CLIC.
Raised in West Concord, a small town in southern Minnesota, Meyer moved to the Twin Cities to study political science at the University of Minnesota. She and her husband moved to Brooklyn Park 35 years ago. Meyer and Gearin, an unlikely pair, married in 1974. "I was a combat medic in Vietnam, and she was a war protestor," Gearin said. They met at a party where Gearin became intoxicated with Meyer--and more than a little alcohol. "I was totally obliterated," he admitted. He sat near her for hours asking for her phone number, and she kept giving him fake numbers. Finally she gave him her real number, figuring he was too drunk to remember. He called the next day. Shocked, she asked how he could possibly remember her number. "How could I forget?" he answered. Gearin remembered "Jenny" as a generous, unselfish person who didn't seek recognition. He said she valued family. "Her family was the most important thing, and not just the immediate family," he said. "Her family [was] everything to her," said Ronald Swan, a friend for more than 30 years. "She was a very loving person." Swan said Meyer was almost like a godmother to his sons as well. Swan remembers Meyer inviting his family and her own family over for dinner. She'd make multiple cake pans full of chili or lasagna. Some of it would have to go in the freezer for later. "It'd be way too much for one feed, but that's what she'd do," he said. "She liked to entertain …" Swan fondly remembers Meyer's prize-winning chili. Because Gearin, Swan and his son hunt together, she also knew how to prepare wild game. "She [made] the best duck," Swan said.
Outside her family, the city was Meyer's life. Meyer did a little consulting work and software coding, Gearin said, but most of her energy went to her duties as a council member. "They had a full-time person for a part-time salary," Gearin said. "Until Jenny got sick, she didn't miss much." He said one of her favorite events was National Night Out in August. "We'd miss our [Aug. 3] anniversary sometimes because it was National Night Out," Gearin said. "I think [her death] is going to be a big loss for Brooklyn Park," Swan said. "She was really dedicated," Trepanier said. In addition to showing dedication, Trepanier said, Meyer stood by her beliefs, and he respected her for it. He said he and Meyer agreed on many issues, but if two people on the council were going to disagree, it would be them. But he thinks that was positive. "That was a good thing, because a city council needs different views," he said. "If you have different views, you end up with better long-term decisions." Meyer's term was set to expire in 2015. A special election to fill her seat for the remainder of the term will be held along with the regular city primary Tuesday, Aug. 14. Gearin said Meyer was concerned about who might take her seat. Gearin wouldn't rule out the possibility that he or one of his sons might run for city council. Meyer's death comes a little more than a year after former Mayer Steve Lampi died of lung cancer a month after he was diagnosed.
Meyer is survived by her husband, Terry Gearin; two sons, Charles and Joseph; and her daughter Krista Cavanaugh, with whom she was recently reunited.
From www.twelve.tv.news:
Long-time Brooklyn Park council member praised for "tireless devotion." Even after long-time Brooklyn Park City Council Member Jeanette Meyer was diagnosed with advanced lung cancer this past spring, she continued to attend council meetings and serve the city. Meyer's husband said she wouldn't have had it any other way. Wednesday night at a memorial service for Meyer, her family, friends and colleagues remembered the 58-year-old as a tireless champion for Brooklyn Park who relished her 13 years on the city council. "She loved this city," said Meyer's husband, Terry Gearin. "She really loved being a council member." Meyer was first elected to Brooklyn Park's council in 1998, representing the West District. Over the years, Meyer served as a mentor to many other newly elected council members. Brooklyn Park Mayor Jeff Lunde recalled Meyer's humorous response after he sought advice from her during Lunde's early days on the council. "She goes [sic], 'here is all you need to do, just find out which way I'm voting, and vote the same way'," said Lunde. Meyer's older sister, Katherine Baker, remembered a strong and spirited woman who always spoke her mind. "She didn't look to anyone around her for approval when it was time to state what she believed," said Baker. "I was always in awe of that strength in her." Meyer's work on the city council over the years saw a wide range of issues from crime prevention and code enforcement to development and the extension of Highway 610. Meyer died of lung cancer May 20.
Alexandra Renslo reporting
[email protected]
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Brooklyn Park Loses Longtime Council Member--Jeanette Meyer served the citizens of Brooklyn Park as West District Council Member for more than a dozen years. She died Sunday. Meyer was first elected to the council in 1998. In 2010, she was elected to her fourth consecutive term. "Meyer was the longest serving member on the City Council and was an original Citizen Long-range Improvement Committee member, where she served as first vice chair, past chair and retiring vice-chair," said city spokesperson Mary Tan. "Most recently she was on the City Council's Audit Committee and served as the council liaison to the Northwest Hennepin Human Services Board of Directors, Brooklyn Historical Society and Property Manager's Coalition." Tan said Meyer was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer in March. A memorial service is being planned. "Because the timing of the vacancy is occurring during an election cycle, city staff is awaiting direction from the Secretary of State regarding when a special election for the seat may be held," said Tan. Meyer's term was set to expire in 2015.
