Perry W. C. Stafford, MD

It is with great sadness that I must share that my dad Perry Stafford passed away yesterday. Succinctly describing who he was and what he brought to the world is no easy task. I will try and tell it as he would, allowing "no truths to get in the way of a good story." My dad was a proud Marine Skyhawk A4 pilot, a Captain in the Navy, he was a highly decorated vet of Vietnam and Desert Storm. He was a physician- a skilled and brilliant pediatric surgeon. He was a patient teacher often recognized by medical students and residents for his mentorship. He was beloved by his nurses, patients and parents. After every surgery, he would craft a personalized bandage based on the child's interests to let the kiddo and parents know he cared. He was a sailor who grew up on sailboats in the Bahamas. He loved adventuring with a group of friends island hopping through Caribbean. You would leave not knowing exactly where you had been, but with a bunch of great stories and a better appreciation for rum. He was a singer. He loved to sing and had a beautiful voice. He actually went to college on a singing scholarship, but his first college endeavor was cut short after one to many shenanigans with his DKE brothers who have remained his lifelong friends. He was very funny and a master storyteller. Many have participated in a night where he would he would entertain for hours. He loved to be loved. He was not perfect and had his complications. He made mistakes and would probably of done some things differently. I think he would have spent less time worrying about the accomplishment and spent more time appreciating the journey.
I loved him beyond measure. We were bonded in similarity. To me he was a titan. He could do and had done everything. I shared his ambition, his sharp wit, his mischievousness, his love of sports, and his passion for medicine. He will be missed by many friends, but mostly by his two daughters, Bethany and Brittany; his son in law, Tommy; and his three grandchildren, Thomas, Evelyn, and John Jackson.
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