Dr. Jerome John Perry Sr.

Jerome John Perry, 81, of Raleigh, died Tuesday, May 17, following a brief illness. Jerome was born in Wilkes Barre, PA, son of Joseph James and Freida Reisch Perry. He earned his B.S. from Pennsylvania State University, and his Ph.D. from the University of Texas. Jerome was Professor Emeritus of Microbiology at North Carolina State University. Dr. Perry's major research interests included metabolism of gaseous alkanes, co-oxidation, and bioremediation. He co-edited the book "Introduction to Environmental Toxicology", and co-authored the textbook "Microbial Life". He also served for ten years as Placement Committee Chairman of the American Society for Microbiology.

As a long-time member of USA Track and Field and The Athletics Congress of the United States, Jerome officiated at many local, regional, national, and international track meets, including both the 1984 (Los Angeles) and 1996 (Atlanta) Summer Olympic Games, and the 1990 Goodwill Games (Seattle). His charitable interests included Historic Williamsburg, the Raleigh Fine Arts Society, and the Wedgwood Society of New York. Jerome was a Kentucky Colonel, and a member of the Carolina Country Club. He will be remembered for his passion for gardening, and for his love of family and friends.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Elizabeth White Perry; daughter Marianne Perry Wilkerson, her husband, Charles William Wilkerson, Jr., and their son Neil William Wilkerson, of Los Alamos, NM; son Jerome John Perry, Jr.; brother William Hugh Perry, and his wife Priscilla, of Dallas, PA; sister-in-law Marianne White Green, and her husband Willard Russell Green, of Midland, TX; brother-in-law Frank Gregory White, Jr., and his wife Susanne Peissel White, of Houston, TX; numerous nieces and nephews; and many loving friends and colleagues.

A memorial service will be held at 1pm on Tuesday, May 24th, at Christ Episcopal Church, 120 East Edenton Street Raleigh, with the family receiving friends in the parish hall following the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Christ Church/Clark Grew Health for the Homeless Project, or to the charity of one's choice.

Arrangements by Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 300 Saint Mary's St. Raleigh, NC, (919) 828-4311