Robert Charles Perry

10-21-1931 to November 29, 2012

Robert Charles Perry was born in Houston, Texas to Henry Alfred Perry and Consuelo Elena Mauermann Perry.

Growing up learning to sail with his father and older brother he developed a love of sailing that would last all his life. He attended St. Thomas High School in Houston but graduated from Jesuit High School in Dallas in 1949. Following in his brother's footsteps, he attended college in California at Santa Clara University and subsequently returned to the University of Texas at Austin. After two years of college, he followed a call to service, joining the southern province of the Society of Jesus in 1951, living in Grand Coteau, Louisiana, Mobile, Alabama, and Saint Mary's, Kansas. As a Jesuit he gave his life to service at the same time received the gift of an education that would benefit him all his life, and for which he would be forever grateful. His studies as a Jesuit seminarian brought insight and curiosity to his life, his career and to those he knew.

Upon leaving the Jesuit order, he returned to graduate school at the University of Texas at Austin to obtain his Master's Degree. Bob taught in San Antonio at Our Lady of the Lake College and at Christopher College in Corpus Christi. Moving to Boulder Colorado he spent time mountain climbing, sailing on Lake Dillon, biking, teaching Spanish at the University of Boulder at Denver where he made life long friends while pursuing his doctorate in Spanish.

His aunt, a historian and archivist, encouraged him to travel to Mexico City to research and defend an author with roots in Northern Mexico similar to his parents, Alfonso Reyes. He obtained a Fulbright scholarship to write his dissertation "The Mexicanism of Alfonso Reyes". His years of writing and research were consistent with his doctoral studies, taking years of study and careful planning and time spent enjoying life in Mexico City and travel throughout Mexico. He spent significant time with his mother's family in Monterrey, whom he loved and cherished. Upon graduation from the University of Colorado at Boulder, Bob moved back to Texas to teach Spanish at Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos. He enjoyed the role of professor and engaging students in their study of language and literature. He taught and lived in central Texas where his family of varied roots, English, Spanish, Mexican and German, had settled at the turn of the century as a result of revolution in Mexico. In retirement he taught Lifetime Learning courses, on scope and sequence of the history of Mexico through the lens of the Nobel Prize winner Octavio Paz, drawing on family history to augment his lessons.

After 27 years of being an uncle to his two nephews and a niece, he married and had a daughter. He leaves a legacy of family history and generosity to his daughter Elena and son-in-law Tony. A loving father and giving and dedicated friend, his loss leaves a gaping hole and at the same time joy and a grateful heart knowing he is experiencing that most complete peace with those who have gone before.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. with a Rosary at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 5, 2012 at Weed-Corley-Fish North Lamar Chapel.

A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 6, 2012 at St. Theresa Catholic Church, 4311 Small Drive. Interment will be held in San Antonio

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, 1321 El Paso St., San Antonio, Texas 78207 and/or The Flatwater Foundation, http://flatwaterfoundation.org/, 4404 Travis Country Cir, Unit 11, Austin, TX 78735.