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Valley leaders mourn death of Perry
TweetBy LINDA M. LINONIS
YOUNGSTOWN
Dr. Earnest Perry
Dr. Earnest Perry of Liberty, a surgeon, community leader and former Youngs-town State University trustee, died Monday. He was remembered by friends and colleagues as a humanitarian with a deep interest in helping his community.
“Dr. Perry was an important part of the YSU family. He will be greatly missed by us all,” said YSU president Dr. Cynthia E. Anderson.
“As a student, alum, trustee and unwavering supporter of the university, Dr. Perry always made the students of YSU his top priority,” she said.
“On behalf of the entire university, I want to express my deepest sympathy to his family.”
A lifelong friend who grew up with Dr. Perry on the South Side, Jimmy Willis is vice president of the Oak Hill Athletic Club, where Dr. Perry was president. “We were like brothers,” the 72-year-old Willis said of his friend, who he said was 74.
“He will be remembered for his kindness,” Willis said. “He was a great man and this is a great loss to the community.”
Willis said Dr. Perry was instrumental in the scholarship program, sponsored by the club and L.E. Black Phillips and Holden Funeral Home.
The Rev. Dr. Steven A. Jackson, pastor of St. Andrewes African Methodist Episcopal Church, said Dr. Perry was a long-time member of the church. “There are no words to describe what St. Andrewes has lost with Dr. Perry’s death,” the Rev. Dr. Jackson said.
“There’s only one Dr. Perry in a generation,” the pastor said. “You can’t replace a Dr. Perry.”
Dr. Jackson described Dr. Perry as a “great guy who loved his family, church and community ... he helped both blacks and whites in the community.”
The Rev. Lewis Macklin, pastor of Holy Trinity Missionary Baptist Church and president of ACTION (Alliance for Congregational Transformation Influencing Our Neighborhoods), described Dr. Perry as a role model, mentor, ally and his physician.
“He had a gentle and quiet strength,” the Rev. Mr. Macklin said. “He never forgot his humble beginnings and gave back to the community.”
Dr. Perry always had an anecdote or story to share that would enlighten or encourage, Mr. Macklin said.
“He would sometimes call me just to offer words of encouragement,” he recalled.
Mr. Macklin also described Dr. Perry as a local humanitarian who was “vested in the community.”
“He left an indelible impression in the community,” he said.
Willie Oliver, president of the Youngstown Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People from 1988-2008, said Dr. Perry “supported the NAACP in its efforts in the community."
As a life member of the NAACP, Oliver said Dr. Perry was always open to discussing concerns and issues in the community. “He was very much a community leader," Oliver said. “He was very interested and supportive of people and projects in the community.”
Oliver said people sought out Dr. Perry for his take on concerns and issues.
Dr. Perry graduated from South High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in1959 at YSU. He then graduated cum laude from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, and served an internship and residency in surgery at Youngstown Hospital Association (now Forum Health). He was an associate professor of surgery at Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine.
Comments
I wish to send the family of Dr. E. Perry my deepest and heart felt sympathy in the passing of Dr. Perry. I believe that God used Dr Perry twice to save my Life . The first time was in 1984 when I had a Pulmonary Imbolisim and again in 1992 when the Chief Surgeon at South Side Hospital did not realize that my stomach was full of blood from a cyst that had ruptured. I Thank God for the Life of Dr. Perry and this community has lost a Great Man.
It is with great sadness and a void to not only our community but others as well that Dr. Perry has left us. However, he did not leave us alone, he left us with a legacy of commitment, preserverance, and compassion. He was and will always be remembered as Dr. Perry, the man with a listening ear and compassionate heart for not only African-Americans, but ALL people. He Loved what he did... healing the sick, whether physically or spiritually and helping to make the world a better place through all of his years of contributions. He will be truly missed, but his character and name will never be forgotten. With Sympathy to his family and friends, Sincerely, Veronica Owens. Youngstown, Ohio
My most sincere condolences go to the Perry family,..
Where many knew him as Dr. Perry, and I had the personal pleasure and privilege to had known him as both Dr. and Mr. Perry.
He along with his loving wife whom was an exceptional school teacher in her own right are wonderful beings.
For which his insight was pivotal in my youthful development.
In a way of reflection where I'm saddened to hear of Dr. Perry's passing. I'm honored to have had the great honor and privilege to have been taught by Dr. & Mrs. Perry.
Along with having been taught by Dr. Ragland, congressman Carney, Dr, Burroughs, Dr. Dabney, DS's, Pievo and Corbett.
