North End resident, Matthew Imbergamo, is running this year’s historic Boston Marathon in memory of Stephen Perez who also grew up in the North End. Stephen was a veteran who’s life was taken too soon when he was murdered a few years ago in Boston. He is also the inspiration for the annual “Stephen’s Run.”
The public is welcome to support a fundraiser in Stephen’s memory with proceeds benefiting Stephen’s Run and the New England Center for Homeless Veterans. The event is scheduled for Sunday March 16, 2014 at Ward 8 Restaurant & Bar, 90 N. Washington Street from 3-6 PM. More information in the flyer below.
Stephen’s Story
Stephen J. Perez was a young man whose life was taken too soon. As a child Stephen grew up in Boston’s North End and attended Saint John’s School. Stephen went off to graduate high school and enlisted in the Army. He did three tours of duty in Afghanistan and Iraq where he was a sniper. When Stephen was through with his service he applied to Bunker Hill Community College and studied Criminal Justice Stephen was an A student at BHCC and was part of the Criminal Justice Club and active in the Veterans section of BHCC. During this time Stephen’s goal was to be a police officer.
Sadly, Stephen was tragically murdered on the night of April 28th, 2012 in a senseless act of violence. At the time of his death Stephen was 23 years old. Two months later he was accepted into the police academy. Though Stephen lived a short life, he accomplished so much and had so much more to give, both to his family and his community.
