Arthur W. Perkins

PETERSHAM - The Reverend Arthur W. Perkins, 85, of 15 South Main Street, Petersham, died on Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at his home peacefully with family by his side.     Arthur was born in Boston on October 10, 1926, son of the late Reverend Palfrey Perkins and Linda (Wellington) Perkins. He grew in Boston.   He attended Shady Hill School, class of l941, Phillips Exeter Academy, class of 1944 and Harvard University, class of 1948.       Mr. Perkins went to Paris to study music and met his wife, Anne Hervieux, while working at the American Embassy in Paris.   They were married on July 10, 1948 at the British Embassy Church in Paris. In 1949 they returned to Boston and Arthur became secretary and interpreter to the new conductor of the Boston Symphony, Charles Munch. Later he was manager of the San Antonio, TX, Symphony, assistant manager of the Detroit Symphony and manager of the Hartford Symphony.      In Hartford, Arthur pursued a new career as stockbroker for Robert C. Buell, White Weld & Co., Hartford and Moors and Cabot Investments in Boston.    In 1971, he was called to the ministry.   He enrolled at Bangor Theological Seminary in Maine, received his MDiv in 1974 and was ordained by the United Church of Christ. Arthur served churches in Jackman, ME, Hampden, ME and Millbury, MA. During his time as pastor in Hampden, Arthur exchanged pulpits with Dumfermline, Scotland.   He retired in 1988 and Arthur and Anne settled in Petersham.   He served as interim pastor at the Petersham Congregational Church and the North Orange Congregational Church.      Arthur was an active member of the First Congregational Parish, Unitarian in Petersham, the Lions Club of Petersham, The Salisbury Singers and The Singing Men of Athol. He enjoyed reading to the children at Center School in Petersham and continued to mentor many of the students until his death.   He enjoyed golfing, sailing in Maine, photography and music, especially singing and playing the piano, organ and cello. Most of all, Arthur enjoyed spending time with his family and friends.     He leaves his wife of sixty-three years, Anne (Hervieux) Perkins; his daughter, Louise Wellington Perkins of Salem; two sons, Peter Palfrey Perkins of New Brunswick, Canada, David Holten Perkins of San Francisco, CA; one sister, Cornelia Perkins Zinsser of Bedford MA; three grandchildren, Sarah Perkins-Gillies, Anna Perkins both of New Brunswick, Canada, Seth Wellington Perkins of Aberta, Canada; five great grandchildren, Dylan Gillies, Thayne Gillies, Chayse Gillies, Aja Dempsey, Jayla Mallaley all of New Brunswick, Canada; also many nieces, nephews and cousins.     He was predeceased by his brother, David Perkins, and by his great grandson, Joshua Dempsey.     A Celebration of Arthur’s life will be held Saturday, June 9, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. at the Unitarian Church in Petersham followed by burial in East Street Cemetery, Petersham.    In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial contributions be made in Arthur’s memory to First Congregational Parish, Unitarian, of Petersham or to the scholarship program at North Branch School, 221 Mickens Road Afton, VA 22920 founded by Arthur’s niece, Charlotte Zinsser-Booth, and modeled by Shady Hill School (540) 456-8450. $(document).ready(function(){ });