From Minneapolis Star-Tribune:
A couple of weeks ago, Brooklyn Park City Council Member Jeanette Meyer visited with Mayor Jeff Lunde. Confronting fourth-stage lung cancer diagnosed in March, Meyer was clear that she wanted the city to start looking for her replacement. "She leaned over and said to me, 'Do what you have to do,'" Lunde recalled on Monday. "She was very upfront and honest about that, that we should not wait. The city was more important." Meyer, the longest-serving member on the current council and a tireless champion of the city, died on Sunday at her home. She was 58. She grew up in West Concord in southern Minnesota and came to the Twin Cities to attend the University of Minnesota, said her husband, Terry Gearin. "She was a Vietnam War protester, and I was a Vietnam vet," he said. They were married in 1974 and built their Brooklyn Park home in 1977. She worked as an accountant and business consultant. She first was elected to the council in 1998, representing the West District; voters gave her a fourth term in 2010. Her husband joined her on the council from 2005-2009. Over a career in public service, she also was a charter member and frequent officer of the Citizen Long-range Improvement Committee. Meyer was dogged in sticking to a long view of the city, Lunde said. Even through the recession, when development-hungry Brooklyn Park was presented with opportunities that didn't quite fit the council's vision for the city, she stuck to her guns, he said. "She was focused on making sure that we are patient in development," he said. "When the economy got tough, she wasn't willing to say 'Let's loosen up and take whatever we can get.'" The extension of Hwy. 610 through the city was a high priority to her. On a smaller scale, Meyer also was devoted to neighborhoods, said longtime colleague Mike Trepanier. Those efforts included everything from crime prevention to code enforcement, foreclosure mitigation and single-family rental management. "All of those things," Trepanier said." Everyone on the council has said our rudder is neighborhoods. If you take care of neighborhoods, the city can take care of itself." Still, he noted, while he admired her work and her dedication, that didn't mean the two always agreed. "She and I would disagree, but that was OK," he said. "Both of us understood, and we talked about how having some level of disagreement is really important, because in the long run you make better decisions than when everyone's thinking is the same all the time. We agreed much, much more often." Meyer continued attending meetings and city functions as long as she could. She was answering constituent e-mails as recently as last week, her husband said, noting that someone asked why he didn't prevent her from exerting herself. "She was doing things she loved," he said. "You couldn't stop her. That was her heart." In addition to her husband, Meyer is survived by adult sons Charlie and Joseph Gearin, both of whom live in Brooklyn Park. A memorial service still is being planned to accommodate out-of-town family. The city has not yet determined when or how it will fill her seat. The loss was the council's second in the past 15 months. Mayor Steve Lampi died of cancer in February 2011.
From KARE-TV (Minneapolis/St. Paul) news:
Brooklyn Park, Minnesota--A long-time member of the Brooklyn Park City Council has passed away from lung cancer. According to a city spokeswoman, West District Council Member Jeanette Meyer died on Sunday morning. The 58-yearold Meyer was surrounded by family at the time. Meyer was diagnosed with state four lung cancer back in March.
Meyer was a 35-year resident of Brooklyn Park. She was first elected to office in 1998. She was re-elected to a fourth consecutive term in 2010. Meyer's term was set to expire in 2015. Because the timing of the vacancy is occurring during an election cycle, city staff is awaiting direction from the Secretary of State regarding when a special election for the seat may be held. Meyer is the spouse of former West District Council Member Terry Gearin.
From mnsun.com (Minnesota Sun Newspapers):
Brooklyn Park Councilmember Jeanette Meyer dies. Jeanette Meyer, a West District council member for Brooklyn Park, died of lung cancer Sunday morning surrounded by family. Meyer, 58, was a 35-year resident of Brooklyn Park and was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer this in March. She was first elected to office in 1998 and was re-elected to a fourth consecutive term in 2010. Meyer was the longest serving member on the City Council and was an original Citizen Long-range Improvement Committee (CLIC) member, where she served as first vice chair, past chair and retiring vice chair. Most recently she was on the City Council's Audit Committee and served as the council liaison to the Northwest Hennepin Human Services Board of Directors, Brooklyn Historical Society and Property Manager's Coalition. A memorial service is being planned to accommodate out-of-town family members. She is the spouse of former West District Councilmember Terry Gearin. Meyer's term was set to expire in 2015. Because the timing of the vacancy is occurring during an election cycle, city staff is awaiting direction from the secretary of state regarding when a special election for the seat may be held.
