James E. Perry, 80

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — James E. Perry, 80, passed peacefully in the early hours of Saturday, April 21, 2018, at Saint Vincent’s Hospital in Bridgeport.  He was born on Oct. 28, 1937, in Laconia, New Hampshire, to James Eugene Perry and Jesse Clark Perry.

Following his graduation from Laconia High School in 1955, Jim (as he was known to family and friends), gained considerable notoriety competing in water ski tournaments all over the Eastern Region on the United States. “Jumping Jim,” as he was known locally, held several regional distance records and was ranked nationally for a period of time in the early ’60s.  In 1963, he moved his family to Bridgeport to take a position with Sikorsky Aircraft, where he worked for almost 30 years.

He is survived by his children, Stephanie Peterson of Monroe; Sandra Zalik and husband Steven of Stratford; Scott Perry of Shaftsbury, Vermont; James Perry of Monroe; and Derek Perry of Cane Ridge, Tennesse; and his grandchildren, Jillian Savage and Jessica Peterson of Connecticut, Ethan and Maya Perry of Vermont, Gene and Michael Perry of Connecticut, and Henry and Hannah Perry of Tennessee.  His surviving siblings include brothers Charles Perry and William Perry, and sisters Lorraine Morin, Frances Zahn, Rebecca Roy and Teena Sturgeon. Jim was predeceased by two former wives, Patricia Perry (Dunlap) and Mary Perry (Pyenta), and by his sister Mary Brown.

There will be a Mass of Christian burial on Friday, April 27, at 9:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church in Laconia followed by a Christian burial at St Lamberts Cemetery.