Obituary: Leo Albert Perry, 89, of Wallingford

WALLINGFORD, CT - (From Wallingford Funeral Home) Lucky, lucky Leo Albert Perry, (Self proclaimed!) cast his final line on Sunday, August 22, 2021 in Wallingford Connecticut.

Born in Milbury, Massachusetts on November 14, 1931 to Albert and Marie Elvina (Arsenault) Perry, moved to the Village of Wickford, Rhode Island when very young.

He was, as he told everyone he met, "A son of a B"...that "B" being barber. Leo was the husband of the late Paula (Moran) Perry for 49 years, or in "Leo" terms, hunting and fishing seasons. He answered an ad in Stars and Stripes Magazine for a pen pal, submitted by her friend, without her knowledge, and, well, the rest was history!

Leo was predeceased by his parents, an infant son, Joseph, sister Claire Perry, nephew Robert Perry, Jr, brother-in-law Raymond Puhl and sister-in-law Patricia Moran.

Very much a dog lover, he lost his last best canine grand-dog girlfriend Charlie in 2017. Most recently and tragically way before his time, he lost his long-time anchor in life and number one partner in everything fishing and hunting, William "Billy" Brown.

Leo is survived by his daughter, Suzanne, "Suzie" and her husband, Michael Simpson; their children Jessie, "The Jess", Piper (Kyle), and "Double Trouble", Patrick and Annie Simpson and his current canine girlfriend, Maggie, the youngest Simpson.

He is also survived by his sister Mary Irene Puhl of Maryland, his brother Robert Perry (Rosemary, aka, "His Rosie"), of Arizona; his sister Joan Ward (George), of Rhode Island and his brother from another mother, brother-in-law, James "Jay" Moran, of Massachusetts.

While Leo and Paula had just had Suzie, these siblings graciously produced Leo a "gaggle" of nieces and nephews, all of which he managed to keep track of and enjoy.

His youngest great nieces, his "three girls" in Rhode Island, Madalyn, Haleigh and Princess Aiofe, were his newest joys... And then there were the "Canadian Cousins"...A lot of them, and he knew and loved every one of them.

Special mention to his good friends (and their wives) who kept him in the loop when Billy had left him: Bob and Katie Tessetore and Ray and Lucy Erickson. They were a comfort; true and dear friends, literally to the end.

In addition to his biological family, Leo will be missed by the family friends and good neighbors he gathered during his and Paula's lifetime.

The Cronan, Reynolds, Hucul and Acker families-all Orchard Heights originals.

His life membership with the Wallingford Rod & Gun Club gave him great joy and a lifetime of stories, along with many friends to tell them to! He and Billy never missed a board or regular monthly meeting, scheduling their many travel adventures around the first Tuesday and the second Thursday of every month!

He enlisted at 17 and was a proud veteran of the Korean Conflict, serving on, according to him, the best ship in the Navy, the Hornet.

Somehow, he became the Secretary to the Admiral, and unlike many, ate like a king while in the service. Uniquely Leo, he spent his time during the Korean Conflict in Cuba and Puerto Rico!

Never did he pass a Veteran without thanking them for their service. In his eighties, he joined the American Legion and proudly wore the Blue Blazer and Cap. Right before his 88th birthday, he travelled with Suzie, Patrick, Jay and Catherine to Washington D.C. for Veterans Day-his last and most memorable trip.

He visited all of the memorials and monuments and spoke of how much it meant to him to be there and see it one last time.
He was loyal. After his 4 years serving in the Navy, he returned to Rhode Island and attended the Rhode Island School of Electronics.

He was hired by Harvey Picker himself in 1956 to fix his x-ray machines...he retired 45 years later. He helped facilitate the advent of the digital imaging technology revolution, serving through the birth of Ultra Sound, MRI and CAT Scan with Picker International.

In his time with Picker X-Ray/Picker International he traveled throughout Connecticut and New York installing, repairing and representing Picker to hundreds of hospitals. Paula always knew when it was an installation day; his dress shirt and usually his tie was covered with grease!

He was a proud member of I.B.E.W., New York Local #3. A member of Our Lady of Fatima Church since 1961, he was a proud member of the yearly Carnival Committee and the original Bingo Master

Leo spent his retirement years travelling with Paula; fitting in yearly hunting and fishing travels with Billy, Jack, Bob and Ray. Hunting and fishing trips with his friends, especially those where his brother Bob joined them, were his most treasured memories.

First and foremost, he was the Papa to his grandchildren. He attended every award ceremony, karate grading, concert, musical production and band competition...sometimes helping to build the musical production sets, frequently donating the props for the productions at Sheehan High School. Especially when "antlers" were called for in "all of" the decorating!

While suffering from memory loss later in his life, Leo never forgot his friends, family, (including the dogs!) and those that cared for him. The Wallingford Senior Citizen Center was a favorite place to hang out in his later years. His "pantomime" dancing was a hit with all his pals! His time at Masonic was blessed with Jane, Loren, Amelia, Miguel and Grant.

He may have forgotten a conversation, or an event, but he remembered, as Paula was known to say, what was important to him! He kept his signature sense of humor, his curiosity, his fantastic appetite and his love of conversation. He was a character, always a gentleman and well loved by all!

Visiting hours will be from 4:00 PM-7:00 PM, Friday, August 27th, 2021 at Wallingford Funeral Home, 809 North Main Street Extension, Wallingford.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, August 28th at 8:00 AM from the Wallingford Funeral Home; the funeral cortege will proceed to Our Lady of Fatima Church where during a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 9:00 AM.

Interment will be on Saturday Sept. 4th at The Rhode Island Veterans’ Cemetery, Exeter, Rhode Island at 11:30am.

Memorial donations in Leo's memory would be appreciated by: The Mark T. Sheehan Music Department, In honor of LEO PERRY, c/o Paige Sperry, 142 Hope Hill Road, Wallingford CT 06492.