F. Perry Hergert, age 66, passed away on January 29, 2015 in Sammamish, WA. He is survived by his wife, Kathy, daughter Heather and her fiancé Niko Martinez, son, Jeff Hergert, brother, Sam Hergert and his wife Karen, niece, Jenny, and brother, Jim Hergert. He is preceded in death by his father and mother, Grace and Ned Hergert.
Perry was born on September 15, 1948 in Helena, MT, and grew up in the neighborhood of Clyde Hill, near Bellevue, WA, at a time when the east end of the 520 bridge was a baseball field.
He had many lively adventures growing up in the Lake Washington area, climbing trees, exploring, and playing in the nearby wooded lots and buildings. He was well liked in high school and made many lasting friendships. He was a varsity wrestler, and participated in gymnastics. Perry graduated from Bellevue High School in 1966, and after an 8-month trip around Europe, he completed his teaching degree from Central Washington University. He taught high school chemistry and physics in Chehalis, WA for several years, before moving back to the Bellevue area, where he worked at Rocket Research Company as a chemist and met his wife.
He married Kathy in 1981, and the newlyweds moved to northwestern Ohio, where Kathy worked at the baking soda plant, and Perry completed his Master’s Degree in Computer Science at Bowling Green State University. In 1985, the Pacific Northwest called them back, and they moved to Issaquah, WA, (which later became Sammamish) where their children were born and grew up. He was very involved with his kids’ activities, and loved the time he spent with them in Indian Guides and Princesses, soccer, and baseball and softball. He was very proud of his children: Heather, now a veterinarian, and Jeff, a plastics engineer.
Perry worked for Boeing, and then Microsoft, for many years as a software engineer/tester, and made many lasting friendships, and maintained contact with his close friends from high school and elementary school. He was an animal lover who loved to tell stories about growing up in the 1950’s and 60’s, his skiing and sailing adventures, and his Europe trip. He loved reading about Tolkein’s Middle Earth and space and the cosmos, and listening to the Beatles and other classic rock music.
He and his happy, caring personality and infectious smile will be missed dearly by his family and friends.
A memorial service will be held on February 28th, at 2pm, at the Beaver Lake Lodge in Sammamish. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.