Francis Noel Perry dies: in 1963, President John F. Kennedy appointed Francis for a special two month assignment with the Agency for International Development evaluating Peace Corps personnel



Francis Noel Perry dies: in 1963, President John F. Kennedy appointed Francis for a special two month assignment with the Agency for International Development evaluating Peace Corps personnel

OBITUARIES PERRY
Jan 19, 2005

Providence Journal Bulletin.

PERRY, FRANCIS NOEL, surrounded by family, Francis N. Perry died at his home in Bentley Village, Naples, FL, on January 17, 2005. Born and raised in Bristol, RI, he was the beloved husband of the late Marcia Gifford Perry, his high school sweetheart who he married in 1946. He was the son of the late Frank and Anna (August) Perry. He graduated from Bristol Senior High School in 1942 and the University of Rhode Island in 1946. He served in the US Marine Corps during WWII and the Korean Conflict. Francis moved to Amherst, NH, in 1967. He was the General Manager of Buttonwood Dairy in Warren RI in the 60s and early 70s, the President of the Rhode Island Milk Dealers Association from 1959 to 1960 and the President of Dairy Council of Southeastern New England in 1965.

During this time, he was active in the Bristol Rotary Club, serving as its President in 1964 and 1965. In NH, he remained active in the Rotary Club serving as its' President from 1978 to 1979 and District Chair in 1980. He received his 40 year pin in 2004 and was twice the recipient of the Paul Harris Fellowship Award which provides monetary scholarships to students studying abroad. Appointed by former Governor John H. Notte, he served as the Director of the Department of Agriculture and Conservation for the State of Rhode Island in 1961 and 1962. Francis was Chairman of the Bristol Fourth of July Parade in 1959 and 1960 and Chief of Staff for the parade in 1965.

He was Master of Ceremony for 15 years at the Amherst, NH July 4 festivities, from 1974 through 1989. Acting on the recommendation of Senator John Pastore of Rhode Island, in 1963, President John F. Kennedy appointed Francis for a special two month assignment with the Agency for International Development evaluating Peace Corps personnel. In 1967, Francis moved to Amherst NH to serve as the National Sales Director of Golden Guernsey Milk located in Peterborough, N.H. In 1971 he began his association with National Life Insurance Co. where he remained employed until 2004. During this time he served on various Boards and Councils in the insurance industry.

In 1988-89 he was President of the NH State Life Underwriters and in 1991 he earned the NH Association of Life Underwriters ``Distinguished Life Underwriter of the Year'' Award. From 1987 through 1990, he was a member of The Bean Foundation, a philanthropic organization in NH and served as its Chair in 1990. In 1988 he was a Board Member for the Milford, NH American Stage Festival. He was a Selectman in Amherst New Hampshire for 12 years serving as its Chair for three years. In 1991-92, he was the Amherst School Moderator. From 1972 through 2003 he was the Bail Commissioner in Amherst, N.H. Francis is survived by Marcia E. Perry of Naples, FL, Marklyn P. Champagne of East Greenwich, RI, F. Noel Perry of San Francisco Bay Area, Michaela Perry of York, ME, Elizabeth Morriss of Kamuela, HI, Lisa Franke of Jacksonville, FL and 12 grandchildren.

He is also survived by two sisters, Jane P. Castro and Anne P. O'Connell of Bristol, RI and the late Virginia Howard. Calling hours are Thursday evening, January 20th from 5-9 p.m. in the Smith & Heald Funeral Home, 63 Elm Street, Milford, NH. A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Friday at 10:00 am in St. Patrick's Church, 34 Amherst Street, Milford, NH. A graveside service with military honors will be held Saturday at 10:00 am in St. Mary's Cemetery, Bristol, RI. In lieu of flowers, one can remember Francis with a contribution to the Marcia Gifford Perry Scholarship Fund, care of The Milford Rotary Club, Box 618, Milford, NH, 03055.

This fund was established in the memory of Marcia and provides scholarships to musically talented and needy young adults to pursue their love of music. Smith & Heald Funeral Home, Milford, NH, is in charge of arrangements.

When this story was posted in January 2005, this was on the front page of PCOL:

Ask Not As our country prepares for the inauguration of a President, we remember one of the greatest speeches of the 20th century and how his words inspired us. "And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man."

