PERRY, John E.

Hartford (CT) Courant Tuesday, June 7, 2011 John E. Perry, 78, passed away peacefully on May 27, 2011 in Texas after a hard-fought battle with cancer. He was born in Hartford CT, May 17, 1933, the son of Dwight and Leone Perry. He grew up in Manchester, CT and earned his Bachelor of Arts from Baylor University and Masters Degree from the University of Hartford. In 1952 he became one of the first members of the 10th division Special Forces stationed in Fort Bragg NC and later in Germany. He taught aboard the school ship Albatross that sank in 1961 in a freak storm in the Gulf of Mexico. This event was later chronicled in a book and then a movie 'White Squall'. From 1962-1964 he was assistant headmaster at Leysian American School in Switzerland. He taught mathematics at Simsbury High School from 1964-89. He retired to Wickenburg AZ, and then moved The Woodlands, TX in 2006. He most enjoyed birding, fishing, hiking and canoeing at his lakeside camp in norhtern Maine. He also enjoyed reading, classical music, sports and traveling. He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Helen, and his two sons, Mark and Andrew, and his two sisters Sarah Seelert and Elizabeth Hagan. A memorial service will be held on Monday June 13 2011 at 3pm at St Catherine of Siena Church, 265 Stratton Brook Rd West Simsbury CT. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Maine Coast Heritage Trust at www.mcht.org or St Jude's Children's Hospital.