Ronald S. Perry leaves a tremendous legacy at Catholic Memorial and Holy Cross

Catholic Memorial Middle School is named after him, but Ronald S. Perry’s legacy extends far beyond the building.

Perry, an iconic figure on the local high school and college athletics scene for the better part of half a century, died last Friday at the age of 92.

“It’s hard to put into words the impact he had on my life and the lives of so many other young men who played for him,” said former Catholic Memorial basketball star Ron Teixeira. “He is more than just a coach, he has been my mentor throughout my life and without him I wouldn’t be where I am today.”

Perry attended Somerville High School, where he gained fame as an outstanding two-sport athlete. The first 1,000-point scorer in school history (his 1,154 career points are still a record for boys), Perry led the Highlanders to the 1949 Class A and New England titles. Perry was equally dominant in baseball, leading his team to the 1950 Eastern Mass championship.

“You just don’t get athletes like that, someone who was an all-around student in both basketball and baseball,” said Jerry Knight, who later served as Somerville’s hoops coach and athletic director. “I remember the first time I saw him play when I was eight. He was a great player, but he was also an excellent student, a member of the National Honor Society and class president.

Added current Somerville basketball coach Mark Antonelli: “He was always very gracious to me on the phone, asking about my family and the team. He even grew up knowing my grandfather and great-grandparents. As a kid raised on Somerville basketball folklore, I remember being very impressed when I spent 30 minutes on the phone with “Ronnie Perry.” “

Perry began playing both sports at Holy Cross and was part of the glory era of track and field there. He was on the Crusader team that won the 1952 College World Series title. A three-year basketball starter, Perry averaged over 11 points and was a starter on the 1954 team that won the NIT title.

“The best way to describe Ronnie was to say he was a winner,” said Don Prohovich, who was Perry’s teammate on the NIT championship team. “He was a legend, someone who just did everything right. When I was a freshman, I had to guard him in practice, and he was just great. He was a great goalscorer, but he sacrificed himself because we had Togo Palazzi, Tommy Heinsohn and Joe Liebler.

Perry was selected by the Boston Celtics in the fourth round of the 1954 NBA draft (32nd overall), but chose to sign with the Milwaukee Braves. A three-year stint in the Marine Corps interrupted his athletic career and he began working at Catholic Memorial as a teacher, athletic director and baseball and basketball coach. In his 13 years as a basketball coach, Perry compiled a 292-34 record, won 10 Catholic Conference titles, eight New England Catholic championships and three state crowns.

“The first time I saw Catholic Memorial play was in Newport, where they faced Power Memorial and Lew Alcindor,” said BABC founder and coach Leo Papile. “He was the first guy to put Boston basketball on the map, gave us some legitimacy. He had a standard of excellence and was always a gentleman.”

Perry had many outstanding players who competed in college, one of them was Bill Raynor. Raynor, an American actor from Catholic Memorial, went on to star at Dartmouth and was later inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame.

“I describe him as a coach, a mentor and a friend – someone who has played a significant role in my life,” Raynor said. “I first met him when I was 15, and we kept in touch from then until he died.”

Perry returned to Holy Cross in 1972 and served as athletic director from 1972-98. His presence was felt immediately as the school increased its programs from 10 to 25 and many sports flourished under his watchful eye.

Perry was not a coach, but he still influenced the lives of many people, one of them was Peter Colombo. A standout quarterback at Brockton High, Colombo came to Holy Cross and became a decorated two-sport athlete (football and baseball), ultimately making the school’s Hall of Fame in 1996.

“I just love the man,” said Colombo, who played second baseman alongside Mr. Perry’s son, Ronnie. “He was a good family man, a great coach and administrator, and like my father (Armond, the legendary Brockton football coach), he helped thousands of guys like me.”

In his later years, Perry was known for his devotion to his wife of 59 years, Pat. She suffered a stroke and required constant care for the last few years of her life before passing away in 2015. Perry returned to the West Roxbury area and was a regular on campus. Catholic Memorial President Dr. Peter F. Folan arrived 11 years ago and still fondly remembers his first meeting with Perry.

“He came to my office and we had a conversation about the value of athletics and how athletics shapes and builds a student’s character,” Folan said. “We talked about the power of a coach as a role model and how important it was that he cared about individual team members.

“When his wife died, he came to school every day. He would come, sit on a bench in front of the school, talk to students and teachers, and then, when he left, he would say a prayer in the school chapel.

“He was a man of excellent faith and high character. He was part of the greatest generation and a role model we should all aspire to be like.”