BEVERLY: Ellwood T. Perin, Jr. 89, died Thursday, June 11, 2015 in Sanford, Maine of congestive heart failure. He was the beloved husband of Marilyn (Larrivee) Perin for 63 wonderful yrs.
Born in Boston on November 15, 1925, he was the son of the late Ellwood T. Perin, Sr. and Beatrice (McGowan) Perin. A U.S. Navy electricians’ mate during World War II, he was honorably discharged in 1946. He resided in Medford and Beachmont before moving to Beverly in 1957. In 2012 he and Marilyn moved to Acton, ME to live with daughter Dusty.
Ellwood (aka “Slim”) was employed as a signal maintainer for the Boston & Maine Railroad for 40 years. He was an active member of St. Peter’s Church of Beverly. He was a 32nd degree Mason, belonging to the Converse Lodge and a Shriner. He was also a long time member of The Anchor Club, a Masonic Railroad organization, in New Hampton, NH.
Ellwood had a warm smile, kind heart and optimistic attitude about life. Despite his quiet demeanor he had a love of adventure. In his early days he learned to fly, tried horseback riding and snowmobiling. Later in life he and Marilyn traveled the world. He loved meeting new people and made friends everywhere he went.
He and his wife Marilyn met while dancing and were always admired on the dance floor. They passed this love of dancing on to their daughters, and not many holidays went by where the four of them were not found waltzing or fox trotting around the kitchen while dinner cooked. Besides dancing to music he like to play it or sing it. He played the harmonica and the cornet. He could almost always be heard singing a little song or humming a little tune.
Ellwood always found time to help others. He and Marilyn were active members of St. Peters Church, helping on the church suppers and other small projects. They volunteered at the Beverly Senior Center on bingo night. They also collected and delivered food and clothes to Bootstraps in Beverly and other organizations for those in need. In Acton Maine he joined the Acton Congregational Church and the OWLS club. He was a regular attendee at the monthly pancake breakfast put on by the lions club in Acton Maine. His love of a good cup of coffee was legendary and began in his navy days when he was on supply ships and there was always a pot of coffee brewing.
He is survived by his wife Marilyn, and daughters Dusty Perin of Maine and Susan Perin of Montana, as well as many nieces, nephews and other relatives. Besides his parents he was predeceased by his brothers George and John Perin.
Visiting hours will be held Monday June 22 from 2 to 4 PM and 6 to 8 PM at the Grondin Funeral Home, 376 Cabot St., Beverly. His funeral services will be held on Tuesday June 23, at St Peter’s Episcopal Church, 4 Ocean St. Beverly, MA at 10 a.m. Interment will be held in Pine Grove Cemetery, Brookline, NH at 1 PM. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to the Shriners Hospital for Children, 51 Blossom St. Boston, MA 02114, or St. Peters Church in Beverly or the Acton Congregational Church, 59H Rd., Acton, ME 04001.