In memoriam: Alumnus Franklin Duke Perry, former associate vice president for development
Virginia Tech alumnus and former associate vice president for development Franklin Duke Perry died Feb. 22. He was 84.
Perry earned a bachelor's degree in business administration and an MBA from Virginia Tech and worked at the university for 23 years in both alumni relations and university development.
He started as assistant director of placement in 1967 and two years later became associate director of the alumni association and later the director of annual giving. He would go on to become the director of university development before being promoted to associate vice president for development.
Perry would go on to work in higher education for 37 years.
Virginia Tech Vice President Emeritus Tom Tillar, who stepped down as the university’s vice president for alumni affairs in 2016 after 20 years, said Perry was a mentor who helped him early in his career.
“I was very grateful for his friendship, leadership, and guidance,” he said. “We had many, many years working closely together and he was really a superb mentor.”
Tillar said Perry was exceptional in his relationship building and was a skilled communicator.
“He was terribly kind and engaging and fun to be around,” Tillar said. “He had a great sense of humor and could be the center of conversation and bring others into it.”
Perry left Virginia Tech in 1990 to serve as the president and CEO of the Florida State University Foundation and later worked as president of the George Mason University Foundation from 1993-98. From 1999 until his retirement in 2006, Perry was the president and CEO of the West Virginia University Foundation.
During his career, Perry served on committees of national fundraising and foundation organizations and as a consultant to universities, colleges, and hospitals.
In 2006, he received the West Virginia University President’s Distinguished Service Award, and CASE presented him with the Lifetime Service Award. In 2007, the West Virginia University Foundation created the F. Duke Perry Professorship of Leadership Studies in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences in his honor, and the governor of West Virginia honored him with the Distinguished West Virginian Award.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Judy Hanger Perry; a son David Todd Perry; a daughter Whitney Eryn Perry and her husband, Matthew Pitonyak; a granddaughter Anna Kate Pitonyak; his brother Donald Perry and wife, Toni; his brother James Perry and wife, Susan; and his sister Shirley Perry Hall.
He was an avid golfer, storyteller, gentleman farmer, and friend to all. He had a great passion for his work and family. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
For more information, see his full obituary.
