Darell E. Perry

PERRY, DARELL E. Oct. 28, 1952 to March 23, 2009 Darell lost his battle with cancer at 5:20 p.m., on March 23rd, at the hospice unit at the VA Medical Center in La Jolla. Four of his closest friends were with him when he passed away. His mother and stepfather had stepped out for dinner and he died shortly after they left. Darell had always said he didn't want his mother to see him die... and he arranged it so she didn't. Darell was born in Detroit in 1952. The family moved to California when Darell was five. He graduated from Bonita Vista High School in the early 70's and was drafted shortly thereafter. He did his Army stint in Kansas and Germany serving in the 1st Infantry Division ("The Big Red One" as he liked to brag) and returned to San Diego to go back to college, which included Southwestern and Grossmont Community Colleges and San Diego State. After college, he went on to work for Eastern Airlines as a flight attendant until Eastern went out of business in 1991. He's been back in San Diego ever since working for PRA in the destination management industry. Darell is survived by his mother and stepfather, Mary and Nick Hutcheson of Bonita, CA, his brother and sister-in-law, Dennis and Kathy Perry, three nieces and two great-nieces all of Phoenix, AZ. Darell was active in the San Diego Chapter of the Silver-liners (a volunteer organization of ex-Eastern Airline employees) and the Feral Cat Coalition (a 100% volunteer group that spays/neuters feral cats). Donations in lieu of flowers to the Feral Cats are suggested at Darell's request. (If you'd like information on the group, you can access their web site at www.feralcat.com or contact them at: Feral Cat Coalition, 9528 Miramar Road, PMB 160, San Diego, CA 92126. Local residents can call their message center at 619-758-9194. Darell's fight against cancer was aided by VITAS Hospice Care near the end and it was their recommendation that he be admitted to the VA Hospice unit that his family believes gave him and them additional time together. The staff at the VA Medical Center on the 4th floor South Wing B and C Pods certainly deserve a huge "Thank You" for the wonderful job they did in caring for him. Darell donated his body to science through a group called Life Legacy. His ashes will be buried alongside his father at Glen Abbey Cemetery in Bonita. A Graveside Service for family and close friends will be held on May 9th, at 10:30 in the morning. Per Darell's wishes, a remembrance party will be held later this summer.