Thom Perry

Thom Perry Obituary

We lost a wonderful person when Thom died on August 7, 2016. Thom was many things to so many people but in his mind he was first & foremost a loving and nurturing father to Zac (Nicole), grandfather to Marion & Logan, life partner to Pippa & brother to Susie & Joan.

Over the course of many teaching years he was able to steer those who came through his classroom in directions to help them carve out new lives. To some he was a mentor, to others an engaging teacher, and sometimes simply a friend to sit with & tell stories or listen to music, commiserate over troubles & woes, as well as share in happiness.

Thom engaged in life to the fullest. He embraced new challenges, reveled in music of all genres, investigated and explored many cuisines and as a true printer, surrounded himself with a library covering topics from gardening to printing to nutrition to the mysteries of life.

He loved good stories and those with a sensibility for tale telling always captivated him.

He was a kind, loving, gentle and giving man who exemplified these qualities to his last breath. He will be sorely missed by those who knew and loved him. May his soul dance on the breeze as it gently brushes the tips of flowers and soars to the clouds floating above us. Keep him in your heart as he would you in his.

There will be a celebration of Thom’s life

Sunday September 11th, 2016

2 – 6 pm

Metzger Park – Pat Whiting Hall

8400 SW Hemlock Street, 97223

If you would like to remember Thom with a donation please do so at one of the following:

sistersoftheroad.org

getsmartoregon.org

nutritionfacts.org

Celebration of Life

2:00pm – 6:00pm ,Sunday, September 11, 2016
Metzger Park – Pat Whiting Hall
8400 SW Hemlock Street Portland, Oregon 97223

Services

You can still show your support by sending flowers directly to the family, or by planting a memorial tree in the memory of Thom Perry

Plant a tree in memory of Thom

3 replies on “Thom Perry”

Portland Community College
Posted: September 4, 2016 | Last Revised: September 4, 2016

Thom was significant in my life as the good instructor he was when I attended Portland Community College in the 70s. I met as I progressed through many fundamental courses seguing into Creative Writing which lead, through Gene Whitney, to the creation of the student literary magazine Alchemy, I being both a contributor of poetry to it & also an editor. Thom’s printing class at the time handled the processing of all of that material as part of their real life experience with printing a book. And I was the “client” watching over it. It was a glorious & exhilarating time overall because of the fullness of the experience for so many of us.

I also took Thom’s computer/typesetting class there learning Pagemaker for the first time. Through this plus specific graphics programs with Bud Cadwell I became proficient enough with grahic layout & design that I was able to enter into the professional world, & then return as a part-time instructor myself in those skills. A time of great richness & enthusiasm by so many instructors pulling together.

Thom was also a very nice man, & I am pleased to have known him.

We remember Thom…
In the rising of the sun and in its going down
In the blowing of the wind and in the chill of winter,
In the opening of buds and in the rebirth of spring
In the rustling of leaves and the beauty of autumn
In the beginning of the year and when it ends,
When we are weary and in need of strength,
When we are lost and sick of heart
When we have joys we yearn to share,
So long as we live, Thom too shall live,
For Thom is now a part of us,
As we remember him.

love Marlise and Dave

At Portland Community College few people were as hard-working and dependable as Thom Perry. In the 1980s, he provided the Creative Writing program with posters to advertise the novelists and poets who came to PCC to do readings every terma€”which meant designing the poster, arranging for typesetting, screening the photo that had been mailed to us, and preparing plates to run on the press. Thom did all this in his “spare” time on campus, without compensation.

Thom also helped me immensely in teaching the Alchemy editing and publishing class, talking to students and providing them tours of his prepress operation, showing and explaining mechanicals, halftones, color separation, stripping, and plate-making. With the introduction of PageMaker and InDesign in the 1990s, he generously spent time bringing me up to speed and troubleshooting difficulties my students ran into with our publications. He seemed to be always available. His literary background made him particularly sensitive to the interplay between design and content.

Thom’s hiking of the Pacific Crest Trail long before it was popularly known demonstrated some of his spirit of adventure, with tales of hiking in hot, dry California mountains long into the evening to be able to reach water. As a master gardener he could offer competent advice on all kinds of plants. And he was generous with his time in working as a volunteer for the butterfly exhibit at the Oregon Zoo. Thom was a complete human being, with qualities worthy of our admiration.