Obituary of Frank R. Perry

Frank R. Perry Oneida-Frank R. Perry, 94, of 175 Skinner Road, Oneida passed away peacefully on March 3rd at home with his family at his side. Born in Strasbourg, Saskatchewan Canada on August 11, 1922, Frank was the son of John Somers Perry and Isabel Cochran Perry. Frank joined the Royal Canadian Air Force at the age of 19 as a tail-gunner serving on British Stirling bombers in WWII. He was stationed in England for three years, proudly contributing to the Allied war effort. When Frank returned to Canada at the end of the war, he attended the Ontario College of Art in Toronto where he graduated with a baccalaureate degree in Industrial Design. While attending college, he received the prestigious Governor General's Medal for Excellence in Design (the Governor General is the representative of the monarch in the Commonwealth countries of England) After graduation, Frank moved to New York City and commenced his graduate work at the prestigious Art Student's League, where Oneida Community descendant Kenneth Hayes Miller taught for decades. Frank was in previous good company at the Art Student's League with a Who's Who of famous alumni: o Thomas Hart Benton o Alexander Calder o Al Hirschfeld o Peter Max o Georgia O'Keefe o Winslow Homer o Jackson Pollock o Frederic Remington o Russell Wright During his time at the Art Students League, Frank studied under Reginald Marsh. After moving to Oneida as a designer for Oneida Silversmiths in 1951, Frank continued his graduate studies at Syracuse University and the Munson Williams Proctor Institute. Frank continued to move up in his department, first to chief designer, then director of design and then vice-president of design. Frank also served 14 years on the Oneida Silversmiths Board of Directors. During his tenure of the design department, Frank had over 100 patents to his name. Frank was very proud of his work at Oneida Silversmiths and the relationship he had with Oneida Community descendants with whom he either worked or to whom he reported; he spoke fondly of the various Noyeses, Allens, Wayland-Smiths and Robertsons who took Frank in as a prodigal son. During Frank's oversight of the design department., Oneida Silversmiths reached the zenith of its profitability and success. Frank's most popular design, still manufactured, is Paul Revere, designed back in 1959. For his work, Frank was recognized with various awards and distinctions: • Governor General's Award for Excellence in Design (Canada) • Excellence in Design from the National Industrial Design Council of Canada for his silver-plate pattern South Seas • Recognition from President Lyndon Johnson for Frank's design and creation of silver bookends given to President Johnson on behalf of the American Management Association • Over 100 patents to his name; more than anyone in the flatware industry While Frank was having a successful career at Oneida Silversmiths. and traveling the globe for new products and ideas, he raised three beautiful children with his beautiful wife, Marie, of 57 years. After retiring in 1992 after 41 years of service, Frank and Marie spent their leisure time at 175 Skinner Road, golfing, gardening and spending their winters in northwest Florida. Frank had many interests, including as a pilot and member of the Stockbridge Valley Flying Club for over 15 years, an avid golfer and member of the Oneida Community Golf Club, a respectable hockey player in his youth, a very proficient downhill skier, and an artist. Frank also never gave up his Canadian citizenship. While Frank was principally an industrial designer, he also had several projects around the area such as designing the street lamps in downtown Oneida, the memorial arbor on the North Lawn of the Mansion House, co-designing with an architect the family home at 175 Skinner Road, and the "whale" wind vane on 150 Skinner Road, designed by Frank to commemorate Bob Sanderson's retirement. Our family was blessed to have Frank with us for so long; he was a man of strong character and great intellect. The family is thankful for Frank being able to spend his last weeks at home, under the excellent care of the staff members of Hospice and Palliative Care of New Hartford, NY. Frank is survived by his wife, Marie (Cerio), a son Mark Perry of Phoenix, AZ, a daughter Maria Skinner of Snyder, NY and a daughter Melissa Manfred and son in law Charles Manfred of Westport, NY. He is also survived by his granddaughter, Sophia Skinner, step-granddaughter Emily Manfred and his brother Robert Perry and sister in law Lorraine Perry of Vancouver, British Columbia Canada. Frank is also survived by his brother in law Eugene Bennati and sister in law Rosamond Bennati of Sherrill, NY, and brother in law Daniel Cerio and sister in law Mary Cerio of Cicero, NY and many nieces and nephews in the US and Canada. The family will have a private service later this summer at the convenience of the family. Donations in Frank's memory may be made to the Oneida Community Mansion House, 170 Kenwood Avenue, Oneida, NY 13421 or Hospice and Palliative Care, 4277 Settlement Road, New Hartford, NY 13413.