Robert L. Perry

Robert L. Perry, 82, of Indianapolis, departed this life Monday, July 6, 2020. Bob (affectionately known as "Bobby") was born in Indianapolis to the late Harold Oliver and Margaret Bernice (Abbett) Perry on October 30, 1937. Bob's first love was basketball. He grew up playing neighborhood basketball with Oscar Robertson, whom he competed against when Oscar was at Crispus Attucks and Bob was at Shortridge High School. Bob was a 1955 graduate of Shortridge, where he had been a member of the freshman, reserve, and varsity basketball teams for the SHS Blue Devils. Adored by his classmates, Bobby was elected Senior Class Treasurer, as well as voted to receive Shortridge's honorary "Uglyman" title (most popular boy in school) his senior year. He attended Butler University where he was a member of Sigma Nu fraternity, graduating with a Business degree in 1961. Bobby was also a talented piano player--one who played by ear. He worked his way through college playing piano at Indianapolis' Melody Inn, where he frequently packed the house. Bob served his country in the U.S. Army National Guard of Indiana from 1959 to 1963. Bob was first married to Jackie Maxwell (Scanlon) from 1967 to 1987; they had two beautiful children, Robert and Julia ("Julie"). His second marriage was to Patty Cane (Dermody) Perry, whom he was with from 1989 until his death. They married in 2005, and Bob gained two step-children, Kristin and Kevin Cane, whom he deeply cared for during the 31 years he was in their lives. Following graduation from Butler, Bob started his 31-year career at State Life Insurance Company, retiring in 1992 at the age of 55 as Vice President of Policy Services / Special Markets. He was a proud Noble member of Murat Shriners, Indianapolis, a 32° Mason, Valley of Indianapolis Scottish Rite, and a Brother member of Centre Lodge #23 Grand Lodge F. & A.M. of Indiana. Bobby was an avid sports fan of all the Indianapolis teams: Indians, Pacers, Colts, and his beloved Butler Bulldogs. As a long-time Colts season ticket holder, he made close friends over the years with Colts fans from around the country, most of whom remain friends today. An avid Indianapolis 500 race fan, he once owned an official Plymouth Pace Car from the 49th running of the Indy 500 in 1965. Bob attended Butler basketball games as often as possible and enjoyed reuniting with former fraternity brothers and players during halftime. In 1995, Bob competed in the Indiana High School Basketball "Old Timers" game at Hinkle Fieldhouse, where once again, the Shortridge Blue Devils (made up of veteran players from SHS classes between 1954 and 1967) lost to the assembled team of Attucks legends. Bobby loved to travel, taking many wonderful trips around the U.S. and to several islands, plus Ireland and Italy. Bobby and Patty visited Las Vegas together over a dozen times during their 31 years together and even held their 2005 wedding ceremony there, surrounded by the many local friends they'd made there along with nearly a dozen Shortridge High School friends. Part of his retirement years, from 2007-2013, Bobby worked as a school bus attendant for special-needs children for Hamilton Southeastern Transportation. All of the many drivers he rode with loved his sense of humor and "Mr. Bobby," as they called him, loved to make the little children giggle, too. As Charles Darwin said, "a man's friendships are one of the best measures of his worth." In that regard, from his life-long friendships with Shortridge classmates, fellow-Indiana basketball pals, Sigma Nu and Butler buddies, to his State Life Insurance colleagues, Devon Country Club family-friends, and many HSE school district friends, Bobby died a wealthy, wealthy man. Many say he lit up any room he entered, and his crazy "Ivan the mad Russian" antics on the piano provided entertainment for not only friends and family over the years, but often the public whenever Bob walked into a bar or restaurant that had an open piano. One song would turn into several as the crowd would often beg for more. A true life of any party and quintessential family man, his children will always remember him as a doting dad, a wise mentor and coach, a humorous pal (Bob was a pretty funny guy!), a biggest fan and cheerleader, and a best friend. Bobby was fortunately able to live long enough to see his grandson Robert Michael graduate from Harvard University (Class of 2020) and also to watch his granddaughter Kathryn become a high school basketball star herself at Shenandoah High School, where this year, she enters her 4th year as a starting varsity point guard. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Richard "Dick" Abbett and sister-in-law Deloris "Deedee" (Ent) Abbett, and his uncle Herbert "Hartz" Perry. He is survived by his beloved wife Patty (Dermody) Perry, his loving children Robert (Amy) Perry of Greenville, Ohio and Julie (Ryan Johnson) Perry of Indianapolis, his step-children Kristin (Grant) Duncan of Valparaiso and Kevin (Christopher Leap) Cane of Chicago, and his wonderful grandchildren Robert Michael and Kathryn Perry, of whom he was incredibly proud, along with step-grandsons Tyler and Aaron Leveronne, and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews in the Perry - Forsyth - Abbett - Sanders family. Bob is also survived by his adoring sister Peggy Perry of Greenwood, whom friends often called his "twin sister," for even though 358 days apart in age, they were inseparable. Peggy likes to say he let her "tag along" all through life, from back during grade school, middle, and Shortridge High School days all the way through the many vacations she enjoyed with him in Myrtle Beach, Arizona, Las Vegas, Florida, and more as adults. Open visitation is from 12 to 2PM on Saturday, July 18 in the Gothic Chapel at Crown Hill Cemetery and anyone is invited to attend. Crown Hill attendants will allow people to cycle through, keeping the building at no more than 25 occupants at any given time. An invitation-only funeral service for 25 family members and close friends will be held at 2PM in the same location, with Randy Spleth, Senior Minister of Geist Christian Church officiating. The burial, also limited to 25 people, will follow at Crown Hill Cemetery at 3PM. Crown Hill currently requires masks and social distancing for all in attendance at the Visitation, Service, and Burial site. The family will limit hugging to prevent any possible spread of the COVID-19 virus among the people passing through. For those unable to attend the visitation hours due to health and safety concerns, Crown Hill will be streaming the 2PM funeral service using Facebook Live from their official Crown Hill Funeral Home and Cemetery Facebook page. Speakers will include Shortridge classmate Bob Stevenson (Class of '56), Butler classmate and former high school basketball rival Wally Cox (Broad Ripple, Class of '54), and Bob's daughter Julie (his "Little Ghoul"). In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given in Bob's name to the Alzheimer's Association Greater Indiana Chapter. The family of Bobby Perry wishes to extend our sincerest thanks to the entire staff at Story Cottage and Brookdale Hospice. "Life is like a piano. White keys are happy moments and the black ones are sad moments. Both keys are played together to give us the sweet music called Life." --Suzy Kassem