Christopher L. Perry ’61

Chris died April 7, 2025, at Country House in Greenville, Del., following a long battle with Parkinson’s disease.

A third-generation Princetonian, he was born in Bayshore, N.Y., and came to us from Lawrenceville School. At Princeton, he majored in politics, was with WPRB, ran freshman track, and ate at Colonial. He roomed with Ted Kurz.

After Princeton, Chris earned a master’s degree in journalism at Columbia’s School of Journalism and then began a career in Delaware politics, including serving as chief of staff to the governor, co-founding a political consulting firm, and becoming chief of staff in Washington to Commerce Secretary Elliott Richardson. He later joined the DuPont Co., where he rose to the position of managing director in the public affairs department. Retiring in 1992, he became speechwriter for the president of The Ohio State University before relocating to Weston, Vt., then Williamsburg, Va., and finally returning to Delaware, all the time continuing with speechwriting for business executives. Over the years he served on several philanthropic boards in Delaware and Vermont.

Chris is survived by his wife of 53 years, Nancy; son Jeffery; daughter Kimberly; and their families.