ORMOND BEACH, Fla., and BANGOR – Charles Perry, 84, of Ormond Beach Fla., formerly of Bangor and Orono, died Dec. 29, 2010, at Coquina Center nursing facility, Ormond Beach, Fla. He passed away quietly after a long struggle with Parkinson’s disease. He was born Nov. 1, 1926, in Bangor, the son of Dr. Alfred M. Perry and Florence Hodges Perry. He graduated from Bangor High School and from Bowdoin College in 1948, where he was a member of Zeta Psi fraternity and Meddibempsters, the well-known Bowdoin a cappella group. He attended Bangor Theological Seminary, and received his master’s degree in English from the University of Maine, teaching English for a year at Marietta College in Ohio before returning to Bangor to marry his fiancee, Joanne (Springer) Perry in June 1951. He was then an editor of the Bangor Evening and Sunday Commercial, when he was drafted into the U.S. Army near the end of the Korean War, and stationed in Tokyo for a year in 1954. Although this turn of events was unexpected, taking him far from his family and career and causing him great loneliness, he exhibited his characteristic intellectual curiosity and interest in people during his time in post-war Japan, studying the language, teaching English and traveling extensively, if economically, throughout the country. He returned to Bangor on his discharge from the Army. He and Joanne moved to Orono, and had one daughter, Victoria, in 1956. He became associated in the investment firm of Columbia Investment Co., Bangor, joining his brother-in-law, Franklin W. Eaton, a partnership which continued until he and Joanne left Maine for Florida in 1977. During this time, he was a member of Boston Stock Exchange, and a president of Maine Securities Dealers Association. In Daytona Beach, Fla., he remained in the investment business, becoming associated first with the firm of Thomson McKinnon and after its dissolution, with Prudential Securities until his retirement in 1993. Throughout his life, he spent as much time as possible at Cape Rosier, Brooksville, the place he loved best. He was an active sailor and boater from childhood, building his first small rowboat at age 11. Always active in civic and church leadership, he served as chairman of Orono Planning Board, during which he was instrumental in the formation of Orono-Veazie Water District, of which he was chair for several years. He also assisted in the formation of the Orono ambulance service. He was a past master of Mechanics Lodge No. 66, AF & AM. He was a member of the Rotary Club, and for several years served on the Maine Republican State Committee. Among other activities, he was a past president of Family and Child Services of Bangor, and past president of the board of Bangor Conservatory of Music. He was active throughout his life in Maine in All Souls Congregational Church, which he had attended since birth, serving at various times as a deacon, trustee and moderator. In Florida, he continued in this tradition, serving as a deacon, trustee and chairman of the council of Seabreeze United Church, Daytona Beach, Fla. He served on the national board of United Church World Ministries and was a member of Daytona Rotary Club. In addition to his beloved wife of 59 years, Joanne S. Perry, he is survived by his daughter, Victoria Perry and her husband, Adnan Mazarei, and three grandchildren, Pamela, Ruth and Harry Summers, all of Bethesda, Md.; a sister, Barbara Martin of Brooksville; a brother, Alfred Perry of Franklin, Tenn.; sisters-in-law, Jacqueline Sprague of Ormond Beach, Fla., and Diana Gordon of Bar Harbor; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, William H. and Christine Springer of Alexandria, Va.; numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by a sister, Anne Morse of Hampden; and his sister and brother-in-law, Florence and Franklin Eaton of Brooksville. Relatives and friends are welcome to call 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 6, at Brookings-Smith, 133 Center St., Bangor. A funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 7, at All Souls Conregational Church, 10 Broadway, Bangor, with the Rev. Dr. James L. Haddix, pastor and teacher, officiating. Burial will be at Mount Hope Cemetery, Bangor. Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.BrookingsSmith.com.
CHARLES HODGES PERRY
