http://twitter.com/#!/AlexPappasDC/status/228937614286274560

Don Perry, Chick-fil-A’s VP of Corporate Public Relations, has passed away after an apparent heart attack.

Erica M. Martinez, a Chick-fil-A spokeswoman, confirmed the news Friday afternoon in a statement to The Daily Caller.

“We are saddened to report the news to you that our dear friend Don Perry, vice president of public relations, passed away suddenly this morning,” she said. “Don was a member of our Chick-fil-A family for nearly 29 years.”

Martinez added: “For many of you in the media, he was the spokesperson for Chick-fil-A.  He was a well-respected and well-liked media executive in the Atlanta and University of Georgia communities, and we will all miss him.”

Perry worked his way up from Chick-fil-A’s original PR staff to the top tier of the company ladder. His death leaves a void in the Chick-fil-A family, particularly in light of the restaurant chain’s escalating PR battle.

Twitterers paused to pay their respects:

So sad. Prayers for his family>>Chick-fil-A public relations leader Don Perry dies suddenly  | http://t.co/eJvzessD http://t.co/RTjA75T0

— Laurie Vaughn (@LaurieBailey) July 27, 2012

RIP Don Perry! #ChickFilA

— Savannah the Bossy (@thesavvy) July 27, 2012

Sad. PR can definitely be a stressful job! Chick-fil-A chief spokesman Don Perry dies unexpectedly http://t.co/odTDCh5a

— colleen wickwire (@cwick) July 27, 2012

Chick-fil-A public relations leader Don Perry dies suddenly http://t.co/S4nF0D1h Man, what a tough way to go out. RIP Mr. Perry.

— Jared Chism (@Jarism) July 27, 2012

Very sad news. Chick-fil-A spokesman Don Perry died this morning. A wonderful human being and genuine pro at his job. A great loss for ATL.

— Atlanta Biz News (@atlbusinessnews) July 27, 2012

My thoughts and prayers are with the family of Don Perry.

— jenn (@jenreadsfiction) July 27, 2012

https://twitter.com/USElection_2012/status/228929328979775488

Despite perhaps disagreeing with Perry’s personal views, some on the Left put aside ideological differences and expressed their condolences:

Chick-fil-A's Public Relations VP Don Perry has died. Hope he rests in peace and that @ChickfilA finally lets LGBT people LIVE in peace.

— Karl Frisch (@KarlFrisch) July 27, 2012

https://twitter.com/theLeoTheory/status/228926424873062400

Unfortunately, those liberals were among very few who showed respect.

Wow. @TwitchyTeam will be busy compiling lefty hate tweets over the death of #ChickFilA's African-American PR VP. Sick people.

— jon gabriel (@exjon) July 27, 2012

As Jon predicted, Perry’s death brought out the worst in the Left.

https://twitter.com/AKMF27/status/228926133763186688

I think the Internet killed @ChickfilA's VP of PR. He just died of a heart attack.

— Calvin (@aurosan) July 27, 2012

"Thank God I was on the right side of the gay marriage issue!" http://t.co/byA0xMv6 #Leykis #ChickFilA #PRguydead #gay #gaymarriage

— Tom Leykis (@tomleykis) July 27, 2012

https://twitter.com/nichugme/status/228928112925224961

https://twitter.com/el_svid/status/228927951842967552

jokes with their own punchlines built in: the VP of public relations for chick fil a died of a heart attack this morning.

— George Thotstanza (@etfp) July 27, 2012

Now there's a funeral WBC will be appearing at. RT @CStevens790 Chick-fil-A says Don Perry, vice president of public relations, has died.

— Talk Superstation (@TlkSuperstation) July 27, 2012

Oh yeah, the @ChickFilA Vice President of Public Relations has died. #irony

— The Martian Daily (@TheMartianDaily) July 27, 2012

The VP of @chickfila's PR just died of a heart attack. So non-shocking it's shocking.

— Liam Copeland (@liam_copeland) July 27, 2012

Holy shit. Two dudes kissed and the chicken man got way too stressed. #chickfila http://t.co/Wk2f1MdA

— tommyisarealboy (@tommyisarealboy) July 27, 2012

Cudn't have happened to a nicer guy! RT ALERT: Chick-fil-a says VP of PR, Don Perry, passed away suddenly this morning. @ChickFilA

— Bedhead Paisan (@nanakepichu) July 27, 2012

"God Dont Like Ugly" #ChickFilA

— Mr. Brogden (@MisterBrogden) July 27, 2012

Me thinks someone "upstairs" is not happy with @chickfila – "CHICK-FIL-A PR Honcho Dies of Heart Attack" http://t.co/mBc3AOyh via @TMZ

— Scott Barretto (@ScottBarretto) July 27, 2012

God hates homophobes. RT @CNBC: ALERT: Chick-fil-a says Vice President of Public Relations Don Perry passed away suddenly this morning.

— Jonathan Roseman (@sqeptiq) July 27, 2012

"If I'm wrong about gay marriage, may God strike me down" – #ChickFilA spokesperson

— Bravo (@DrBravo2) July 27, 2012

God is gay. RT @Eater: Chick-fil-A VP of Public Relations Dies of Heart Attack http://t.co/eK0EDCGx

— Lyle Fass (@grapeylyle) July 27, 2012

Notable classy “comedian” Rob Delaney weighed in on Perry’s death with his trademark grace:

Defending bigotry IS stressful. RT @Slate: Chick-fil-A’s spokesman died of heart attack: http://t.co/nijLdi2Q

— rob delaney (@robdelaney) July 27, 2012

Despicable. We await the day when such vitriol is the exception rather than the rule. We will likely have to wait a very long time.

May Don Perry rest in peace. Our thoughts are with his friends and loved ones.

Read more: http://twitchy.com/2012/07/27/pr-vp-for-chick-fil-a-has-died-left-responds-with-viciousness/