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January 15, 2005: This Week's Top Stories Bellamy finishing term - Veneman to head Unicef 15 Jan 230 RPCVs volunteer for Crisis Corps 14 Jan Peace Corps Fund needs silent auction items 12 Jan Matt Gould in one-man Peace Corps show in Hollywood 12 Jan Taylor Hackford's "Ray" Nominated for Golden Globe 12 Jan Ambassador Johnson shares memories of Thailand 11 Jan Senator Dodd suggests PC return to Venezuela 11 Jan Ambassador Hull wants PC to return to Sierra Leone 11 Jan Poiriers unhappy with PC investigation of missing son 10 Jan Emile Hons reflects on the Deborah Gardner murder case 10 Jan Judge Paul A. Bastine criticized for stalling Divorce 6 Jan Volunteer Patricia D. Scatoloni dies in Macedonia 4 Jan more top stories...

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Coleman: Peace Corps mission and expansion Senator Norm Coleman, Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee that oversees the Peace Corps, says in an op-ed, A chance to show the world America at its best: "Even as that worthy agency mobilizes a "Crisis Corps" of former Peace Corps volunteers to assist with tsunami relief, I believe an opportunity exists to rededicate ourselves to the mission of the Peace Corps and its expansion to touch more and more lives."

RPCVs active in new session of Congress In the new session of Congress that begins this week, RPCV Congressman Tom Petri has a proposal to bolster Social Security, Sam Farr supported the objection to the Electoral College count, James Walsh has asked for a waiver to continue heading a powerful Appropriations subcommittee, Chris Shays will no longer be vice chairman of the Budget Committee, and Mike Honda spoke on the floor honoring late Congressman Robert Matsui.

Latest: RPCVs and Peace Corps provide aid Peace Corps made an appeal last week to all Thailand RPCV's to consider serving again through the Crisis Corps and more than 30 RPCVs have responded so far. RPCVs: Read what an RPCV-led NGO is doing about the crisis an how one RPCV is headed for Sri Lanka to help a nation he grew to love. Question: Is Crisis Corps going to send RPCVs to India, Indonesia and nine other countries that need help?

The World's Broken Promise to our Children Former Director Carol Bellamy, now head of Unicef, says that the appalling conditions endured today by half the world's children speak to a broken promise. Too many governments are doing worse than neglecting children -- they are making deliberate, informed choices that hurt children. Read her op-ed and Unicef's report on the State of the World's Children 2005.

Changing of the Guard With Lloyd Pierson's departure, Marie Wheat has been named acting Chief of Staff and Chief of Operations responsible for the day-to-day management of the Peace Corps. Although Wheat is not an RPCV and has limited overseas experience, in her two years at the agency she has come to be respected as someone with good political skills who listens and delegates authority and we wish her the best in her new position.

Our debt to Bill Moyers Former Peace Corps Deputy Director Bill Moyers leaves PBS next week to begin writing his memoir of Lyndon Baines Johnson. Read what Moyers says about journalism under fire, the value of a free press, and the yearning for democracy. "We have got to nurture the spirit of independent journalism in this country," he warns, "or we'll not save capitalism from its own excesses, and we'll not save democracy from its own inertia."

RPCV safe after Terrorist Attack RPCV Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley, the U.S. consul general in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia survived Monday's attack on the consulate without injury. Five consular employees and four others were killed. Abercrombie-Winstanley, the first woman to hold the position, has been an outspoken advocate of rights for Arab women and has met with Saudi reformers despite efforts by Saudi leaders to block the discussions.

Is Gaddi Leaving? Rumors are swirling that Peace Corps Director Vasquez may be leaving the administration. We think Director Vasquez has been doing a good job and if he decides to stay to the end of the administration, he could possibly have the same sort of impact as a Loret Ruppe Miller. If Vasquez has decided to leave, then Bob Taft, Peter McPherson, Chris Shays, or Jody Olsen would be good candidates to run the agency. Latest: For the record, Peace Corps has no comment on the rumors.

The Birth of the Peace Corps UMBC's Shriver Center and the Maryland Returned Volunteers hosted Scott Stossel, biographer of Sargent Shriver, who spoke on the Birth of the Peace Corps. This is the second annual Peace Corps History series - last year's speaker was Peace Corps Director Jack Vaughn.

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