September 24, 1932 – August 10, 2025

Desmond “Des” Perry passed away peacefully at the age of 92 after a long and fruitful life devoted to service, education, family, and community.

Born in Dublin, Ireland, on September 24, 1932, to Emily (Colley) and William Perry, Des’s early life was guided by faith and a deep sense of purpose. As a young man, he was ordained a missionary priest with St. Patrick’s Missionary Society and served for many years in and around Calabar, Nigeria, where he worked to develop schools and expand educational opportunities for generations of children.

In the late 1960s, Des came to the United States to study at Loyola University Chicago. There, he met the love of his life, Celma Pinho, a Brazilian educator. They married in 1972 and together built a life rooted in love, learning, and cross-cultural connection. Des and Celma co-founded several Montessori schools and ran a Montessori Teacher Education Program. Des earned Early Childhood and Infant-Toddler credentials through the American Montessori Society and became a respected mentor and educator in the Montessori community.

Des had a quiet wit, an inquisitive mind, and a warm presence. Endlessly curious, he shared a love of travel with Celma, exploring countries across Europe, South America, and Asia, and often returning to Ireland and Brazil to reconnect with family and friends and support the growth of Montessori education. His musical tastes spanned Irish folk, Brazilian samba, West African rhythms, and classical orchestral works.

An avid reader and lover of language, Des spoke Spanish, French, Portuguese, and Irish, and could also converse in Yoruba and German. He enjoyed reading books about history, novels, and mysteries, and was equally enthusiastic about playing cards, dominoes, and Trivial Pursuit. He loved a good story, a clever joke, and poems and limericks that touched him, including the playful:

There once was a man from Nantucket

Who kept all his cash in a bucket.

But his daughter, named Nan,

Ran away with a man

And as for the bucket, Nantucket.

Over the years, Des and his family made their home in Chicago, Indian Head Park, Winnetka, and North Barrington, Illinois, before retiring to Naples, Florida. In 2017, Celma and Des moved back to Barrington to be closer to family. For more than 40 years, the family cottage in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, remained his cherished retreat—a place where the family gathered with loved ones, swam, boated, played games, and watched sunsets over the water.

Des is survived by his wife of 52 years, Celma; his daughters Anna (Stephen) and Cristina Perry; and his grandchildren Thomas Perry Snyder and Margaret Perry Snyder. He is also survived by his sister Vera Kernan (Thomas); nieces Margaret (Felipe) and Niamh (Stephen); nephews Maurice (Karen) and Colm (Lisa); and their children Samuel, Ciara, Eva, Thomas, Jessica, Anna, Siobhan, Colm, and Thomas. He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Emily Perry.

A private funeral Mass for Des will be held with close family in attendance. A Celebration of Life, where family, friends, and colleagues will gather to honor and celebrate Des’ remarkable life, will be held on September 20, from 1-3 pm at the Garlands of Barrington. All who knew him are invited to add their memories, reflections and/or lessons learned from Desmond to this website.

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