James J. Perez, Sr.

James J. Perez, Sr. , 83 , of Bethlehem, PA

died on Friday, February 16, 2007 at Gracedale in Nazareth, PA

Born January 25, 1924 in Bethlehem, PA he was the son of the late

Fidel & Salvadora Marcos Perez.

He was the loving husband of Evelyn K. Kufrovich Perez. This Thursday, Feb. 23, is their 55th anniversary.

Mr. Perez proudly served his country in the US Navy during WWII in both the European and Asian Theatres. He served on the USS Elizabeth C. Stanton and passed through the Panama Canal several times. He was awarded the European Theater Ribbon, the Pacific Theater Ribbon, the American Theater Ribbon and the Victory Medal.

He was a member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, Bethlehem,

He attained his degree in education in1951 from Muhlenberg College. Mr. Perez served as the Vocational Director of the Bethlehem Boys Club from 1938 - 1976, receiving several national, interstate and local awards for his work with boys in the arts & crafts field.

He had served on the board of the Bethlehem Public Library .

Mr. Perez taught Spanish in the Allentown School District, and had served as a substitute teacher in the Bethlehem Area School District . Mr. Perez was fluent in English, Spanish, French, Italian and well schooled in Latin. In 1965, at the request of then Bethlehem Housing Director Ralph Bartholomew, he developed a booklet in Spanish titled "Rules & Codes for Residents in Federal Housing".

An accomplished musician, he played accordion with "I Paesani", Italian folk singers and dancers, for many years.

He was employed at Bethlehem Steel in various positions, starting in 1943 in the plant, then as a draftsman and retiring from the Treasurer?s Department in 1984.

Mr. Perez is survived by his wife, Evelyn K. Kufrovich Perez of Bethlehem,

A son James J. Perez, Jr. of Nazareth, and his wife April,

A daughter Jean M. Perez of Bethlehem,

2 grandchildren Jaime & Joel,

A niece Elaine Cobb of Wind Gap,

A nephew Leonard Perez of Coram, N.Y.

He was preceded in death by a brother Joseph Perez.

SERVICES

Visitation will be at Connell Funeral Home, Inc. on Monday, February 19, from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM

Services will begin at Connell Funeral Home, Inc. on Tuesday, February 20, at 9:15 AM and will be followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church

at 10:00 AM. Burial with full Military Honors will follow at Holy Saviour Cemetery.

Memorials can be made to Bethlehem Boys & Girls Club

1430 Fritz Dr., Bethlehem, PA 18017 or to

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church

3219 Santee Rd.

Bethlehem, PA 18017