Amidst a host of an array of other skilled and unskilled laborers that included school teachers, pharmacists, policeman, welders, machinists and even handymen.
I'm forever grateful for their time and acceptably enjoying. That as a inner city kid on a quest and throughout my advancing development. I'd always admired and in fascination of what they did and knew. I wanted and needed to learn from them and they embraced teaching me.
Along with my parents, siblings and assortment of family and friends that taught me so much. It's those like Dr. Perry, that were, are and forever will be pivotal in making sure that I knew and will never stray from the fact that learning is akin to the paramount platform of knowing.
Where in ones works and pursuit of obtaining the gifts of knowledge aren't mine to selfishly horde. But unselfishly share and develop and advance the knowledge and awareness of those whom are equally in pursuit of making a positive difference.
By the time for college I'd already been taught so much and so well by those individuals. That my future proctors were more peers and colleagues than mentors.
It's people like Dr. Perry, whom prepared me to be more than ready for the world. No matter what venue or corner of the globe I ventured and I'm forever grateful.
He's also special to me because I learned from him and all those others right here in Youngstown and with a public education augmenting it.
Where upon encounter and introduction and I informed them from where I hail from. It's routine for people to had / have no idea a unknown and obscure little place like Youngstown even existed.
For which the faces and various words of Dr. Perry and all those others always and will continue to flash before my eyes being so emblazoned in my mind, heart and thought process as impact individuals.
Where mere words can't express the love, respect, gratitude and appreciation I have for Dr. and Mrs. Perry and those others.
I almost feel inadequate merely saying rest in peace Dr. Perry, and I'm assured the creator is exceptionally pleased with the work you were sent and chose to do and how so graciously you delivered.
I am so sad to read this. I moved away to Florida 2 years ago but I was an RN at South Side Hospital for 15 years before it closed. The previous comments say it so well. There is only one "EP" in a lifetime I am honored to have worked with him and to have known him.What a loss to the Youngstown Community.
I was a high school classmate of his. We didn't run around in the same social circles, but he was a nice, cheerful person, well liked by his fellow class members. Even in those teen years, I sensed he would be "somebody" in the Youngstown community. And that he was. My condolences to his family and the Youngstown community.
Becoming a physician is in it's own right, an accomplishment of note. Then, to rise to positions of high reputation in Youngstown area medical community added additional luster to his professional career. Then to become a Trustee of our university, would be a fitting capstone for anyone's career, medical or otherwise.
Finally, I would say this gentleman was a fitting role model for all of our children to emulate. That, he most certainly was.
I'm honored to have known Dr. Perry! He always had time to say "hello" or answer a question. My sympathies to his family! We have all lost someone special!!
Dr Perry was indeed a great man, I remember when I had to have surgery and I said , no one was going to do this except Perry.With Deepest Sympathy to the family. May you have nothing but beautiful memories.
my dearest mrs.Perry,
may God continue to bless you and your faimly to have had you as my leader shows blessed tributes to have been a connection to the late Dr.Perry. as you will always be his second half. you like everyone else deserves to be reconized for being such a dedicated wife/life long partner to one the the most respected african/american men in our hystory, you were and outstanding Teacher, today i am 43yrs old and you will never be fogotten, especially as my only first grade teacher in the terms of the great mrs.Perry "READ WHAT YOU SEE NOT WHAT YOU THINK YOU SEE" I want to thank you for the Love i just hope that you remember me as i remember you THANK YOU MRS.PERRY. mabey im lost but never will forget you,
LOVE ALWAYS,
NECHELLE THOMAS-WHITMORE
I wish to sent my deepest and heart felt sympathy to the Perry Family.My Family are keeping you guys up in prayer,Dr.Perry will be missed by all of us he was a great man and a major asset to the community.I thank God for Dr.Perry being in are Life. Kevin Griffin and Family
A Tribute to Dr. Ernest Perry
"The Hands of A Man"
Always gentle, always calming through situations sometimes quite alarming. A spoken word so tenderly said, calming our fears as tho nothing to dread.
Looking at us, the last face to see, smiling reassurances, as we were put to sleep.
The precision with which the skillful hands moved, was not ours to view but the healing process as he watched over us sometimes made us feel brand new.
Of course we'll miss the man and his hands. No one could take his place. His memory will forever linger. For God used him through His "Amazing Grace"
The gentle but strong hands given to him were a gift from God. Now he raises them high, in a hallelujah praise. A spiritual resident, where angels trod.
By Clara Ballinger Wilson