From WCCO-TV News (Minneapolis/St. Paul):
The longest-serving Brooklyn Park city council member died Sunday morning after being diagnosed with stage-four lung cancer last year, the city said. Fifty-eight-year-old Jeanette Meyer, a West District Council member, passed away surrounded by family. She had lived in Brooklyn Park for 35 years and had served on the Citizen Long-Range Improvement Committee, the city's Audit Committee and as a liaison to the Brooklyn Historical Society and the North Hennepin Human Services Board of Directors. She was re-elected to her fourth-consecutive term in 2010; she was diagnosed with stage four cancer in March 2011. A memorial service is currently being planned for out-of-town residents, the city said. Meyer was married to Terry Gearin, a former West District Council member. The city says it is currently waiting to hear from state officials about the possibility of a special election designed to fill Meyer's council seat. Meyer's term was set to end in 2015.
From Minneapolis Star-Tribune, March 13, 2012:
A lung cancer diagnosis isn't deterring Brooklyn Park City Council Member Jeanette Meyer from fulfilling her duty to the city. Meyer recently sought medical attention for what she thought was pneumonia. She was told, "no, sorry, it's cancer," she said Tuesday. Doctors have determined the cancer has spread beyond her lungs. Still, she said, she has no plans to resign her post. She plans to divide her time between work and treatments, though she said she's not hoping for a cure. "Initially, it really knocked me off my pins," she said. "But I still love this community, and that's been my focus: How do I get through this so I can continue to do what I love?" Meyer, 58, has lived in Brooklyn Park for 35 years. She is the longest-serving member of the council, having first been elected in 1998; her fourth consecutive term runs through 2014. In February of last year, the city lost Mayor Steve Lampi to cancer. Meyer said she is taking strength from her work, as well as the support of her family.
Published on May 21, 2012 by twelvedottv:
Brooklyn Park council member loses battle with lung cancer. Long-time Brooklyn Park City Council Member Jeanette Meyer lost her brief battle with lung cancer Sunday morning. Meyer, 58, had lived in Brooklyn Park with her husband, former city council member Terry Gearin, for 35 years. She was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in March. Meyer was the longest serving member on the city council, serving the West District for more than 13 years. Her colleagues remember her as transparent, direct and devoted to her beloved city. "She struck me as thoughtful and committed to her belief system as far as what was best for Brooklyn Park," says fellow council member, Mike Trepanier. Meyer was a big supporter of crime prevention and community engagement initiatives. She was an original Citizen Long-range Improvement Committee member. She also served as the council liaison to the Northwest Hennepin Human Services' board or Directors, Brooklyn Historical Society and Property Manager's Coalition. Many say Meyer didn't believe in serving solely from her council chair. "One thing people will always remember about Jeanette is that she showed up," says Brooklyn Park City Manager Jamie Verbrugge. "If there was a ribbon cutting, if there was a special event going on in the community, if there was a community meeting somewhere, you could count on Jeanette being there because she was absolutely totally committed to this community." That was something the illness could not take away. Even after her diagnosis, Meyer remained engaged in issues and tried to attend events and meetings whenever possible. She was able to attend a portion of the last city council meeting on May 7. Meyer passed away Sunday morning with her husband, Terry Gearin, and their two sons, Joseph and Charles, by her side. 12 News spoke with Terry by phone. He says the family is glad she is no longer suffering. He thanks the public for their thoughts and prayers over the last few months. The family will hold a public memorial service, but no plans have been set yet. Meyer's term was set to expire in 2015. City staff is awaiting word from the Secretary of State on when the city can hold a special election for her city council seat.
From post.mnsun.com (Minnesota Sun Newspapers):
Remembering Jeanette Meyer; Memorial is May 30, By Jonathan Young on May 25, 2012 at 8:06 am
Up to the end, Brooklyn Park West District Council member Jeanette Meyer remained dedicated to serving the city she loved. Surrounded by family, she succumbed to lung cancer May 20 at age 58. She had been diagnosed in early March. A public memorial service is will be 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 30 at Edinburgh USA, 8700 Edinbrook Crossing. Only two weeks before her death, she attended a city council meeting. Her husband, former Council member Terry Gearin, said she answered city-related emails even during the last week of her life. When someone asked him why he didn't prevent her from exerting herself, he said he couldn't. "Her heart was the city," he said. "How do you stop somebody from doing … what she loved doing? She was part of the city." "She loved her community," Council member Mike Trepanier said. "That was real clear." First elected in 1998, Meyer was elected to her fourth consecutive term in 2010. She was the longest-serving member of the current council. Prior to serving on the council, she was a member of the first Citizen Long-range Improvement Committee, also known as CLIC.
