Rob Mermin and Bill Morancy lived in neighboring apartments in Montpelier, Vermont. They were best friends.  And when Bill was diagnosed with terminal cancer, he asked his best friend to help him die.

In 2013, Vermont passed the The Patient Choice and Control at End of Life Act, or Act 39…our version of Death with Dignity. The legislation allows eligible Vermonters with terminal diseases the option to be prescribed medication that will hasten the end of their life. In 2015, Bill elected to use Act 39 to end his life, and he asked Rob to help him. This is a story primarily about their friendship–and the months, days and moments leading up to Bill’s death.

To learn more about Rob Mermin and his illustrious career as a mime and the founder of Circus Smirkus, visit here.

The music for this show was made by Vermont musicians Brian Clark and Mike Donofrio. And you heard from the original film soundtracks of South Pacific and Carousel, both by Rodgers and Hammerstein. The piano licks in this show were made by Vermont pianist Marie Helene Belanger

Kudos for Show

The 2019 movie, Paddleton,  from the Duplass Brothers, was based on this episode and story.

Notable podcast, AV Club, June 13, 2016, for Last Chapter

Audible Feast, June 11-17, 2016

Rob Mermin