John Murray Perry

John Murray Perry, 84, of Blacksburg, Va., died peacefully on Tuesday, March 2, 2010, at his home, surrounded by loved ones. John was born on July 19, 1925, in Springfield, Vt., to the late George and Arminala Perry. After graduating from Middlebury College at age 19, he served as a midshipman and then Ensign in the United States Navy from 1944 to 1946. He received an MA in Mathematics from Harvard University in 1951 and a PhD in Mathematics from the University of Rochester in 1959. He served on the faculty of Clarkson College of Technology from 1946 to 1965, where he was awarded the College's Excellent Teaching Award and served as Head of the Mathematics Department and Director of the Computing Center. He moved to Wells College, then a women's college, in 1965, where he served as Professor of Mathematics as well as Dean of the College, until 1977. In 1977 he moved his family to Blacksburg, to serve in the Provost's Office at Virginia Tech under various titles until 1989, when he retired as Provost Emeritus. He was predeceased by brothers, George R. Perry and Richard L. Perry; and sister, Priscilla Merritt. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Martha Jane Laffin Perry, of Blacksburg, Va.; 100 year-old sister, Helen P. Smith, of Baltimore, Md.; children, John R. (Jack) Perry and wife, Joanne, of Rehoboth, Mass., Mary Esther Perry, of Burke, Va., Margaret H. Perry, of Blacksburg, Va., and Thomas L. Perry, of Charlottesville, Va.; and grandchildren, Kevin, Jonathan, and Leah Finity, and Anna Jane Perry. A memorial service will be held 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 7, 2010, at McCoy Funeral Home, 150 Country Club Dr., SW, Blacksburg, Va. The family will receive friends following the service. In lieu of flowers, John has requested donations be made to The Nature Conservancy, 4245 North Fairfax Drive, Suite 100, Arlington, Va. 22203, (www.nature.org).