BATH, N.Y. – Sidney D. Perham, 76, son of Harold C. and Mary “Maizie” Slattery Perham, was born in West Paris, March 6, 1931, and died at the VA Medical Center in Bath, N.Y., on June 28, from complications from pneumonia.

He graduated from West Paris High School as valedictorian of the Class of 1949. His classmates referred to him affectionately as “Gov.,” as he was named after the governor of Maine, Sidney Perham (1871-1874). In high school he played basketball, was proficient in public speaking and in his exceptional knowledge of history.

He attended Colby College for two years, then served in the U.S. Navy before returning to Colby, where he graduated in June 1956. After college graduation he taught English for one year at North Yarmouth Academy, then taught the next year at Kents Hill Preparatory School, and one year at New Gloucester High School. For many years, he lived and worked at the VA Center in Bath, N.Y., where he was employed in the library at that facility. While there, his favorite pastimes were reading and playing bridge.

In his later years, he lived at the Briarcliff Assisted Living Home in Bath, N.Y. until his death. A very special reunion took place in July 2006 when Sidney visited his sister and brother-in-law’s, Mary Ann and Ray Brown’s home and attended the Perham family gathering at Fay and Russ Perham’s home on Whitney Pond with about 70 family members in attendance. We are so grateful for this time with our brother, Sid. He was a kind and gentle soul, who will be missed.

He is survived by five sisters, Natalie N. Rice and her husband, Herbert Jr., of South Portland, Margaret “Peggy” Turner and her husband, Gilbert, of South Paris, Mary Ann Brown and her husband, Raymond “Ray,” of West Paris, Martha Sirois and husband, Roger, of Greene, and Nancy Perham of San Francisco, Calif.; six brothers, Alfred C. Perham and wife, Dotty, of Upper Marlboro, Md., Roscoe E. Perham and wife, Fay, of Oxford, Joseph A. Perham and wife, Peggy, of West Paris, Bradley L. Perham of Mount Holly, N.C., Douglas A. Perham and wife, Kathy, of Cherry Hill, N.J., and John L. Perham and wife, Iris, of Newton Upper Falls, Mass.; a sister-in-law, June Perham of Tucson, Ariz. Many nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was predeceased by his parents; a brother, Harold C. Perham Jr.; two sisters-in-law, Mrs. Bradley Perham (Sarah), and Mrs. Douglas Perham (Mary Anne); and a brother-in-law, John Heinrich of San Francisco, Calif.