Luis Armando Perez

1934 - 2024

Luis Armando Perez
12/09/1934 - 04/17/2024
Luis Armando Perez passed away at his home on the morning of April 17, 2024 with his beloved wife Juliana Perez by his side and cared for by his son Gabriel Perez and daughter-in-law Alexa O'Brien. On the morning of his passing, he was joined by his son Alex Perez, his daughter-in-law Kristan Larson-Perez, and his beloved grandchildren Evelyn and Vincent Perez. Together, his family shared his wish to be at final rest with the ones he dearly loved, in the home where they experienced life together. He's remembered as a man of great humor and intelligence, a talented artist who possessed deep love of art, history, classical music, the San Francisco Giants, and reasonably priced wine!
He was born in Managua, Nicaragua, the son of Francisco Perez Grijalba and Rosalia Araica Perez Grijalba. In his long life, he was a student, draftsman, bike messenger, undergraduate, proud soldier (U.S. Army 1957-1960), car messenger, graduate student, fellowship recipient, teaching assistant (social statistics and sociology), Assistant Professor (SFSU), would-be writer, self-taught sports-illustrator, and househusband who raised and educated his two sons.
Arriving in San Francisco in 1954, he and his brother Francisco Perez helped establish his extended family in the United States. After serving in the Army and working his way through college as a messenger for Western Union, he earned degrees in Sociology, which he later taught at SFSU. He met and married Juliana Wilhelmiena Datema in San Francisco.
He is survived by his best friend and loving wife of 59 years, Juliana Perez, sons Gabriel and Alex Perez, daughters-in-law Alexa O'Brien and Kristan Larson-Perez, delightful grandchildren "Miss" Evelyn "Pretty Girl" Perez and Vincent "Breaker of Horses" Perez, his 4-year-old Yorkie Poo Rye-Lee, and grand-dogs Dutch and Elka. He was grateful for his family's presence in his life, along with his numerous nephews and nieces and special friends Sal and Carmela De Lucca.
He was preceded in death by his father and mother Francisco and Rosa Perez, brother Francisco Perez, and sisters Lydia Perez Smalley, Rosa Perez Olivares, and Alicia Perez Mendieta. He was also preceded in death by his gentle, loyal, and beautiful German Shepherd-Doberman mix Tasha (1986-2000), who was given to him as an abandoned puppy. He fulfilled his promise to reunite with his beloved pooch by taking her ashes with his own on their next adventure together.
Luis requested no formal funeral services to mark his passing, only that friends and family take a moment to mark his memory by raising a glass of their favorite drink and experiencing some of the great classical music that he loved. He suggested the final movement of Beethoven's Symphony #5, the second movement of Beethoven's Symphony #3, and/or Anton Bruckner's Symphony #9.
"To all and each of you: Muchas Gracias!" -- Luis.