Raised in West Concord, a small town in southern Minnesota, Meyer moved to the Twin Cities to study political science at the University of Minnesota. She and her husband moved to Brooklyn Park 35 years ago. Meyer and Gearin, an unlikely pair, married in 1974. "I was a combat medic in Vietnam, and she was a war protestor," Gearin said. They met at a party where Gearin became intoxicated with Meyer--and more than a little alcohol. "I was totally obliterated," he admitted. He sat near her for hours asking for her phone number, and she kept giving him fake numbers. Finally she gave him her real number, figuring he was too drunk to remember. He called the next day. Shocked, she asked how he could possibly remember her number. "How could I forget?" he answered. Gearin remembered "Jenny" as a generous, unselfish person who didn't seek recognition. He said she valued family. "Her family was the most important thing, and not just the immediate family," he said. "Her family [was] everything to her," said Ronald Swan, a friend for more than 30 years. "She was a very loving person." Swan said Meyer was almost like a godmother to his sons as well. Swan remembers Meyer inviting his family and her own family over for dinner. She'd make multiple cake pans full of chili or lasagna. Some of it would have to go in the freezer for later. "It'd be way too much for one feed, but that's what she'd do," he said. "She liked to entertain …" Swan fondly remembers Meyer's prize-winning chili. Because Gearin, Swan and his son hunt together, she also knew how to prepare wild game. "She [made] the best duck," Swan said.
Outside her family, the city was Meyer's life. Meyer did a little consulting work and software coding, Gearin said, but most of her energy went to her duties as a council member. "They had a full-time person for a part-time salary," Gearin said. "Until Jenny got sick, she didn't miss much." He said one of her favorite events was National Night Out in August. "We'd miss our [Aug. 3] anniversary sometimes because it was National Night Out," Gearin said. "I think [her death] is going to be a big loss for Brooklyn Park," Swan said. "She was really dedicated," Trepanier said. In addition to showing dedication, Trepanier said, Meyer stood by her beliefs, and he respected her for it. He said he and Meyer agreed on many issues, but if two people on the council were going to disagree, it would be them. But he thinks that was positive. "That was a good thing, because a city council needs different views," he said. "If you have different views, you end up with better long-term decisions." Meyer's term was set to expire in 2015. A special election to fill her seat for the remainder of the term will be held along with the regular city primary Tuesday, Aug. 14. Gearin said Meyer was concerned about who might take her seat. Gearin wouldn't rule out the possibility that he or one of his sons might run for city council. Meyer's death comes a little more than a year after former Mayer Steve Lampi died of lung cancer a month after he was diagnosed.
Meyer is survived by her husband, Terry Gearin; two sons, Charles and Joseph; and her daughter Krista Cavanaugh, with whom she was recently reunited.
From www.twelve.tv.news:
Long-time Brooklyn Park council member praised for "tireless devotion." Even after long-time Brooklyn Park City Council Member Jeanette Meyer was diagnosed with advanced lung cancer this past spring, she continued to attend council meetings and serve the city. Meyer's husband said she wouldn't have had it any other way. Wednesday night at a memorial service for Meyer, her family, friends and colleagues remembered the 58-year-old as a tireless champion for Brooklyn Park who relished her 13 years on the city council. "She loved this city," said Meyer's husband, Terry Gearin. "She really loved being a council member." Meyer was first elected to Brooklyn Park's council in 1998, representing the West District. Over the years, Meyer served as a mentor to many other newly elected council members. Brooklyn Park Mayor Jeff Lunde recalled Meyer's humorous response after he sought advice from her during Lunde's early days on the council. "She goes [sic], 'here is all you need to do, just find out which way I'm voting, and vote the same way'," said Lunde. Meyer's older sister, Katherine Baker, remembered a strong and spirited woman who always spoke her mind. "She didn't look to anyone around her for approval when it was time to state what she believed," said Baker. "I was always in awe of that strength in her." Meyer's work on the city council over the years saw a wide range of issues from crime prevention and code enforcement to development and the extension of Highway 610. Meyer died of lung cancer May 20.
Alexandra Renslo reporting
[email protected]
Thursday, May 31, 2012
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