Matthew C. Perry

Matthew C. Perry, 81, passed away peacefully from vascular dementia after wonderful care at Bethany Courtyards and Manor, Horseheads, NY, on February 20, 2023. Matt was born on March 25, 1941, the son of James W. and Marjorie (Frey) Perry. He is predeceased by his parents and half-brother, James M. Perry. Matt is survived by his wife of 37 years, Joy (Sutton); children Anne Perry (Dan Lashkoff) of Ithaca, NY, James Perry (Katy) of Avon, CT, Heather Aggeler (Paul) of Harrison Township, MI, and Hilary Ledebuhr (Erich) of Sudbury, MA; and seven grandchildren, whom he adored: Susie Marvin Jones (Greg), Andrew Marvin (Megan), Marnie Perry, Tommy Lashkoff, Jacob Perry, Devin Perry, and Kurt Ledebuhr; and nieces Greta Perry (Chris Kelly) and Kathie Lynch (Tim) and their families; brother-in-law, R. Stanley Sutton (Jeri) and family. Matt's gentleness, sweetness, sense of humor and wry wit, and love of family endeared him to anyone who knew him.
Matt attended Elmira schools and graduated from Elmira Free Academy in 1959. He also attended Mercersburg Academy in Pennsylvania and received his Bachelor of Business Administration from Bryant College (now University) in 1961. He enlisted in the US Army in 1961, served at Ft. Dix and Ft. Devens, and spent a year in Sinop, Turkey as a member of the Army Security Agency. After being honorably discharged in 1964 and refusing a job offer with the National Security Agency, he returned to Elmira and joined the family insurance business, Perry & Swartwood (now Perry & Carroll). He retired from his partnership in 1998 and enjoyed countless activities and travels since then.
Over the years, Matt donated many hours to special organizations in Elmira. He was in the Elmira Rotary Club for 52 years, was a Paul Harris Fellow, and recently was made an honorary member the club. During these years, he rarely missed a meeting and helped with many projects that Rotary sponsored, including Camp Star for children with special needs, and packing bags for the Arctic League with a Rotary crew. He would then deliver bags early on Christmas morning. For 30 years, he served as treasurer of CIDS (Cooperative Interdisciplinary Developmental Services), a social agency whose leadership he admired. He also loved nature and worked with Tanglewood Nature Center when they built their first building and cut trails on the Water Board property. Other groups benefitting from his volunteer spirit and board participation included the Steele Memorial Library, Chemung County Historical Society and Museum, Torch Club of Elmira, and Wings of Eagles where he helped rebuild to "flying status" the Fuddy Duddy, a WWII B-17 bomber. For the 400 hours he put into that project, he was given a ride in the plane over his beloved Seneca Lake.
Matt's happiest place in the world, though, was the family cottage at Glenora on Seneca Lake. He spent every summer of his life there, even when he was in the Army because he'd arrange for his leaves to be only in the summer. The close lifelong friendships, years of water skiing (his last one was at age 78), swimming, boating, hiking, and just hanging out by the water made him content. Raising the children at the cottage and seeing the next generation of grandchildren loving it as much as he did brought many smiles to his face. Lake stories abound, involving friends, family, race weekends, and craziness. Matt had Seneca Lake water in his veins and every observation of him at the cottage would prove that. The Glenora community was his bit of paradise for 81 years and he will be greatly missed.
Family and friends are invited to the Barber Funeral Home, 413 S. Main St., Horseheads, NY, on Friday, March 10, from 12-2 p.m. Burial will follow at the family plot in Woodlawn Cemetery. A celebration of his life is planned for August 4th-6th at Glenora. The family respectfully suggests that those who wish to remember Matt consider CIDS, Tanglewood Nature Center, or Seneca Lake Pure Waters Association.