PEREZ, Emilio, Ph.D. '73, Professor Emeritus of Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, AR, passed away at age 75 on January 31 after a brief and brave battle with pancreatic cancer. He is survived by Marlene, his adoring wife of nearly 50 years, and their loving daughter, Caroline, of NY, NY. Dr. Perez was born and raised in Tampa, FL, graduated from Jefferson High School, and served in the U.S. Army from 1958 to 1961. He graduated from the University of South Florida with degrees in psychology, and speech pathology and audiology, and earned a doctorate in speech and hearing sciences from Ohio State University. His first teaching job was at the University of South Florida, where he taught in the Speech Communication Department. He left USF after three years to teach at Marshall University in Huntington, WV for two years. After earning a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association while working at Putnam County Schools in WV, he and his family moved to Jonesboro, AR where he taught at Arkansas State University for 20 years. After retiring from ASU in 1995, Dr. Perez was in private practice in Jonesboro for seven years before permanently retiring. He and his wife Marlene moved back to Tampa in October 2003. He was predeceased by his parents, Manuel and Celia Perez, his brother Manuel, Jr., his sister Mary Jean Dawson, aunts Martha Esperon, Margaret Perez, Hilda Gonzalez, and uncles Eloy, Armando and Evelio Ramirez. He is also survived by his brother John Perez and his wife Jennifer, his uncle Paul Esperon and cousin Martha Rodriguez and many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. A memorial celebration of his life will be held Saturday, February 6, from 2:30-4pm at Serenity Meadows, 6919 Providence Rd., Riverview, FL. His ashes will be spread in the Gulf of Mexico. Donations may be made to the Arthritis Foundation.