Obituary of Donald Aloysius Perham

INDIAN ROCKS BEACH, FLA./CANISTEO – World War II Navy veteran Donald Aloysius Perham, 96, died Wednesday, August 11, 2021 at his home in Florida. A graduate of Canisteo Central School, The Ohio State University, and co-owner and operator of the RF Reynolds Cheese Factory in Woodhull, he is survived by his seven children: Mary, Donald, Jr. (Jane), Ann Loden (Tim), John, Stephen, Thomas and David; eight grandchildren: Michael Perham (Mary), Regina Perham, Daniel Loden (Ali), Kathleen Dalle (Andre), Sara Batchelder (David), Shoshi Sonham, Matthew Perham and Natalie Perham; and five great-grandchildren: Miles, Ada and Cleo Loden, Oliver Perham and Eden Batchelder; his cousin, Helen Ryder; his nephew Joseph Perham and niece Mary Ann Perham, his caregiver, Yasmine Mansfield and many friends, loved ones and other caregivers in the Tampa, Florida area. Don was born in Frankfort, NY on November 5, 1924 to William and Laura (Latt) Perham and younger brother to William II, who predeceased him. He was proud to be the grandson of immigrants and spent time during his later years studying his family genealogy and learning more about his family history. His family moved to Canisteo, where he was a gifted and nimble four-letter athlete at Canisteo Central School. After serving his country during World War II in the Pacific as a sonar operator on a minesweeper, he attended The Ohio State University on the GI Bill. While attending OSU, he met his wife, Lou Ann Slatter, of Columbus, Ohio. After graduation, the couple moved to Elkland, Pa., where he and his brother, Bill, operated a popular ice cream factory until Don joined his dad at the RF Reynolds Co. cheese factory in Woodhull for decades. Don moved to Florida after the death of his wife, Lou Ann, in 1996, where he basked in the warm sunshine and weathered hurricanes with characteristic practicality -- notably with the help of his daughter Ann during Hurricane Irma -- and built on his lifelong keen and critical interest in climatology. He delighted in the visits of his children and grandchildren, followed OSU football and the school’s agricultural programs, the Tampa Bay Lightning hockey team, and took an acute interest in medicine, science and mechanics. He loved classical music, musicals such as Seven Brides For Seven Brothers and Paint Your Wagon, arguing with his doctors, and recalling his service and exploits in the U.S. Navy. He was a devout Roman Catholic. He had a special dedication to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and spent time last Tuesday visiting with his children, Don and Jane, then retiring for the evening to spend time in meditation before he -- as Yas would say -- “Went to glory.” Informal calling hours are from 7-9 pm Friday (Aug. 20) at HP Smith & Son, Inc., 29, East Main St., Canisteo, 14823. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 9:30 am at St. Ann's in Hornell on Saturday, (Aug. 21) Burial will be in Hillside Cemetery in Canisteo following Mass. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Anthony's Guild at https://stanthonysguild.org/ or to the Susan G. Komen Foundation at https://www.komen.org/. ** A Mass of Remembrance to include Don’s extended family in the Largo, Florida area will be set for a later date.