In a treasured photo on their wedding day in 2013, attorney Brad Peri and his wife Jill are pictured with Jean Peri, who fell victim to ALS in 2015 at the age of 65.
By Tom Kirvan
Legal News
Ten years after his mother’s death from the ravaging effects of ALS, attorney Brad Peri is still reminded of the courage she displayed during her two-year battle with the dreaded “Lou Gehrig’s Disease” that claimed the legendary Yankee slugger in 1941.
“As her life got more challenging, she somehow remained positive in hopes of outliving it,” said Peri, a partner with the Southfield-based law firm of Goodman Acker, which specializes in personal injury work. “She displayed a remarkable spirit despite what she was going through because of the ALS.”
Which, in a methodical and menacing way, robbed her of the ability to walk, talk, eat, and eventually breathe, according to her son, who soon after her passing decided he needed to play a role in combatting the neurodegenerative disease known as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.
“My mom loved to play golf, and so it seemed only fitting that we should start a golf outing in her honor to raise funds for the fight against ALS,” said Peri, a 2009 alumnus of the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law who joined Goodman Acker in 2011.
The result has taken the form of “The Swing for a Cure Jean Peri Memorial ALS Golf Outing,” an annual event that has raised nearly $100,000 over the past 10 years. This year’s edition, held on August 8 at The Orchards Golf Club in Macomb County, was the most successful to date, raising more than $12,000 for ALS of Michigan.
“It was very gratifying to make that kind of donation and to see the kind of turnout we had for this year’s outing,” said Peri, a Michigan State alum and father of two children, Cole and Leighton, ages 10 and 7.
“The outing seems to get bigger and better each year,” he added, noting that it has “become a tradition rooted in love, remembrance, and purpose.”
Rates of ALS have been steadily rising in the United States over the past decade, prompting new reporting requirements in Michigan and other states that have seen an uptick in cases. In 2019, the National ALS Registry found more than 29,000 cases. By 2022, that number had jumped to about 33,000, and experts expect cases to rise an additional 10 percent by 2030.
Michigan has now become the fifth state in the country to make ALS reporting mandatory, joining efforts to better understand the trend in higher incidences of the disease. ALS of Michigan estimates that there are approximately 200 new ALS diagnoses in the state every year. Health experts have attributed the rise to a larger aging population and possible environmental factors.
ALS generally manifests itself in victims by noticeable muscle weakness, especially involving the arms and legs, slurred speech, and difficulty in swallowing and breathing. Medical experts stress that ALS is a “variable disease” and that “no two people will have the same journey or experiences.”
For Peri, his mother’s ALS diagnosis was confirmed in June 2013 after she experienced troubles with her left arm. Her health problems worsened over the next year as all of her upper and lower extremities were affected, causing her to be confined to a wheel chair.
“My dad (Mike) was really devoted to her care during her ALS battle,” Peri said of his father, who spent the bulk of his career as a quality control engineer with General Dynamics before retiring. “He really stepped up, providing the kind of love and support she needed.”
Peri’s mom worked for Leader Dogs for the Blind, and was the “glue to a tightknit family,” according to her son.
“She was a wonderful wife, mother, and grandmother, and also loved to shop and had a signature shoe collection,” said Peri.
Her passion for stylish shoes was on full display at this year’s golf outing as the traditional closest to the pin contest featured a novel twist, Peri indicated.
“Golfers needed to hit their tee shots on the par 3 while wearing high heels,” Peri said with a smile. “It certainly added to the challenge and provided more than a few laughs. My mom would have loved that.”
Legal News
Ten years after his mother’s death from the ravaging effects of ALS, attorney Brad Peri is still reminded of the courage she displayed during her two-year battle with the dreaded “Lou Gehrig’s Disease” that claimed the legendary Yankee slugger in 1941.
“As her life got more challenging, she somehow remained positive in hopes of outliving it,” said Peri, a partner with the Southfield-based law firm of Goodman Acker, which specializes in personal injury work. “She displayed a remarkable spirit despite what she was going through because of the ALS.”
Which, in a methodical and menacing way, robbed her of the ability to walk, talk, eat, and eventually breathe, according to her son, who soon after her passing decided he needed to play a role in combatting the neurodegenerative disease known as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.
“My mom loved to play golf, and so it seemed only fitting that we should start a golf outing in her honor to raise funds for the fight against ALS,” said Peri, a 2009 alumnus of the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law who joined Goodman Acker in 2011.
The result has taken the form of “The Swing for a Cure Jean Peri Memorial ALS Golf Outing,” an annual event that has raised nearly $100,000 over the past 10 years. This year’s edition, held on August 8 at The Orchards Golf Club in Macomb County, was the most successful to date, raising more than $12,000 for ALS of Michigan.
“It was very gratifying to make that kind of donation and to see the kind of turnout we had for this year’s outing,” said Peri, a Michigan State alum and father of two children, Cole and Leighton, ages 10 and 7.
“The outing seems to get bigger and better each year,” he added, noting that it has “become a tradition rooted in love, remembrance, and purpose.”
Rates of ALS have been steadily rising in the United States over the past decade, prompting new reporting requirements in Michigan and other states that have seen an uptick in cases. In 2019, the National ALS Registry found more than 29,000 cases. By 2022, that number had jumped to about 33,000, and experts expect cases to rise an additional 10 percent by 2030.
Michigan has now become the fifth state in the country to make ALS reporting mandatory, joining efforts to better understand the trend in higher incidences of the disease. ALS of Michigan estimates that there are approximately 200 new ALS diagnoses in the state every year. Health experts have attributed the rise to a larger aging population and possible environmental factors.
ALS generally manifests itself in victims by noticeable muscle weakness, especially involving the arms and legs, slurred speech, and difficulty in swallowing and breathing. Medical experts stress that ALS is a “variable disease” and that “no two people will have the same journey or experiences.”
For Peri, his mother’s ALS diagnosis was confirmed in June 2013 after she experienced troubles with her left arm. Her health problems worsened over the next year as all of her upper and lower extremities were affected, causing her to be confined to a wheel chair.
“My dad (Mike) was really devoted to her care during her ALS battle,” Peri said of his father, who spent the bulk of his career as a quality control engineer with General Dynamics before retiring. “He really stepped up, providing the kind of love and support she needed.”
Peri’s mom worked for Leader Dogs for the Blind, and was the “glue to a tightknit family,” according to her son.
“She was a wonderful wife, mother, and grandmother, and also loved to shop and had a signature shoe collection,” said Peri.
Her passion for stylish shoes was on full display at this year’s golf outing as the traditional closest to the pin contest featured a novel twist, Peri indicated.
“Golfers needed to hit their tee shots on the par 3 while wearing high heels,” Peri said with a smile. “It certainly added to the challenge and provided more than a few laughs. My mom would have loved that.”
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