Megan Hussey’s Celebration of Life was held at the Live Oak Theatre in the afternoon on Sunday, Sept. 1. A collection of community contributors came to pay their respects. The arts, theater, and academia were all represented.
Megan covered the community beat, and she did it with enthusiasm and genuine interest. Randi Olsen, the Artistic Director at Live Oak Theatre Company, remembered that Megan would send such detailed and thought-provoking questions that sometimes, with her busy schedule, they would be challenging to answer, but after answering them, she became more excited about the upcoming play.
Sharon Printz and Bev Nuzzi with Academia Hernando recounted how Megan’s articles and her enthusiasm for their program resulted in many new subscribers.
Allisa Babor, Hernando County Fine Arts Council Chair, said she will miss Megan’s phone calls and her excitement about upcoming stories. Even stories that may not have been that exciting- Megan would find something in it to be excited about. She gave local artists the recognition they deserved.
One after another, people from the community recounted how Megan’s coverage had helped them grow their membership, increase their artistic outreach, or assist them in some other way. Through her work, she made a tremendous impact on the community.
Megan’s sister Vicky sent a letter to be read,
“I am Vicki Parsons, older sister of Megan Hussey. Megan was the baby of our family. She was more than twenty years younger than her two big sisters Vicki and Kim. So imagine our shock and sadness at losing her so suddenly at such a young age. We are still reeling.
“We are thankful to Julie Maglio for the wonderful tribute to Megan that appeared in the Hernando Sun. We are also grateful to Julie for organizing this Celebration of Life. It means so much to both of us. I am only now beginning to realize how many friends she had in Florida. She impacted so many lives and organizations through her work as a community news reporter. Also, it has been a blessing to get to know Megan’s dear friend Geneniece. Gi (as she is known by most) has been so loving and helpful. We are forever grateful. She was in contact with me constantly and contacted people to notify them of Megan’s passing. She was there at the hospital when we could not be. She is still doing so much to help our family.
“I live in Michigan and am unable to travel. Otherwise I would be joining you in person today. Megan and I talked often by phone confiding, laughing and crying together. I will treasure those conversations. She was a person with great empathy with a great sense of humor and strong convictions. The one great comfort is that we can now lay her to rest beside her deceased mother in a memorial garden here in Michigan. Yes, Megan was by mother’s favorite child hands down.
“Thanks to everyone for coming to celebrate my sister. Love, Vicki
“I also want to add one more important thing. Whenever Megan and I talked on the phone, she would always say “I love you” and I would say “I love you too”. Sometimes I would think, why does she want to say that every single time we talk? Well now I know. It’s because you never know when it will be the last time. I loved Megan very much and will miss her forever. Again thanks for honoring her memory. It means the world.”
Kind words for Megan
From Bev Nuzzi, Academia Hernando- As our community news reporter for The Hernando Sun, Megan was our voice to the community for Academia Hernando, a lifelong learning organization. As she prepared with excellence each report for our weekly presentation of subject and speaker, Megan would call and interview us for that info and always with joy, patience and encouragement. Her voice to The Hernando Sun became a window for the reader of our heart’s work and that window became a welcoming door of lifelong learning and friendship to our new subscribers. Megan made a difference in our lives by expanding our horizons and we so appreciate her and the support of The Hernando Sun. Megan, we will miss you- I have seen enough of life to know that grief will leave its mark. But I have also see enough of life to know that so too will love.
From Two Girls Donations- Megan was such a nice, wonderful woman. The 1st time we got to meet her was the good deed award articles on Letty. She is such a sweet person and loves her job. She was the 1st person to help get not only Letty’s but Payton’s name and what they do out to our community. Thank you Megan for all the kind words about the girls in all the articles. Her news articles got the attention not only from people in our community but also people who write articles for the women’s magazine and much more. She is welcoming to anybody that she speaks to. She loves to listen and hear everybody’s stories. Thankful that we got to meet this wonderful woman she will be missed.
From Abby, Operation Kindness for HCAS- I’ve dealt with reporters over many years in my line of work and always winced once an article or statement was published. Not with Megan! When Megan and I first spoke, I had the sense that she was different. Megan was so positive, so supportive and very excited about what we were doing in the community. She was a gem! Every article she wrote on our behalf was so well written and accurate. I never once winced. Megan was a dear friend to most of us in the non-profit community and she will be sorely missed!
