Obituary of Richard "Dick" Perez

Richard “Dick” Perez passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on April 11th, 2023 at the age of 90 in Denver, Colorado. Dick was born in Bronx, NY on January 4, 1933 to the late Manuel and Josephine Perez. Dick is predeceased by his wife and best friend Ann (Heintz) Perez.

The first of five boys, Dick attended Dewitt Clinton High School in the Bronx, NY (where he excelled at football), Columbia University and Iona College in New Rochelle, NY. Dick had a successful career with Englehard Minerals & Chemicals / Philip Brothers in NYC. He settled in Eastchester, NY, then later in Scarsdale, NY before heading west after retirement to Salt Lake City, UT and Anthem, AZ. After the passing of his wife, Ann, in the fall of 2022, he relocated to Denver, Colorado.

Dick had a wide range of interests. His passion for football continued throughout his life. He enjoyed travel, jazz and Spanish guitar music, reading, news, current events, crosswords, and lively discussions on so many topics. Dick met an interesting group of friends in Anthem, AZ and enjoyed being part of their monthly discussion group where the topics brought out discussions that were often lively and spirited. When he moved to Denver, he joined a senior living community where he enjoyed their gatherings for live music performances and reading poetry with several new friends.

Dick leaves to cherish his memory his sons Stephen Perez (Diane), Gary Heintz (Kathleen), daughters Lisa Halstead (Duncan), Suzanne Heintz (David), and many cousins, nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his siblings Douglas Perez (Jane), Robert Perez (Pamela) and Christopher Perez (Karren). He leaves 8 adored grandchildren: Nicholas and Scott Perez, Matthew Heintz, Kimberly Sutton, Alissa Heintz, Aiden, Alison, and Claire Halstead; and three great-grandchildren: Delilah Perez, Eamon Heintz and Charlie Sutton. Dick was predeceased by his first wife Joan Ann (Rotando) Perez, sons Richard Perez Jr, Stephen Heintz, and his brother, Bernard Perez.

A special thank you to the Halstead and Heintz families for the extraordinary care and attention given to Dick since Ann’s illness, her passing and Dick’s transition and move to Denver. We know that Dick is now with those who passed before him, those he loved, those he missed, those he looked up to and made him the man we knew and loved. Dick’s memory will be celebrated several times, in several places, by family and friends before being interred with his wife Ann at the Huguenot Memorial Church in Pelham, NY.