Arthur PERRY

10 MAR 1934 - 22 MAY 2015

• BIRTH: 10 MAR 1934, South Bend, IN
• DEATH: 22 MAY 2015, South Bend, IN

• MARRIAGE: 6 JUL 1957, St Joseph County, Indiana

INDEX

[N29095] Arthur J Perry

Birth 10 Mar 1934
South Bend, IN

Death 22 May 2015 (aged 81)
South Bend, IN

Burial
Highland Cemetery
South Bend, St. Joseph County, IN
Memorial ID 146878477

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Arthur J. Perry, 81, left this world peacefully and finally pain-free on May 22, 2015. Anyone who knew Art knew that he was a man of many incredible talents, not the least of which was his ability to defy the odds and survive even the most dire of diagnoses for the last 12 years.

Art Perry was an intelligent, charming, well-read, and well-respected man in the community. During his 50+ years of service as an attorney, he also held several positions with local organizations, including the St. Joseph County Public Library, the Knights of Columbus, Chet Waggoner Little League, the ICCL, and more. He was dedicated to making sure that life was better for those around him. This was never more true than during his 30+ years as a softball and baseball coach for both Chet Waggoner and Corpus Christi School. Much to the chagrin of many of his players' parents, he was the type of coach who believed in giving every kid a chance to play and learn the game, not just the ones who could help the team win. In fact, of all of the things he missed during his retirement, he missed coaching the most.

It was during his retirement that he poured all of his energy into coaching his two favorite teams, The Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Chicago White Sox. Of course, he did this from the comfort of his home, but with no less enthusiasm than one would expect from the coach on the field. There's no telling how many more games and championships his teams would have won had they actually heard and listened to his advice.

His entire life, he was a coach, a mentor, a provider, and the voice of reason (oftentimes a devil's advocate) for his family. Surviving him is his loving and devoted wife of more than 55 years, Theresa M. Perry; his daughters, Sheryl L. Perry, Michelle P. Gregor (John), Kimberly S. Perry, and Trisha A. Perry; his sons, Christopher A. Perry (Patricia) and Daryn J. Perry; and his grandchildren, Nicholas DeBoer, Ryan DeBoer, Jamie Gregor, Jonell Gregor, Brady Ruffing, C.J. Ruffing, and Bridget Perry. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Norman Perry and David Perry, and one son, Brian F. Perry.

He was a graduate of South Bend Catholic and received his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Notre Dame. In addition to his love of sports, especially baseball, Art had a passionate affinity for Old Time Radio programs, country music, the Sunday comics, the Stock Market, classic television, American history, and almost every kind of food known to man. It can easily be said that Art Perry was a "foodie" before being a "foodie" was even a thing.

To know him was to love him, as his often ornery and cantankerous nature was a truly acquired taste. He was proud to be the dictionary definition of a curmudgeon. His life experiences and his vast knowledge made him a learned and respected counselor, even if you didn't want to hear what he had to say, as he was always known to speak his mind and never sugarcoat anything. He spent his final years teaching valuable lessons to those around him about the comfort qualities of different pillows, the enhancing flavor of store-bought ice, the joys of a well-made Reuben casserole, the entertainment value of the DVR, and the importance of supporting your local public library. His presence will be sorely missed, but his legacy will not be forgotten.

The family would like to thank the caring staff of the SJRMC Visiting Nurses and Fresenius Nephrology, Inc., as well as the dedicated service of Prompt Ambulance. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, May 26th from 4-8 P.M. at Kaniewski Funeral Home, 3545 N. Bendix Drive, South Bend, IN. Rosary will be prayed at 7:30 P.M. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 A.M. Wednesday, May 27th at Corpus Christi Church in South Bend. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association or Corpus Christi Parish.

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Name Arthur Perry
Sex Male
Residence Place So Bend, Ind
Birth Date 10 Mar 1934
Birthplace South Bend, Indiana
Race White
Number of Previous Marriages 1
Father's Name James Perry
Father's Sex Male
Mother's Name Mary Mirocha
Mother's Sex Female
Spouse's Name Theresa Gadaz
Spouse's Sex Female
Certifier's Name Casimir J Pajakowski
Marriage Place St. Joseph, Indiana, United States