June 19, 1927 - February 4, 2023
MASSEY, Perry Edward, Jr., age 95, formerly of Old Tappan, NJ (1956-1981), Calabasas, CA (1981-2019) and Pompton Plains, NJ (2019-2023), passed away peacefully on Saturday, February 4, 2023, at Peggy’s House Center for Hope surrounded by his loving family.
He is survived by his three children, Craig Lawrence Massey and his wife Marlene of Rio Grande, NJ, Bruce Allyn Massey and his wife, Lynn of Woodcliff Lake, NJ, and Barbara Leigh Massey of Hudson, NY, three grandchildren, Kate (Hain) Massey, Kevin Massey and Patrick Massey and four great grandchildren, Mira and Ezra Hain and Harrison and Julian Massey. He was predeceased by his loving wife of 65 years, Mona ‘Pam’ Lyght Massey, his parents, Perry E. Massey, Sr. and Marion Dean Massey, and his five siblings, Patricia (Nealon), Robert, John, William and Dean of which he was the eldest.
Perry was born and raised in Troy, NY. He graduated from Troy High School in 1945. Perry served in the US ARMY AIR CORPS. He got his start in radio while stationed at Craig Field in Selma, AL from 1945 -1946. He would go into town and do the announcing on a local radio station. Later, with help from the GI Bill, he took radio broadcasting courses at Emerson College in Boston and by 1948 had his own radio show on the local Boston Station. Perry received a Bachelor of Arts degree upon graduating in 1950.
Perry met the love of his life, Mona ‘Pam’ Lyght while at Emerson College. The couple graduated together in the spring of 1950 and were wed in the fall of the same year.
After graduation, Perry looked for work as an announcer at stations near his home in Upstate New York. He soon migrated to the Big Apple and got a job as a Page Boy at the NBC studios in 30 Rockefeller Plaza. He went on to become a stage manager, an assistant director and a producer during the 1950’s on The Milton Berle Show, Your Show of Shows with Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca and The Home Show with Hugh Downs and Arlene Francis. For almost 20 years he was a producer of The Tonight Show starring Jack Paar, and later with Johnny Carson. His late wife, Pam, appeared in the live television commercials with Hugh Downs on the Jack Paar Tonight Show.
Perry spent 41 years at NBC (31 in New York, 10 in Burbank, CA) working his way up the ladder to become Vice President of Network Programs Production by the time he retired. In 1991, he segued into a post-retirement job, joining the Screen Actors Guild, getting an agent and doing commercials and voiceover work. He worked for CBS and contributed to the creation of the Game Show Network.
Perry and his wife raised their family in Old Tappan, NJ where he was the President of the Board of Education for a number of years and served as an Elder at Trinity Reformed Church. Upon moving to Calabasas, CA in 1981 for his job, Perry stayed involved with the church, again serving as an Elder and a member of the choir. He coordinated a monthly Prime Timer’s entertainment event for the senior members of the congregation and was a key member of the ‘Fix It Crew” which became his new job after retirement in 1991.
While his career was both exciting and demanding of his time, as important to Perry were his family and friends. He was a devoted husband to his wife Pam and his priority in life was the time spent with their children, grandchildren and, in recent years, great grandchildren. Before returning to the East coast in 2019, Perry made annual trips to visit his family in New Jersey, Upstate NY and Vermont. Always playing the host, Perry set out to entertain you whenever he had the chance. His friends were considered an extension of his family and if ever in need, he generously gave his time to help others. Perry touched many lives in his 95 years and has left an indelible imprint in our hearts. He will be missed dearly and his memory will be cherished. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the American Heart Association, National Center, 7272 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, TX 75231 or www.heart.org.
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