A rare two-sport national champion, Holy Cross great Ron Perry Sr. dies at age 92

Ron Perry Sr., the man who led Holy Cross to national championships in two sports in a span of two years and served as the school’s athletic director for more than a quarter of a century, died Friday at age 92.

Perry was a sophomore pitcher on the 1952 Crusaders baseball team that won the College World Series. He defeated Texas, 2-1, in an elimination game. Two years later, Perry capped his collegiate baseball career by throwing a no-hitter against Harvard on his birthday.

In 1954 he was co-captain and point guard on the Crusaders’ basketball team, playing alongside Tommy Heinsohn and Togo Palazzi when they won the NIT Championship for the second time in program history.

In 1972, he returned to Holy Cross as athletic director, ushering in women’s athletics and overseeing the construction of numerous athletic facilities, including the Hart Center, during his 26 years at the helm.

In 1979, the National Association of Basketball Coaches bestowed Perry with one of its highest honors when it named him to the Silver Anniversary Basketball team, which recognizes student-athletes who go on to distinguish themselves after their collegiate careers. Perry and Bob Cousy are the only Holy Cross graduates to be honored.

Perry is still the all-time leading scorer at Somerville High (1,154 points), which he led to the New England Championship in 1949, and he coached Catholic Memorial to three state titles and a 292-34 record in basketball, while compiling a 186-53 record as the Knights’ baseball coach. He is a member of the Somerville, Catholic Memorial, Holy Cross, and ECAC halls of fame.

“It has extra meaning,” said CM football coach John DiBiaso after the team’s 34-0 win over St. John’s Prep on Saturday. “Every time we step on the field, we’re not only playing for this year’s team, but the teams that came before us, and the tradition. So this was a very nice win for us and hopefully the Perry family can get through such a difficult time. Our hearts are with them.”

Perry, who joined the Marines for three years after graduating before going into a career as an educator, spent decades dutifully taking care of his wife, Pat, after she suffered a stroke. The couple had three children and many grandchildren.

His son, Ron Perry Jr., was a basketball star at CM, where he scored a record 2,481 points, and Holy Cross, where he is still the school’s all-time leading scorer. Perry Jr. was drafted by both the Celtics and Red Sox.

A wake will be held at Gormley Funeral Home in West Roxbury from 4-8 p.m. Friday, and a funeral service is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Theresa Church.

(Nate Weitzer also contributed to this report.)