Robert Perry

PERRY ROBERT PERRY Robert Perry, an engineer, businessman, and community activist, died at Bedford Court Retirement Community on November 14, 2008. Born in 1919 in Brooklyn, NY, he was the son of Emilio Perinovich and Michelena Iaccarino. He graduated in 1936 from Brooklyn Tech High School. He graduated in 1941 from Duke University School of Engineering, where he was selected a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Omicron Delta Kappa honorary fraternities, and served as president of the Engineering Society. He married the former Katherine Gillis from Defuniak Springs FL in 1942. She died in 2000. He served in the Army Air Corps in WWII in England and France. He rose to the rank of major by the age of 25, and was awarded the Bronze Star. He began his engineering career with Bethlehem Steel before moving to the Washington DC area and working for local structural steel fabricators. He settled with his family in the Four Corners area of Silver Spring in 1949. He was past-President of the PTAs of Four Corners Elementary School, Sligo Jr. High School, and Northwood High School. He founded Perry Steel Sales, a supplier of steel in the commercial construction business, in 1960, and was active there until he retired in 2004. He was past President of the Silver Spring Rotary Club and the Washington Area Association of Builders and Contractors. He was an active member and a former moderator of Christ Congregational Church in Silver Spring. He was a founder and President of Emergency Homes, an early supporter of affordable housing for the poor in Montgomery County. He was active in Shepherds' Table, a group that provides food for the homeless in Silver Spring. With his wife, he enjoyed travel and visited Europe many times, including his father's homeland of Yugoslavia and his mother's in Italy. He is survived by three sons, Stuart Perry of Alexandria, VA, Richard Perry of Reisterstown, MD, Mark Perry of Valrico, FL, daughter Laura Bartlett of Wilmington, NC, 14 grandchildren, and 6 great grandchildren. Memorial services will be conducted at 1 p.m.,Sunday, January 11, 2009 at Christ Congregational Church, 9525 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, Maryland 20901.