Providence, R.I.
Gene Perry ceased residency on this planet on the morning of Oct. 14. He was born in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, the son of Albert and Beulah Gullison Perry. He was named after his two grandfathers. Gene, however, was raised on Long Island, N.Y.
Coming from a long line of seafaring ancestors, when WWII erupted, Gene joined the Navy and spent 22 months on board an aircraft carrier (the U.S.S. Hornet CV12). He went to Syracuse University after the war under the G.I. bill, where he majored in Physical Education and rowed in the crew program for four years. This became a lifetime interest for him as he went on to coach freshmen crews at both Syracuse and Brown universities and refereed later regattas.
During the summers, Gene worked at a unique camp on Lake Erie that integrated severely handicapped children with economically privileged and challenged ones. Cradle Beach Camp was one place in the U.S. that was truly integrated. Gene went on to get two more degrees (an MA at Columbia University and a Ph.D. from Syracuse University’s prestigious Maxwell School).
It was at Syracuse where Gene met Elaine Foster. They were married for 61 years. Son James was born there also. They moved to Rhode Island when Gene took a job teaching in the Political Science department at Rhode Island College, which lasted for 30 years. Their daughter Lynn Alison was born in Providence. Gene was happiest on the water or skiing into his early 90s. Words are inadequate to describe this special man. He left this world a better place.
