Isobel Perry, age 96, died peacefully in her Rye home on Jan. 31.
Mrs. Perry, daughter of the late Dr. Louis J. Bragman and Rachael Muscat Bragman, was a lifelong New Yorker. Born upstate, she became a Westchester County resident as a young teenager when she, sister Naomi, and their widowed mother moved to New Rochelle.
Following graduation from New Rochelle High School and Radcliffe College, and a 1949 marriage to her beloved high school sweetheart Roger, the couple lived in New Haven, Conn., while Roger finished at Yale Law School.
Isobel and Roger honeymooned on a cross-country automobile trip and moved to Greenwich Village in New York City. Ultimately, they relocated to Rye in 1955 as part of a group of friends who built mid-century modern houses, and created a community, on Kirby Lane North.
Isobel’s lifelong immersion in her many interests — the arts, culture, social justice, education, classical music, books, current events, travel, community service, and Judaism, to name only a few — revealed the deep humanitarian spirit that touched everyone she knew.
Mrs. Perry earned a Master of Social Work from Columbia University, and put it to productive use during her 15 years’ association with The Rye Psychiatric Hospital, along with seven-plus decades of volunteer service on boards, councils, commissions, committees, and task forces too numerous to catalog. Westchester County and other entities honored her several times with awards for dedication to the well-being of others. If it promised to improve health care, geriatric care, affordable housing, human rights, family services, equal opportunity, or after-school programs, Isobel could be counted on for heartfelt effort and support.
She also joined Roger in his deep commitment to the environment, birding, sailing, camping, Lake George, Vermont, and — sometimes — skiing.
She loved her neighbors, her neighborhood, and her community in and around Rye, forming and maintaining hundreds of lifelong friendships.
But always, family occupied center stage in Mrs. Perry’s life, especially her commitment to Roger (1928-1999) and their multi-generation legacy.
She is survived by son Roy Perry and his partner Emely Karandy; daughter Lisa Perry Hellerstein and her husband David; daughter Amy Perry Basseches and her husband Josh; seven grandchildren – Alex, Leah, Sarah, Ben, Jason, Jacob, and Sophie; and three great-grandchildren – Astrid, A.J., and Roger.
Nothing made Isobel happier than spending time with family, and the legendary gatherings in honor of her 90th and 95th birthdays stand out as recent highlights to cherish forever. Also predeceased by her beloved sister Naomi, she loved her nephews Lee, Dan, Bob, and Adam. Every family member, and many friends, will miss receiving relevant clippings in the mail from Isobel’s daily New York Times reading.
Isobel’s family is deeply grateful to Sheryl Johnson, Sherron Clarke, Christine Duff and the Hospice of Westchester, and Victoria Hidalgo for their extraordinary care and kindness during these past few years.
Donations can be made in Isobel’s memory to The Perry Employment Transportation Fund for HOPE House through Human Development Services of Westchester; to Compassion & Choices; or to any other cause or organization she valued.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
