John Bernard Meyer

John B. Meyer, age 73, of Newton, MA and Manhattan, NY on Tuesday, January 24, 2017. For 47 years, the beloved husband of Stephanie Hirsch. Devoted father of Alison Meyer Hong & her husband Michael and Robert Meyer & his wife Katherine Brinson. Loving grandfather (“Papa”) to Matthew and Thomas Hong and Orson Meyer. Dear brother of Barbara Raisner and brother-in-law, Myron Raisner. Fond uncle of Debbie, David, and Jason Raisner.

With his father, Paul, as his inspiration, John became a risk manager in the insurance industry for 17 years, ultimately joining Alexander & Alexander in 1978 after they acquired his business. In 1980, he and his family enjoyed a two-year hiatus in Harwich, MA, where he was the proud owner of the short-lived “Books of Cape Cod.” He went on to found the influential trade publications Insurance Times and Financial Services Times with Andrew Simpson.

For the past 27 years, John and his wife Stephanie published Teen Ink (formerly The 21st Century), a non-profit magazine and website that has published the works of hundreds of thousands of teenagers, encouraging them to be writers and artists. The founder of the Newton Girls Basketball Association and an avid marathon runner since the age of 60, John was an inspiration to all who knew him.

Graveside services were private. A gathering of friends and family will be held in Boston on February 3rd. Please email [email protected] for details.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Young Authors Foundation, PO Box 30, Newton, MA 02461 to be used for the “John Meyer Young Writer’s Scholarship.”