Cecilia Perry

After graduating from Marywood College in Pennsylvania, Cecilia attended New York University and the University of Madrid, receiving an M.A. degree from New York University in 1973. After living in Madrid for two years studying Spanish, Spanish classical guitar, and teaching English, she moved to Boston, where she taught Spanish for three years. She moved to Washington DC in 1976.

In Washington, she worked at the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC), a national anti-hunger group. In 1985, Cecilia worked for the District Of Columbia Government, and in 1990, attended District of Columbia School of Law, graduating in 1993. After law school, she worked at the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) in the Public Policy Department, specializing in social welfare policy. She also served on the legal team of the Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign. Cecilia supported her husband’s efforts to establish a Labor Party by volunteering her time writing policy papers, providing administrative and moral support, and serving as parliamentarian at their conventions.

After retiring from AFSCME, she volunteered supervising law students at UDC David A. Clark School of Law providing legal services to homeless Veterans through a program operated by Veterans First. She also volunteered at the DC Superior Court Probate Court Resource Center and at the Mary’s Center.

Cecilia came of age during the 1960’s during the fight for civil rights, women’s rights, labor rights, welfare rights, immigrant rights and anti-war protests. She continued throughout her lifetime fighting for social and economic justice. More recently she participated in many of the DC protests again the Genocide in Gaza.

She is survived by stepchildren Nancy L. Kasen (David Parrish) and Leslie B. Kasen (Steven Balnis); grandchildren Dianna K. Ritchie, Jessica S. Ritchie, Robert M. Kasen and Jackson W. Kasen; sisters Catherine Perry-Thibault (Martin Thibault), and Deborah Perry (William Kanarek); nephews Stephen G. Strasser, Jack P. Kanarek (Belle Henry), Rowdy P. Kanarek, Steven Gurton and Marc Gurton (Jim Kieley); sister-in-law Carole Gurton (Barry Brenin); cousin Mary Jo Gallagher; many cousins and her dearest and closest friend Patricia K. Wheeler.

A memorial service will be held at Devol Funeral Home, 2222 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC on May 3, 2025 at 10:00 AM. The services will be live streamed here: https://www.youtube.com/live/Sr0Y-rTRMvk

Contributions can be made to: Friendship Place, 4713 Wisconsin Avenue NW Washington DC 20016.