Herbert Daniel Pearthree

What can you say about a 61-year-old man who died? That he was boyishly handsome and brilliantly intelligent. That he loved his “Dollface” and his sons, Ian and Danny (Chill Peach) and living life to its fullest. ---(with apologies to Erich Segal and his Love Story quote)

Herbert (“Herbie) Daniel Pearthree, age 61, of Cary, North Carolina passed away on Monday, September 5, 2022. Herbie was born July 27, 1961 in Havre de Grace, MD. Herbie graduated from Wilmar High School, MN in 1979 and from University of Florida in 1987.

Herbie was named after his Mom’s brother, Herbie Rowe, a WW II Army Aviator who perished in a training accident while shuttling an aircraft from its manufacturer to an unknown destination.

For the working record and LinkedIn followers, Herb was a retired IBM Distinguished Engineer a CTO with Continuous Availability ("Always On" business services platforms were his specialties). He was a renowned and universally respected IT Leader who had a number of roles at IBM encompassing all IT technologies involved in building and managing business web services, Internet infrastructures and methods.

But that is just a part of his life story.

Herbie’s self-description was far more colorful and accurate: “Ex-IT dweeb for a living, photographer, hiker, trekker, gardener, maker, and do-er of many things for fun. I cook whole foods and like to wander in nature, I talk to the animals and some talk back. I'm a cancer warrior, battling the beast while making the most out of every moment we all have together.”

Between Herbie’s several years of service to his country in the United States Navy and Herbie’s civilian role as an award-winning patent-owning scientist at IBM, Herbie traveled the world and there were not too many places Herbie had not visited, flown over, or floated to in his too-short, but eventful life.

But most notable about Herbie was his celebration of family and his joy in living life to its fullest with them. Regardless of his extensive travel schedule, Herbie spent significant time with sons Ian and Danny, whether it was in the Grayson Highlands on the Appalachian Trail at 0 degrees F or backpacking in the Uwharrie National Forest in NC or Kenya where both sons earned the title of Il Ngwesi Maasai Warriors, enduring the secret manhood ceremony. Perhaps two of his most memorable expeditions occurred when Herbie accompanied both sons to Philmont Scout Ranch hiking and camping in New Mexico.

And time with the love of his life. Affectionately and respectfully known as “Dollface” (the beautiful, loving life partner, Patty) and wife of 34 years, Herbie and Patty also traversed the globe and shared time at Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Kenya, Hot Springs NC, the Crystal Coast of North Carolina, his family cabin in his beloved state of Minnesota, or a favorite place in Islamorada, Florida.

Herbie is survived by his wife, Patty (aka “Dollface”); sons Ian and Danny; sisters, Francey Pearthree of Georgia, Kathleen Pearthree of Nevada, Jeanne Wilson of Florida.

Herbie was preceded in death by his parents, Francis LuVerne Pearthree and Ruth Rosalind Rowe Pearthree; his older brother, James Stephen Pearthree (Steve); and his older sister, Beth Pearthree Albertson.

As a final note to a life well-lived, Herbie openly and proudly chronicled his cancer journey by writing a diary with frequent entries (or a blog, as technoids would call it) entitled WHY NOT SMILE at WhyNotSmile.org and ended every entry with “Keep Smiling My Friends.” And that pretty much captured everything about Herbie’s approach to life and death. Herbie named his disease “lionfish” and reveled in pushing the boundaries of science during his battle. Herbie endured the “kitchen sink” of treatments and the “stormy seas” of recovery between all his chemo infusions, surgeries and medications with the heart of a warrior and the humor of a professional comedy writer. Herbie never let cancer limit his life, and that is reason enough to “keep on smiling my friends,” as Herbie would say.

A memorial service commemorating Herbie’s life will be held in Cary, North Carolina later in October.

Memorial contributions in Herbie’s memory may be made to Lewa.org .

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.BrownWynneCary.com for the Pearthree family.