Terry W. Perkins
Terry W. Perkins was born on March 19, 1936, in Cleveland, and died on Sept. 9, 2024, in Chardon.
Terry grew up in Chardon and graduated from Chardon High School in 1953. He attended Ohio University, where he graduated in 1957 with a degree in journalism.
Terry’s first job out of college was with the Geauga Record in Chardon. He left the Geauga Record to become City Editor for The News Herald. After a few years at The News Herald, he moved to New York City, where he began a 35-year career as an editor with Scholastic Magazine. Terry finished his career as editor of Peter Li Publishing, where he worked for another 10 years.
After retiring at the age of 78, he spent another four years working part-time for the City of New York.
One of Terry’s favorite memories from his career was while working at the Chardon newspaper. In 1959, while campaigning for president, Senator John F. Kennedy and his wife, Jackie, made a campaign stop at The Chardon Maple Festival. At a reception for the senator, Jackie was standing alone so Terry asked if she needed anything. Jackie said she was worried about Jack, claiming he often forgets to eat. He suggested she make Jack a sandwich from the buffet, but Jackie didn’t feel she could do that, so Terry took the initiative. He made two cheese sandwiches on white bread, wrapped them in cocktail napkins and handed them to Jackie who put them in her pocket. Years later, he heard through a colleague that Kennedy had actually eaten the cheese sandwich he made.
As the reporter assigned to cover the story, Terry took many pictures of the Kennedys that day. Four of those pictures have hung on the wall of his apartment for decades.
Terry called New York City home for nearly 60 years. He loved the city and everything it had to offer, especially the theater. Terry saw nearly every show produced on Broadway from 1963 onward — some more than once — in addition to many off-Broadway productions.
He moved back to Chardon in 2023.
After retirement Terry became interested in genealogy and spent many hours tracing his family tree as far back as The Mayflower and John Alden on his mother’s side and back to the 1300s on the Perkins side.
Terry was preceded in death by his parents, “Tiny” and Mildred Cole Perkins; niece Debbie Elder Hart; grand-niece Tifany Hart; and his close friend, Stephen Sallade.
He is survived by his sisters, Becky Elder (Bill Swirles), of Lake Lure, N.C., and Bonnie Pisching (Glenn), of Chardon; nieces Lori Bachand (Doug), of New Underwood, S.D., Randi Elder, of Cleveland, Kim Adams (Jamie), Huntsburg Township, Traci Truax (Brian), of Lewis Center, Ohio; nephew, Glenn Pisching, of Lyndhurst; great-nephews, Casey Bachand (Cari), of Kadoka, S.D., Kyle Bachand (Jaymie), of Philip, S.D., Nick Adams (Anna), of Cleveland, Chad Owen, of Cleveland, and Noah Truax, of Lewis Center; great-nieces, Jill Umbright (Jake), of Campbell, Ohio, Cori DeGeest (Luke), of Rapid City, S.D., Shelby Owen (Jack Ellis), of Cleveland Heights, and Faith Truax, of Lewis Center; and seven great-great-nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, at Pilgrim Christian Church, 202 South Hambden St., Chardon.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations may be sent to Hospice of the Western Reserve, 17876 St. Clair Av., Cleveland, OH 44110.
Arrangements entrusted to Burr Funeral Home in Chardon. Information and condolences online at www.burrservice.com.
