Acton — Evelyn Collison died at Boston Children's Hospital, January 10, 2013, at the age of 20. She was born in Kisvarda, Hungary, on October 22, 1992. She is the loving and beloved daughter of Dr. George Collison and Dr. Judith Collison of Acton.
Dr. George Collison (Doc) taught at Beverly High. Dr. Judith guest lectured in the Facing History classes at BHS as a survivor. She leaves brothers and sisters, Ben and Greg of Acton, Dr. Steve Feder and his wife, Amy Winston of Edgecomb, Maine, Dan Feder and his wife, Mary Feder of Houston, Texas, and Mandy Feder of Paradise, Calif. She also leaves five nieces and a nephew, Nicole and Miranda McLemore of Paradise, Calif., Louise Feder of Philadelphia, Pa., Henry Feder of Poultney, Vt., Lucy Feder of Houston, Texas, and Josee Feder of Edgecomb, Maine. She leaves uncles and aunts Bob and Rita Brosseau of Holyoke, and Efrain King of Jerusalem. Evelyn also leaves beloved special friends, Bob and Barbara Tinker of Amherst, and special uncle, David Perkins of Plainfield and Carolyn Staudt of Concord.
Evelyn attended Willard School in Concord until the fourth grade. She was a tremendous gymnast and all around athlete, an avid reader, fine student dancer and a piano player. Evelyn had an unfailingly sunny disposition and the brightest eyes imaginable; she loved everyone. Her teachers loved her. She won many gymnastics trophies and honors. She won the handstand competition at the UMass, Amherst gymnastics summer camp, outlasting even high school entrants. Evelyn truly loved summers spent at her summer home in Goshen.
Evelyn suffered from epilepsy. She was neurologically and immunologically damaged at the start of fourth grade by some allopathic medicines. Willard School teachers were wonderfully supportive to her and her family in her long recovery. She lost the ability to talk and walk but she regained them with therapist's help. She could still read and communicate. Her immune system was weakened by the medicine. A virus badly damaged her that winter. She returned to school the next year, in a wheelchair, at The Kennedy Day School at the Franciscan's Children's Hospital in Brighton. The family moved to Acton. Evelyn spent ten years there, living at home in Acton and transported daily to Kennedy. The Special Education Staff at Acton schools was consistently helpful and compassionate. Her driver, Don Williams, is an exceptional driver and human being. Our thanks to them. Staff at Kennedy School loved her and she loved them back. The teachers there, particularly nurse, Peggy Smith, helped Evelyn tremendously. Galina Mazounina worked with Evelyn in our home for five years. She loved our daughter as if she were her own. Hyperbaric treatments greatly helped her regain some function.
Her family adored her. She lit up when her siblings entered the room. She recognized and greeted people she had not seen in years. She loved Anne of Green Gables, Hairspray, Little Mermaid, and Grease and above all, her family. Her favorite food, she told her class, was broccoli. Evelyn was rich in heart and in family.
Evelyn donated her organs to the New England Organ Bank helping save the lives of five people, including a nine year old boy who received her heart.
ARRANGEMENTS: A remembrance service will be held at Kennedy Day School, 30 Warren Street, Brighton, MA 02135, (617) 254-3800, ext. 6160, on January 27 at 12 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, please send a donation in her name to the Kennedy Day School at the above address. http://www.franciscanhospital.org/Home/ProgramsServices/Educational/KennedyDaySchool/page.aspx/1027. Send cards, if you wish, to georgecollison@gmail.com or to 14 Horseshoe Drive, Acton, MA 01720.
