Richard A. Perez was born on December 16, 1934 to Dorothy (McDonald) and Celestino “Joseph” Perez and raised by his beloved foster mother, Mrs. Zalewski. He and his older brother, Joseph, spent the better days of their childhood exploring the streets of Milwaukee, riding streetcars, climbing church steeples, and failing to stay out of trouble.
Richard attended Notre Dame High School and went on to UW-Milwaukee where he earned a teaching degree and had storied track and field and cross country careers under the guidance of his coach and mentor, John Tierney.
Richard taught at McKinley Elementary in Milwaukee and at Brookfield East prior to settling into a long tenure as a physical education teacher at Milwaukee Area Technical College. He was also a respected track and field coach at the high school and collegiate levels including his alma mater and for years, taught a summertime track class to children on the north and south sides of Milwaukee. At the end of his school days and after practice, he engaged in his most cherished work—partnering with Jean (nee Skjolaas) to make a home where they raised six children who were his pride and joy.
Richard would want you to know that Jean, his wife of 58 years, is the most beautiful woman (“those blue eyes!”) and the smartest person he ever met, that he wondered what it would be like to be married to her the first time he saw her, and that she was his best decision and his best friend.
Richard did not like the sound of a baton hitting the track, read the last 5 pages of any book first, could not abide meetings, had a healthy disdain for authority, and taught his children that if you thought something nice about a person, you should say it aloud.
Richard died on July 25, 2021 just as he lived the happiest moments of his life--surrounded by the love of his six children and with Jean by his side.
Richard was preceded in death by his brother, Joe, and missed him dearly.
He is survived by his wife, Jean; six children: Patrick (Elissa), Steven (Julie), Pamela (David), Paula, Lisa, and Teresa (Paul); and five granddaughters who delighted him: Abigail, Rebecca, Alison, Josephine, and Jessica. He is further survived by nieces and nephews and a constellation of students and athletes.
Visitation Thursday, August 5, 2021 at Schmidt & Bartelt Funeral Home, N84 W 17937 Menomonee Ave in Menomonee Falls from 1PM until time of the Funeral Service at 3PM, followed by a reception. The family requests that unvaccinated individuals please wear masks.
In lieu of flowers, Richard's family would deeply appreciate memorial donations to UWM's Fostering Success fund. http://www.give.uwm.edu/PerezMemorial or Kids Matter, Inc. (https://kidsmatterinc.org)."
