In Memoriam

• Citation: Vol. 50 No. 2
• Publication year: 2024

IN MEMORIAM Vol. 50 No. 2 Pg. 43 Vermont Bar Journal July 2024

Robert James Perry

Robert Perry, formerly of Shelburne and North Hero, died peacefully on Dec. 2nd, at Carlyle Place in Macon, GA. Bob grew up in Essex Junction, son of Claude and Clara Perry, brother of Bill and Claude Jr. He earned an engineering degree from the University of Vermont and was inducted into Tau Beta Pi, the engineering honor society. Forsaking his engineering degree, he left with his wife Jane and 3-week-old daughter, Lynne, for law school at the University of Virginia, where he graduated in 1965.

Fulfilling his ROTC obligation to the U.S. Navy, Bob was fortunate to receive his first choice of duty station, Seattle before it was hip, where his son Jonathan was born. The family returned to Vermont in 1969, where Bob established his law practice, Perry and Schmucker, and was able to serve several generations of clients.

He is survived by his grandchildren: Jasper, Sydni, Will, and Becca, wife Jane, and family members: daughter Lynne, son Jonathan, daughter-in-law Charlotte, brother Boo, and many nieces and nephews.

Bob loved the Green Mountains and Lake Champlain. In his later years, a great day had a bike ride around North Hero and a cold beer as the sun set over the Adiron-dacks. There were lots of great days.

Kathy J. Strahm

Kathy J. Strahm, 64, of Saint Albans, died at 9:55 am on Thursday, May 23 at a friend's residence in Indiana after battling brain cancer. She was born on July 2, 1959, in Angola, IN and adopted by Glen and Betsy (Johnston) Strahm, her loving parents from Monroe, IN.

On Oct. 14, 2006, she married Lucie Carmichael of Montreal, Canada, who survives her. Kathy is also survived by her mother, Betsy Strahm of Bluffton, IN; brother, Larry (Karen) Strahm of Pegram, TN and two additional siblings from her birth mother; half-sister, Cassandra (Jeffrey) Silva of Sturgis, MI and half-brother, Kenneth (Laura) Andrews of Bisbee, AZ. She also leaves behind nephews, nieces, other relatives and many friends. She was preceded in death by her father, Glen Strahm.

Kathy excelled academically and athletically in both high school and college. She graduated with academic honors and numerous athletic awards from Adams Central High School, Monroe, IN in 1977, and Indiana Central University, Indianapolis, IN in 1982.

Kathy was an Attorney at Law, having graduated from the IU School of Law in Indianapolis, with a Doctorate of Jurisprudence, in 1985. She worked as a Public Defender of Family and Criminal law from 2000-2022 in the Vermont Chittenden, Franklin and Grand Isle County courts. She served as a Deputy Prosecutor in Fayette County, IN in 1999 and was Chief Deputy Prosecutor of Brown County, IN from 1991 to 1994. As an attorney for the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, she drafted The Indiana Wetlands Primer, for Indiana Coastal Management Program for the Lake Michigan shoreline. She was a sole practitioner for parts of her career and also served as a Public Defender in the Marion County Municipal Courts.

Kathy was an accomplished umpire in women's softball. She attained her International Level Umpire certification in 1987 and was assigned to work in the 1996 Summer...