James Perneski, age 77, died peacefully at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston
on April 14, 2017. Mr. Perneski, a resident of Medway, MA, for over three decades,
leaves his wife, Cynthia Carle, also of Medway, his sister, Martha Ferry, of Hazleton,
PA, as well as several nieces, nephews and friends in many states.
James was born on Feb. 27, 1940 in the coal mining town of Hazleton. He excelled at
both academics and athletics, gaining a full scholarship to Lehigh University from which
he graduated with a degree in Physics Engineering. James was recruited by the U.S.
Naval Underwater Laboratory in New London, CT, where he worked on enhancement of
sonar systems in nuclear submarines. His last position, prior to his retirement, was for
Lockheed Martin in Massachusetts where he developed and enhanced military software
systems. Between those two positions, James obtained an advanced degree in Math
from UCONN, and taught mathematics at UCONN and software development at
Northeastern University. He also was employed in software development at both
Sperry Computer in Blue Bell, PA and Prime Computer in Framingham, MA.
Beyond math and physics, James nurtured a long and profound love of classical music,
from playing (or attempting to play as he would say) the classical guitar, to developing a
passion for the operas of Wagner and Puccini. James’ love for music was often the
motive for travels, whether to New York City and the Met Opera, or to Paris, Berlin,
Seattle, Chicago, and San Francisco for Wagner’s 4 opera Ring Cycle. In addition,
James was a twenty year season ticket holder for the New England Patriots. Home
games were rarely missed and all games, home or away, were proceeded by long
established rituals meant to insure victory.
Most profoundly, James loved the simple joys of playing golf with his friends, his home
in Medway, and home life with his wife and, nearly always, a cat or two, currently
Beaumont and Mario, who miss him each day.
For his wife, Cynthia, James was, in the enduring words of W.H. Auden, “my North, my
South, my East, my West, My working week, and my Sunday rest, My noon, my
midnight, my talk, my song”.
There are no immediate services, but a memorial celebration will be scheduled in early
summer.
In lieu of flowers, it is asked that donations be made to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute,
P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA or via the web at www.dana-farber.org/gift.