From The Olio

LEE ALFRED PERLMAN,
Premium Point Road, New Rochelle, New York
Prepared at Marmaroneck HIgh School
American Studies,
Phi Gamma Chi,
Crew, Football "1962", "2",
Blood Drive, Debate Council,
Double Quartet, STUDENT, IRO, Hillel
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In Memory

Here is an expansion of the Amherst Magazine remembrance---

It is with deep sadness that I report the passing of Lee Alfred Perlman, in Ashland, Oregon. Lee was a childhood friend, classmate at Amherst College, Class of 1962, and fraternity brother at Phi Gam.

Lee was born in Denver, Colorado, the middle child of Adele and Alfred E. Perlman on March 31, 1940. Lee is survived by his older brother, Michael Perlman, and his younger sister, Connie Perlman Spahn. Lee was brought up in the Jewish community in Denver. My twin brother Don and I spent many days with Lee. Lee was a selfless, compassionate and gentle man with a wonderful sense of humor.

Lee’s father, Alfred E. Perlman, was one of the most prominent railroad executives in the 20th century. He was a graduate of MIT and the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration. He held executive positions at the Northern Pacific Railway, the Chicago Burlington Quincy Railroad, the Rio Grande Western Railroad, The New York Central Railroad, the Penn Central Transportation Company, the Western Pacific Railroad, and provided advice to the Korean Railroad and the Israel State Railway. Therefore, it is not surprising that Lee was involved with the Ashville Historical Railroad Museum.

Lee was one of five students who grew up in Denver to be admitted to the Amherst Class of 1962. The others were David Braun, Barkley Clark, my twin brother Don, and myself. While at Amherst, I spent the Thanksgiving recesses at Lee’s home. Other times, we met his father in his private railroad car which he arranged to be attached to a train going to Mount Holyoke or Boston.

After graduating from Amherst, Lee was became a commissioned officer in the U.S. Navy and an active member of Navy Intelligence. His father-in-law was one of two Jewish Admirals in the Navy. Lee thought that his way to rapid advancement would be to be assigned to extended sea duty, but his father-in-law had other ideas. The Admiral won out, and Lee became, in his terms, a "Commander of an LMD" (Large Metal Desk).

Lee became a reporter, writer, and editor for newspapers like the Trenton Times as well as a free lance writer.

When I was attending the Harvard Business School, my roommates got a call from Lee inviting me to meet him in the car at the South Street Station. My roommates thought that to find a car at South Street Station, without directions was an impossible task, until I told them that I was going to meet him at his father’s private railroad car.

Lee used to call me in New York, and call Don in Denver on our birthdays on March 2nd every year, and we always spoke at great length. Then Don and I would each call Lee on his birthday on March 31st. This year I had a premonition that something was wrong when I did not receive a call, and my calls and emails to him went unanswered. The sad news came while attending Biddy Martin’s talk about Amherst at the Princeton Club. Lee will be greatly missed.

DEAN J. HEITLER '62