From all of us at Operation Kindness for Hernando County Animal Services, we miss you already, your gift of journalism and especially your friendship. Our thoughts and prayers are with you, your family and your friends. Rest in peace Megan.
From Angela Bonfardino Walasek, United Way Hernando County-
On behalf of our entire United Way of Hernando County team, we are beyond saddened to receive this news. Megan was truly an advocate, and considered a “positive partner”, always highlighting local happenings in the most uplifting and informative way. She has left her mark on this community for sure. We promise to keep her memory alive by referencing her work and talking about her often. Sending love to all who knew her and worked with her. What a gem.
From Patti Motzer- So sorry to hear about Megan. She was a good friend to whomever she was writing about. She attended the Auxiliary’s celebration at Charles E Murray Post 186 when the Dept of FL President Jane Hardacre presented a Good Deed Award to 7 yr old Letty for her dedication to feed the homeless. Megan was excited to hear about any other projects the Auxiliary had in mind. Megan was such a sweet lady with a soft voice. She will be missed by everyone whose lives she touched.
From Amy Anderson- She will be so missed. I enjoyed her writing, her spirit, and the joy she brought to the world. She really did help artists share individually and as a whole. I’m glad I got to work with her.
Memories of Megan
Chris Parsons
My name is Chris Parsons, and I’m Megan’s nephew. When I was a kid, Aunt Megan was about the coolest person I knew. I remember staring at the posters on her teenage walls in Muncie, IN: Guns & Roses, New Kids on the Block, and one from the teen vampire movie, The Lost Boys. We both loved the movie Wayne’s World. Even long after the New Kids posters came down, Megan and I would quote lines from Wayne’s World back and forth: “we’re not worthy!” and “Extreme Close Up!” and “Hi…I’m in Delaware.” Of course, Megan wasn’t just cool – she was also kind and passionate. I don’t know that I’ve ever met anyone more ardent about being a writer. She loved it. And she loved the people she wrote with. And she loved the community she wrote about. I will always admire that passion – as Wayne would say, “I’m not worthy! I’m not worthy.” I will miss her.
Margaret Bates
My name is Margaret Bates, and I knew Megan for 10 years. We met when she started as a staff writer for the charity and blog I started called Legendary Women, Inc. She wrote wonderful, creative profiles of women leaders to raise awareness for them and was always ready to lead the charge for feminism and advocacy.
After the group disbanded, we stayed close friends and writing partners. Together, we co-wrote a USA Today Bestselling book The Golden Stag and worked together on newspaper profiles and articles for a local Annapolis newspaper as well.
She was a dear friend, someone I could always call when I was at my lowest, and who always had a positive word to say and would comfort you by just listening. It was so rare to meet someone who was so invested in listening to others, really hearing them and caring. The world is poorer for her loss, especially mine.
Hernando County Fine Arts Council
Megan was a true ray of light. She was the number one supporter of our growing art community and is one of the key people we have to thank for the growth of the arts here in Hernando County. Megan was passionate about art in all of its shapes and forms and about uplifting others. She never missed a single story.
Megan touched the hearts of many artists-turned-friends over the years with her work. With her writing style, she knew how to truly connect with the artists in her interviews and with the folks who read them. She fulfilled her mission of shining a light on the arts and the good things happening in our community. She always gave every person involved in a project the chance to share their vision with others– no matter how big or small their role was. Simply put? Megan made people feel special.
Our team met Megan when she first joined Hernando Sun in 2019 and we have truly enjoyed getting to know her over the years. We will miss our friend dearly– and already do. The Hernando County Fine Arts Council would truly not be where we are today without Megan’s help. Our hearts go out to all who knew Megan. A light like that cannot be replicated and will be so missed.” – Allisa Babor, Chair of Hernando County Fine Arts Council
Thank you for including this for us. I will be thinking of you and Rocco at this time. I knew Megan was a friend to all and she really loved her team.
With gratitude,
Allisa Babor
Hernando County Fine Arts Council Chair
Brandt Emerson,
Nature Coast Art League
I knew Megan only through back and forth emails until she stopped by the Nature Coast League tent that we had at Tom Varn Park during the Art in the Park exhibition this past March. As the Leagues’ coordinator for the show, Megan sat down and chatted with me. Near the end of our chat, I realized that she was actually interviewing me for her article in the Sun. She put me so at ease in her friendly way that she got her interview that didn’t feel like one. What a great journalist I thought to myself at the time. We all will miss her and all that she did for the Nature Coast Art League.
