Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory

James Ernest Perry of Mayo, MD died November 19, 2008 at Anne Arundel Medical Center of natural causes. Born January 30, 1923, Mr. Perry, a fifth generation Washingtonian, served in the Navy during WWII. While in the Navy, he helped pioneer development of the Navy carrier-based airborne early warning (AEW) radar. Following the war, he was employed at the Naval Research Laboratory, Optics Division, and was involved in the weapons testing program both in the United States and the Pacific Islands which resulted in the development of the hydrogen weapon. 


He spent his last years in government working at the Army Night Vision Laboratory where he was co-inventor of the common module concept in thermal imaging, which is still in use worldwide. He was also the U.S. Army representative to several NATO research study groups. 


Following his retirement from the government, he operated his own electro-optics consulting firm for 14 years. 


Mr. Perry was an electrical engineer and attended Texas A&M, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the George Washington University. 


He was past president of the Chevy Chase Lions Club, life member of the IEEE, member of the American Association for Advancement of Science, Society of Old Crows, American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. 


He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Thelma D. Perry of Mayo, MD; father of Consuelo Tippins Pisciotta of Bethesda, MD, James E. Perry, Jr. of Easton, MD and Albert B. Perry of Annapolis, MD; also survived by 6 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. He is predeceased by one granddaughter. 


Friends are invited to James' Life Celebration at the George P. Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Road, Edgewater, MD on Sunday, November 23 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Monday, November 24 at 10 am at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 29119 Point Lookout Road, Morganza, MD 20660. Interment will follow mass in the church cemetery. Please sign the guestbook using the link above.

James Perry

James Perry

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