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Dana Alexis Perry-Hunter's Obituary - Pottstown, PA | Ever Loved
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Dana's obituary
Dana Alexis Perry-Hunter passed away peacefully on August 17, 2023 at her home in Pottstown, PA. Dana was a loving daughter, a supportive sister, a fun aunt, advisor, and best friend.
Dana was a beloved employee at the Hill School for 22 years where she served as the Associate Director of Admissions. She embraced countless other responsibilities during her time there acting as an adviser, dorm parent, and sixth form adviser, as well, to name a few. Over the past two decades she admitted and mentored hundreds of students, her reach extending far beyond the campus. Prior to her time at Hill she served as an account coordinator at Schneider/Shapiro Communications, a renowned boutique public relations firm in New York City. She graduated cum laude from Amherst College in 2000 majoring in political science.
Dana was a lifelong learner, who always won at trivia and any games of knowledge she played. From a child she was precocious about her environment, and had a photographic memory which allowed her to recall every detail of an encounter or words to music whether it was written in the 1950s or 2000s. Her love of music led her to compile an extensive music collection from which her little sister would often borrow. She often lamented that she wasn’t old enough to be a contestant on the show “Name That Tune.” Family and friends maintain that she could have been a Jeopardy champion. Dana had infinite knowledge and curiosity across multiple subjects and disciplines. She was an avid reader and could engage with you about any subject. She was fluent in Spanish and had facility in several other languages. Her mind was simply masterful.
Dana loved sports both as a spectator and participant. She watched baseball with her grandfather (Poppy), attended basketball games with her father, and was a diehard Eagles fan. She loved physical activities from sailing and riding horses competitively as a teenager to the High School cheerleading squad, playing rugby in college.
She was an incredibly giving individual always in service of others both at work and outside. Having struggled with Multiple Sclerosis for over 20 years, she was particularly sensitive to the needs of people with disabilities and actively supported a number of organizations focused on seeking cures and expanding accessibility. She often envisioned her life after the Hill School as being a consultant to boarding schools and organizations to make their buildings more accessible beyond the minimal ADA regulations. Dana was also a huge animal lover and gave to organizations dedicated to helping animals in need. She is predeceased by her dog Veruca Salt (Vivi) and survived by her second fur baby Rosa Barks.
Dana was a cherished friend by so many and built communities of friends wherever she went. Her special way of lighting up a room with her smile, quick wit, and comedic timing was contagious and has been noted by many. She loved people and was energized by their possibilities making her a perfect fit for academia and the Hill School. She once got to 22 cities in Europe in 31 days and returned with a cadre of friends across the globe. Dana had many friends in Baltimore County Maryland where she attended elementary, middle, and the first two years of high school before moving to Pennsylvania and Great Valley High School where she would graduate. Dana was active at her church, Covenant Presbyterian in Malvern, PA, participating in youth groups and retreats. She leaves many friends in both areas. She is survived by her partner Steven Corteal, her parents John and Dolores, her sister Briana, her brother Marcus, and his spouse Jennifer and their three children Christopher, Ava, and Nicholas, her sweet dog Rosa Barks, and countless uncles, aunts, cousins, and family members. Dana is predeceased by Otis Perry. Dana will be missed tremendously, and we know that she will be keeping everyone in stitches in Heaven with her grandfathers, grandmothers, and family. In lieu of flowers, donations to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, an organization that was very important to Dana, are greatly appreciated.
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In Memory
We are heartbroken to share that Dana Alexis Perry-Hunter passed away peacefully on August 17, 2023, at her home in Pottstown, Pa.
Dana was a cherished friend who built communities around her everywhere she went. She was a lifelong learner. Incredibly smart, thoughtful, philosophical and great debater, and so it was no surprise that she loved her time at Amherst. Majoring in political science, she was a passionate student of American politics, law, jurisprudence and social thought. But as much as she loved her educational pursuits, she loved her time at Amherst because of the friends she made there who became her family.
Meeting her at the beginning of freshman year was like winning the lottery. She made friends so easily. People gravitated toward her big, easy smile, quick wit and contagious laugh. But if you were one of her people, you truly were one of the luckiest people in the world. She loved her friends fiercely and made sure they always knew it. She was the first to reach out on your birthday and the first—and often only person—to remember some random anniversary or milestone. She was the type of person who reached out—often with a handwritten letter—for no other reason than because she was thinking of you.
After graduation, Dana moved to New York City for a brief stint before finding her calling in education. Dana was a beloved employee at the Hill School where she served as the associate director of Admissions. During her 22 years at Hill, she embraced countless other responsibilities including serving as an adviser and dorm parent. Over the past two decades, she admitted and mentored hundreds of students, her reach extending far beyond the campus.
Dana always acted in service of others, both personally and professionally. Having struggled with Multiple Sclerosis for more than 20 years, she was particularly sensitive to the needs of people with disabilities and actively supported a number of organizations focused on seeking cures and expanding accessibility. She was also a huge animal lover and gave to organizations dedicated to helping animals in need. She lived her life knowing that it was a precious gift, never taking one day for granted. When she was diagnosed with MS at such a young age—a time when all of us were just figuring out our way post-college—she never dwelled on it. She never felt sorry for herself. And she never, never let it define her. And while MS may have robbed her of some of her physical abilities, it never dimmed her light.
She will be deeply missed, but never forgotten.
Karen Silberg Richman ’00
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Deceased August 17, 2023
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Contact
Nickname
- Alexis
Family
Personal
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Professional
Employment Information
Former
- Associate Director of AdmissionThe Hill SchoolStart:10/2001End:08/2023
- Schneider Integrated CommunicationsStart:01/2000End:10/2001
Industry Information
Current
- Education/Academia: Admissions
- K-12 Education: Private Secondary
Former
- Communications
Career History
- After graduation I took a job in a small PR firm in New York City. The firm is now defunct, and after six months I decided it was not for me. I then started looking for jobs in education and was hired at my current job and have been there for the past three years.
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Professional
Employment Information
Former
- Associate Director of AdmissionThe Hill SchoolStart:10/2001End:08/2023
- Schneider Integrated CommunicationsStart:01/2000End:10/2001
Industry Information
Current
- Education/Academia: Admissions
- K-12 Education: Private Secondary
Former
- Communications
Career History
- After graduation I took a job in a small PR firm in New York City. The firm is now defunct, and after six months I decided it was not for me. I then started looking for jobs in education and was hired at my current job and have been there for the past three years.
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Amherst
Reunion Class
- 2000
Graduation Year
- 2000
Major(s)
- Political Science
Other Academic
Secondary Schools
- Great Valley High School
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Amherst
- Crossett Dormitory
- Hitchcock Dormitory
- James Dormitory
Volunteering
- Alumni FundRole:Associate AgentStart:October 2019End:September 2020
- PathwaysRole:MentorStart:June 2013End:January 2019
- Class OfficerRole:Reunion Attendance CommitteeStart:November 2009End:July 2010
- Alumni FundRole:Associate AgentStart:April 2002End:June 2010
Extracurricular Activities
- Amherst Women's Rugby Football Club
- Social Council
- Sports Amherst
Post-Graduate
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