In Memory: Isobel Perry, Age 96
Isobel Perry, age 96, died peacefully in her Rye, New York home on January 31, 2025.
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, Perry lived in New Haven, CT while Roger finished at Yale Law School. The couple honeymooned on a cross country automobile trip and later 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.
Perry’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.
Perry earned a Masters 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 healthcare, geriatric care, affordable housing, human rights, family services, equal opportunity, or after-school programs, Perry 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 occasional skiing.
Perry loved her neighbors, her neighborhood, and her community in and around Rye, forming and maintaining hundreds of lifelong friendships. However, family occupied center stage in her life, especially her commitment to Roger (1928-1999) and their multi-generation legacy. Nothing made Perry 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. She loved her nephews Lee, Dan, Bob, and Adam. Every family member and many friends will miss receiving relevant clippings in the mail from Perry’s daily New York Times reading.
Perry 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, AJ, and Roger. She was predeceased by her beloved sister Naomi.
The Perry family is deeply grateful to Sheryl Johnson, Sherron Clarke, Christine Duff and 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 (hdsw.org); to Compassion & Choices (compassionandchoices.org); or to any other cause or organization she valued.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
