Obituary for Kenneth C. Perkins
Kenneth Charles Perkins
1938-2021
Kenneth Charles Perkins, husband, father, grampy, and friend to many, died January 8, 2021 in Enfield, Conn. after a battle with MRSA pneumonia. He was 82.
Born February 19, 1938 in Holyoke, Mass., to Fred and Mary Perkins, Ken was full of humor and quick wit, two traits that he carried with him into adulthood. As a child, he enjoyed a “typical little rascal life” with his brother, Loren, according to family.
Ken graduated from Holyoke High School and joined the U.S. Navy in 1955, earning a fleet sonar degree. He left the Navy in 1963 and returned to school, graduating with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from University of Massachusetts Amherst and a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Connecticut.
Ken worked for most of his career as a chemical engineer at United Technologies before taking an early retirement to explore the world with his wife. They were great traveling partners, who enjoyed each other’s company, traveling much of the world together and never leaving each other’s side.
Ken passed away surrounded by his family. He will be remembered for his wry sense of humor, the fantastic, wild stories of his youth, his generosity towards others and his willingness to help anyone with anything. He loved working in the yard and tending his Japanese garden. He could fix just about anything and never backed down from a challenge.
Ken is survived by his wife, Susan E. Perkins, his daughters, Rebecca Lezaj (Steve) and Jennifer Perkins-Frantz (John); his stepchildren, Mark Grandonico (Jill), Lisa Watson (David) and Matthew Grandonico (Liz); his grandchildren, Danny, Joey, Ashley, Kristen, Alaina, Sarah, Francesca, Sawyer, Aleksandra, Nicholas, Sofia, Ethan and Emma; and great-grandchildren, Cameron, Xavier, Jamison and Carter.
The family wishes to thank Johnson Memorial Hospital and the staff for their thoughtful care of Ken while he was in the hospital.
Services will be held at a later date, when family and friends can gather together.
1938-2021
Kenneth Charles Perkins, husband, father, grampy, and friend to many, died January 8, 2021 in Enfield, Conn. after a battle with MRSA pneumonia. He was 82.
Born February 19, 1938 in Holyoke, Mass., to Fred and Mary Perkins, Ken was full of humor and quick wit, two traits that he carried with him into adulthood. As a child, he enjoyed a “typical little rascal life” with his brother, Loren, according to family.
Ken graduated from Holyoke High School and joined the U.S. Navy in 1955, earning a fleet sonar degree. He left the Navy in 1963 and returned to school, graduating with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from University of Massachusetts Amherst and a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Connecticut.
Ken worked for most of his career as a chemical engineer at United Technologies before taking an early retirement to explore the world with his wife. They were great traveling partners, who enjoyed each other’s company, traveling much of the world together and never leaving each other’s side.
Ken passed away surrounded by his family. He will be remembered for his wry sense of humor, the fantastic, wild stories of his youth, his generosity towards others and his willingness to help anyone with anything. He loved working in the yard and tending his Japanese garden. He could fix just about anything and never backed down from a challenge.
Ken is survived by his wife, Susan E. Perkins, his daughters, Rebecca Lezaj (Steve) and Jennifer Perkins-Frantz (John); his stepchildren, Mark Grandonico (Jill), Lisa Watson (David) and Matthew Grandonico (Liz); his grandchildren, Danny, Joey, Ashley, Kristen, Alaina, Sarah, Francesca, Sawyer, Aleksandra, Nicholas, Sofia, Ethan and Emma; and great-grandchildren, Cameron, Xavier, Jamison and Carter.
The family wishes to thank Johnson Memorial Hospital and the staff for their thoughtful care of Ken while he was in the hospital.
Services will be held at a later date, when family and friends can gather together.