Perry W. C. Stafford, MD

Dr. Stafford,
Thank you. Thank you for saving my life! A basketball size tumor that went down my right leg and around my spine....You tackled it! Three long surgeries later, I was still able to play field hockey. Thank you! Thanks you for keeping your good humor through it all too. It made things a lot easier for me! Thank you for smiling when I asked for exactly 44 staples in my abdomen every surgery (4 was my favorite number). Thank you also for taking time out of your busy day to remove the staples. I remember telling the residents that "only Dr. Stafford can remove the staples". Most of all, thank you for caring for me as a person. After my recovery, thank you for coming to my field hockey game when my college team played Villanova. I will never forget you!

I first met Perry on the USNS Comfort during operation Desert Shield.
He became a good friend, and a sypport for an Aussie in a strande environent. He hsd great stories about being posted to Australia ro teach our A4 pilots ground attack techniques.
On landing on HMAS Melbourne. Quote
"It was the Goddamdest smallest aircraft carrier I had ever lander on. Hats off to you guys who do it all the time"
A good person, and a good friend, who I reached out for too late. If any Staffords find themselves in Victoria, Austalia, they have a place to stay.

Michael Wilson
Commander RFD RANR (Ret.)

[email protected]

I met Perry on the USNS Comfort during Operation Desert Shield.
I was part of the Austraian medical team posted to the USNS Comfort as an Anaesthetist.
His friendship, his stories about teaching Australian pilots how to use our A4's in the ground attack roll during the Vietnam War and his support and friendship, I will never forget.
(Quote "HMAS Melbourne was the Goddammed smallest carier I had ever landed on. I takes my hat off to the Aussie Navy piots who did it routinely").
To my regret , I left my attempts to contact Perry a bit late. I wish to express my condolences to you, the family.
He was a totally memorable amazing person, who I had a great regard and respect for. I was reaching out to contact him, I am finding out I am too late.
I am sorry for your loss.


C Michael Wilson
Commander, RFD Royal Australian Navy Reserve Rtd.

michaelwilsonemail@gmail

One of best surgeons and human beings I have known in my training and life.

Thank you for saving my daughter's life in the middle of the night, in 2021. You did an amazing job.

Perry was the most kind, caring, generous (maybe a little too generous at times), fun, funny, fabulous story teller, and a true gentleman. He was the "Real Deal". I am so glad I met him, and he decided to make me a friend of his! I do think of him, and it is always with a smile! He is missed....

Semper Fi to an old shipmate from the A4 days.

Vince Massimini

Perry and I walked similar paths, we both flew in VN , he in A4s , me in Cobra gunships. Medical school later then most, he ended up at Bethesda Naval while I was down the road at Walter Reed. We covered each other and scrubbed tougher on tough cases. Years later I hired him to cover one of my hospitals in central Illinois. Perry was just a lovely man in every way, I just lost a brother.

When Perry retired from the Navy, he joined is at CHOP in order to establish a new program in Minimally-invasive surgery. He was very successful. It was a pleasure to have Perry and his wife and daughters as a good and enjoyable friend. We will miss hiom greatly.

Your dad helped me on countless occasions when I was a neonatal fellow and junior attending. He was so thoughtful and smart; an exceptional teacher and colleague. He was very special to all of us in the NICU. Will never forget him.

Naval and Marine Corps aviators have two natural enemies: their combat foes and doctors. Perry Stafford was an exceptional man who excelled at both. I never got to spend as much time with Perry as I would have liked. I agree with Dr. Gilchrist - you did not walk away from an encounter with Perry that was meaningless. God Bless you Perry and my prayers for your family will start today.

A great surgeon, scholar, colleague, and friend. May Perry´s family find peace in the memories of a life well lived.

My condolences to the family. He was a good friend, a good pediatric surgeon, and a good man.

Perry and I once served together in an A-4 squadron in WestPac (VMA-211, 1972), where did me an unexpected and selfless favor that I will never forget; I remain in his debt. He was a good pilot and a loyal comrade deserving of the tributes here.

Perry was a patriot and a superb pediatric surgeon. He was the real deal. We were all better people for knowing him. He will be regaling the heavenly hosts with the aplomb of a true raconteur. RIP

What a wonderful tribute to your father. I laughed and cried while reading. Dr. Stafford was a beautiful man with a heart of gold. He was missed when he left CHOP and he will be forever in my heart.

Your Dad helped care for the babies in our NICU. He was very passionate and skilled at his work and also very proud of his girls. It was always fun to chat with him and listen to all of his stories. A great man who helped so many. He is greatly missed.