Morris Frank Perugini

Morris Perry Perugini of Portsmouth, RI, passed away on Thursday, May 12 at Rhode Island Hospital. He was born in Trenton, New Jersey, on September 10, 1917, where his parents settled after emigrating from Italy. His father was from the village of Scheggino in the province of Perugia and his mother, Santina Rossi, was from Campobasso. Perry and his late wife, Lucille, had three children. Perry was a graduate of University of Maryland. He proudly served 24 years military service in the US Army, where he attained the rank of Major before retiring in 1964. During WWII, he served in the Philippines and Okinawa with the Japanese occupation forces. He also was part of the occupation forces in Germany. Most of Perry s time in the Army was spent in an airborne unit as a paratrooper. In addition, he also served in Korea as part of the Peace Keeping Forces there. His last assignment was in Vicenza, Italy as a member of the Signal Corps. Perry taught Junior High mathematics in Brandon, Florida, before joining IBM. He worked on the Apollo Moon Shoot at Cape Kennedy. In 1971 he moved to New Jersey and started yet another career, this time in the Air Traffic Control system. Rhode Island became a new home in 1976, when he arrived in Newport to work in the Trident Submarine program. Although he left that position in 1983, Perry acted as a consultant until he finally retired in 1988. Perry served in many volunteer activities. He established the first computer lab for Rhode Island seniors at the Portsmouth Senior Center, and set up a similar one at the Middletown Senior Center. He volunteers at the Newport Hospital. He is also treasurer of the Portsmouth chapter of AARP. He also served with Meals on Wheels.Perry was passionate about music, and played multiple instruments. He was a member of the Island Senior Chorus serving as Master of Ceremony as well a performing. He was a volunteer with the Newport Music Festival for 30 years. Perry was a member of Forum Lodge Sons of Italy, and was active in the Newport Fiesta Italiana.He is survived by his long time friend and companion, Mary Ellen Blass, his daughter Linda Eccles and her husband Bernie, his son Mark Perugini, and daughter Karen Perugini, and daughter Patty Henricksen and her husband Dean. He is also survived by 6 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. Calling hours will be held on Monday May 16, 2011 from 4:00-7:00 in the Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Broadway, Newport.Funeral services will be held on Tuesday May 17, 2011 at 8am from the Memorial Funeral Home, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:00am in St. Lucy s Church, West Main Road, Middletown. Burial will be private.Memorial donations may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project 4899 Belfort Rd. Suite 300 Jacksonville Fl, 32256.