Don’t wait until a funeral to get to know a colleague’s story

By Robert E. Pierre,February 02, 2012

“Ships that pass in the night, and speak each other in passing, only a signal shown, and a distant voice in the darkness; So on the ocean of life, we pass and speak one another, only a look and a voice, then darkness again and a silence.” — Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

I had never thought about her mother, or her sisters. I didn’t know she was from Texas. I had seen her at the book cart set out weekly for employees to clamor over. But I didn’t know she went for the mysteries. Apparently, she had a wry sense of humor, was the baby of her family and loved animals and shopping.

I learned all these things about Darlene Meyer at a small memorial ceremony at The Post recently after she was found dead last month in her home. She died of natural causes.