Fred Thomas Perry

Fred Thomas Perry

Age 82, went home to be with the Lord on January 14th, 2021. Born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1938, he was one of six children of Frank and Grace Perry and beloved father to Carita, Rachelle and Juliette.

After graduating from Collinwood High School in 1957, Fred discovered his love and devotion for the Baha’i Faith. This led him to embark on a spiritual pioneering journey to Finland where he met and married Tuula and they had one daughter, Carita.  While in Finland, he graduated from the University of Helsinki in 1974 with a Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition. During his time in Finland, Fred travelled all over Europe singing with his own blues/jazz band named Freddy del Rio. When his parents became ill, Fred returned to the United States to help care for them and several years later met and married Judith Kulbis and had two daughters, Rachelle and Juliette. Fred had a lifelong love of learning and went on to earn a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Baldwin Wallace College as well as obtaining his License in Social Work. He used his passion for helping others in the community throughout his work at the Cleveland Metropolitan Housing Authority and taught for over a decade in the Cleveland Public School District.  Affectionately known as “Mr. Sunshine”, Fred was a wonderful, kind, caring and compassionate man who was always in an optimistically good mood. If you asked him how he was doing, his favorite reply was “Just taking it one day at a time”.  In addition to learning, he greatly loved his family, his Faith, classic cars, of which he owned several, and listening to his mother’s beautiful singing voice.

Fred was preceded in death by: parents, Frank and Grace Perry (nee Nolligan); brothers, Freed Ahmad and Cornell Perry; sister, Kingehmo Perry; niece, Gloria; nephew, Craig Perry. He is survived by: daughters, Carita, Rachelle and Juliette; grandson, Jonathan; sister-in-law, Patricia; brother, Alan Perry (Anita); sister, Grace Hughes (Ron); nieces, Venice,Lolita, Gracie, Milea, and Dora; nephews, Christopher, Rakesh, and Quentin; and a host of great nieces, nephews, and friends. A service to honor his life will be held at a later date. The family requests any cards, condolences or memorial donations be mailed to or submitted through the website https://calhounfuneral.com of Calhoun Funeral Home, 23000 Rockside Rd, Bedford Heights, OH 44146.