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Obituaries

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Monica Ellen Mayper ’73

May 7, 2023, at home, with friends and family at her side.

A favorite quote of Monica’s: “The pleasures of the table, and of life, are infinite—toujours, bon appetit!” Monica celebrated those pleasures through her literary talent and her zest for life.

Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and raised in Fairfield, Connecticut, Monica came to Portland to study English at Reed. She went on to work as a senior copy chief at Disney Hyperion Books and as senior production editor at HarperCollins Children’s Books.

Monica was the author of four children’s books, the last of which, A Night on the Sand, was published in 2022 to critical acclaim. A “practicing poet,” she and her work were well-known and loved. Her positive outlook, optimism, and perseverance during her courageous two-year battle with pancreatic cancer were an inspiration to all who knew her.

Monica was predeceased by her parents, Stuart and Lois Mayper, and her partner, Martha Geissinger. She is survived by her brother, Thomas, his wife, Laurie, and their two children, Shay and Maryn, as well as her two beloved cats, Rosie and Pippi.

Appeared in Reed magazine: Fall 2023