Stefan James Perry

Stefan James Perry, 59, passed into everlasting life on 18th May, 2024. A proud Naval Aviator, devoted husband and loving father, Stefan's love of life did not end with his death but will continue on through his family and friends who will honor his legacy by living their lives to the fullest.
Stefan was born, 10 January 1965, in Nurnberg Germany to army Sergeant Roy Perry and Gudrun (Markert) Perry. He was a precocious and adventurous boy who developed a fierce love of flying that would follow him throughout his life. While growing up in Norfolk, Virginia with his parents and younger brother Sean, he spent his youth riding horses, playing soccer and sailing. He enjoyed spending many a summer visiting relatives in Germany.
Stefan graduated from Norfolk Catholic High School, Norfolk, Virginia in 1983. It was here that, on the very first day of orientation, he met his best friend. They later joined with another two boys and these four men would form a lifetime bond of friendship. After high school Stefan attended Old Dominion University on an ROTC scholarship. While there he pledged and became a brother of Theta Chi Fraternity, played lacrosse for the ODU Lacrosse team and worked at the Virginia Beach oceanfront as a lifeguard, making many friends with whom he would keep in touch throughout his life. After graduating, with a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, he went on to be commissioned as a US Naval Officer and attend Naval Flight Training at NAS Pensacola. It was here that, after much hard work and dedication, Stefan was finally able to realize his lifelong dream of earning his "Wings of Gold". As anyone who has ever met Stefan for even a few minutes, those wings and his absolute passion for flying are what defined him. The only thing that this achievement would ever come second to would be his family.
At this time, with his first assignment orders in hand and celebrating the day after his birthday, Stefan met the woman who would throw him for a loop and become the love of his life. Stefan and Anne-Marie fell in love and, after a transatlantic courtship, were married on 28th May, 1994. They welcomed five beautiful talented and much loved children; Kathleen, Mairin, Gabriella, Duncan and Colin. Stefan's wife and children were the center of his world.
Other than his family and flying, Stefan found something that would become an important part of his life; The Black Stallions of HC-4. It was at his first assigned duty station that he grew to love the mission, the work and the crew. He discovered and honed his talents becoming a skilled and respected pilot. Here he formed bonds of camaraderie, of duty, of honor, of loss, of loyalty.. of brotherhood.
After a full Naval career flying throughout Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the US and earning a master's degree in aviation sciences from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Stefan completed that chapter of his life, retiring from the US Navy in 2009. This next phase of Stefan's life allowed him to spend more time with his family, travel, discover new hobbies of Deuce /Jeep rebuilding and create more "male bonding" time with his friends. His work was comprised of flying in Africa with Orion Air, flying in the Gulf of Mexico with PHI and finally, flying private jets throughout the US with Wheels Up. Stefan never gave up on his dream of flying. He did what he loved for his entire life.
Stefan James Perry was a man of faith and deep integrity. He was loyal and true; living the values that he held dear. An Eagle Scout, a Naval Aviator, an officer, a gentleman, a friend, a family man and so much more. He loved and lived every moment to the fullest. He is gone from our world much too soon. We will miss him tremendously but will always keep him alive in our hearts and our memories.
Stefan was preceded in death by his father, Roy Elon Perry, his paternal grandparents, James and Edith Erickson, his maternal grandparents Richard and Marguerite Markert, his uncle Mike Malone and his uncle and aunt Jürgen and Rosemarie Griessmann. He is survived by his wife, Anne-Marie Ozkosar, his children, Kathleen Isabella (Ozkosar-Perry) McClain and husband Garrett McClain, Mairin Alexandra Ozkosar-Perry, Gabriella Josephine Ozkosar-Perry, Duncan James Ozkosar-Perry and Colin Pierce Ozkosar-Perry along with his mother Gudrun Estep, brother Sean Perry and many aunts uncles and cousins.
Funeral mass will take place at St Matthew the Apostle Cathedral in Washington DC. Burial will take place at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington Virginia. Reception will follow at Army Navy Country Club in Arlington Virginia. Dates and times will be announced at a further date.