Dr. Robert Perez

M. Robert Perez, M.D., 90, passed away November 11 at home in Bowling Green, after a brief illness.
He was born November 3, 1934, in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, the eldest of six children, and grew up in the small town of Florida, Puerto Rico. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Puerto Rico and graduated from the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine in 1959. He then went on to complete his internship at Mercy Hospital in Buffalo, New York - where he met his future wife, Gerry - and his residency at Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia. Robert and Gerry were married June 1, 1963.
Dr. Perez served in the United States Air Force from 1960 to 1972, as a Flight Surgeon, and retired as a lieutenant colonel. While on active duty, he happened to be on a familiarization flight aboard a B-52 strategic bomber on November 22, 1963 when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, which made for some very tense moments. Later in life, Dr. Perez would continue his military service in the United States Army Reserve, from 1990 through 1998.
After retiring from the USAF, Dr. Perez moved to Bowling Green in December 1972, and practiced urology at the Graves-Gilbert Clinic from 1973 until 1994, when he established his own urology practice, continuing to serve the community until his retirement in 2007 at the age of 72. During his years of practice, he introduced many innovative procedures to the Bowling Green area, including seed implants to combat prostate cancer and surgical techniques to provide relief from incontinence for female patients.
In his spare time, Bob (as he was affectionately known to his friends and colleagues) was an avid pilot, flying his airplane all over the United States, Canada, and even to the Bahamas on occasion. He also had a passion for woodworking and won several awards at local shows for some of his intricate carvings of birds and other wildlife. Some of his other interests included golf, scuba diving, skiing, and traveling around the world with his family. He was a kind and devoted husband, father, and grandfather, and will be deeply missed by his family and friends.
Dr. Perez is survived by his wife of 61 years, Gerry; their two sons, M. Robert Perez, III, of Magnolia, Texas, and Kevin Perez, of Littleton, Colorado; and their two granddaughters, Kylie Perez and Paige Perez, both of Littleton, Colorado. Arrangements have been entrusted to J. C. Kirby and Son Lovers Lane Chapel.