Wesley Arthur Perkins, MD, of Lawrence, age 82, died on January 7, 2008, after a three month illness.
He was born on October 11, 1925, in Lynn, Massachusetts, to parents Russell Perkins and Irene Wade Perkins. Wesley graduated from Swampscott High School in 1943. His studies in engineering at MIT in 1943-1944 were interrupted by war, and he served in the US Army, Private First Class, from 1944 to 1946. He saw action as an infantry rifleman in France, Germany and Austria and received the combat infantry badge.
Following the war, he graduated from Tufts University with a BS in 1950, and MD in 1954. He was a fellow at the prestigious Menninger Foundation in Topeka, Kansas, from 1955-1958 and registered as a practicing Psychiatrist in 1959.
Dr. Perkins maintained a private practice in Wakefield for his entire professional career. Concurrently, he served many years as the court psychiatrist for Essex County and was the Medical Director of the Lawrence Unit at Danvers State Hospital for over twenty years.
Upon his retirement in 1986, he was recognized by the Massachusetts State Senate and House of Representatives for his dedicated and distinguished service; and recognized as a “Paul Revere Patriot” by then Governors Michael Dukakis.
A lifelong supporter and loyal fan of Swampscott High School football, Dr. Perkins was also a championship-level chess adept, avid tennis player, computer user, sudoku enthusiast and consummate bridge player. A regular member and tournament player in various area Bridge Clubs, he was recognized as a Life Master by the American Contract Bridge League. An amateur genealogist, Wesley traced his lineage to the 17th century Perkins family of Topsfield, Mass; and even earlier, to the 14th century French nobility.
Wesley is survived by his beloved wife Mary (Byrne) Cox, stepchildren Donald Cox of West Newton, Jane Kilpatrick of Acton, John Cox of Tequesta, Florida and Paul Cox of Washington, DC; sister Marilyn Ball of Peabody; first wife Phyllis Perkins of Gloucester, daughter Valerie Perkins of Lexington, son Bruce Perkins of Danvers; one grandchild and several step-grandchildren.
A Memorial Service will be celebrated in the Burke-Magliozzi Funeral Home, 390 North Main Street, Andover, on Friday, January 18, 2008, at 11:30 AM. Relatives and friends respectfully invited to attend.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Wesley’s memory may be made to the Swampscott High School Football Team, Gridiron Club, P.O. Box 63, Swampscott, MA 01907. For additional information, please visit www.burkemagliozzi.com.