Jeffrey Babcock Perry
Saturday, October 29, 2022
Memorial Service
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Becker Funeral Home
219 Kinderkamack Road
Westwood, NJ 07675
October 10, 1946 – September 24, 2022
Jeffrey B. Perry passed on September 24 after a long illness. He was born in the Bronx, October 10,1946 and moved to Paramus NJ in the 1950s. He also lived in Hoboken and Jersey City before settling in Westwood in 1991.
While in Paramus, Perry was a key player on the High School County Championship teams in Basketball (1963) and Baseball (1964). He made 2nd team All-County in three sports (soccer included), was named to the Bergen County Basketball Jamboree Team of the Decade for the 1960s, and is in the PHS Athletic Hall of Fame. He went on to play basketball and baseball for 1-2 years at Princeton where he graduated in 1968. Jeff continued his education at Harvard, Rutgers and Columbia, earning a PhD in American History in 1987.
He was an independent, working-class scholar who wrote about two of the most important thinkers on race and class in the twentieth century: Hubert Harrison, “The Father of Harlem Radicalism” and Theodore W. Allen who pioneered his class struggle based “white skin privilege” analysis in 1965 and wrote “The Invention of the Invention of the White Race.” Perry authored a major two volume biography of Harrison. The recently published, second volume of his Hubert Harrison biography entitled “Hubert Harrison: The Struggle for Equality, 1918-1927” (Columbia University Press, December 2020) was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize.
For fifty-plus years Perry has been active in the labor movement, domestic and international social justice issues including affirmative action, workers’ and tenants’ rights, workers’ grievances, union democracy, and anti-apartheid, anti-war, and anti-imperialist work.
His wife of 48 years, Becky Hom, daughter Perri Hom, son-in-law Eric Shaw, and sisters Pam Buco and Debbie Giblin survive him. A memorial service will be held at Becker Funeral Home in Westwood, in the near future, and a larger service will be planned later to be held in Manhattan.
In lieu of flowers, donations to honor Perry can be made to The Davis Putter Scholarship Fund or The Susan Slovin Research Fund at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.Becker-FuneralHome.com for the Perry family.
More information can be found at:
https://www.facebook.com/jeffreybperry
https://www.jeffreybperry.net/
https://paramuspost.com/article.php/20220213230328140
Bill Fryczynski (1965)
So sorry to hear about the passing of Jeff aka "Boley". He was the original "Spring Valley Boy". We played countless numbers of pickup basketball games on that playground and I tried my best to emulate the way he played because I thought he was the best point guard around. A true gentleman and scholar. Rest In Peace my good friend.
Loretta Hughes (Louviere) (1964)
So sad to hear this. I was always in awe of you, Jeff. Would loved to have had a sit down coffee and conversation with you about the things that so interested you. Rest in peace.
Loretta
Joanne Campo (1964)
I was never part of the clique but always knew what an amazing all around person Jeff was and impressed with his accomplishments. May you rest in peace. Love ❤️ and prayers 🙏 to your 👪 family. Thank you for all you did to make us aware of these important people in our history.Patricia Sette (1969)
I am really sorry to hear this news. It seems that I knew Jeff since I was in the early elementary grades through my brother, Lou Sette, who was in Jeff's class. Even though I was five years younger, and most of my brother's friends seemed to live in a different universe, I always noticed what a nice person Jeff was. Lou had regard for Jeff as an athlete from back in Little League days, and more than once mentioned how very smart Jeff was.
Stan Cohen (1974)
Saturday, October 29, 2022
Memorial Service
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Becker Funeral Home
219 Kinderkamack Road
Westwood, NJ 07675
Howie Behnke (1964)
Jeff's dedication to his research and his academic accomplishments were truly impressive. To me, he was a friend and teammate whose memory will always be with me.
Lou Bivona (1964)
As I read Jeff's obit I am in awe of his fantastic contribution to society. He was a giant amongst us and we look at his athletic accomplishments when his true accomplishments were to his fellow humans. He was one of the first people to bring light to the inequities in our society. I am truly humbled and may his soul rest in peace
Bob Reme (1964)
I have known Jeff practically my whole life. We were on the same little league team, played high school sports together at Paramus H.S., we worked together for the Paramus Board of Ed on maintenance during the summer, shared classes together and during the last several years battled prostate cancer together. Jeff was one of the most intelligent, caring, kind and passionate people I've ever known. Jeff was funny, a great athlete, scholar and friend. With all of his abilities and accomplishments, Jeff always remained humble. I have many good memories of Jeff and I will miss him deeply.
Bob Cortese (1964)
As many have already said Jeff was a brilliant scholar , author and athlete. One brief comment regarding Jeff's atheletic prowess. Jeff and I manned the right side of our infield on the baseball team. Jeff's coverage of the right side of diamond was nothing short of amazing. I rarely had to field a ground ball as Jeff was always there to handle it.He did it with skill and humility. I know there are many stories about Jeff like this both in the classroom and fields/courts. Most of all he was a wonderful human being. My condolences to his family
Sharyn Garber (Crump) (1964)
To the family of Jeff, my condolences. Obviously a man of achievements as well a husband and father.