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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Mix saw thousands of dollars go down the drain when water didn't ... Fake grass offers real water savings ... Hosler Dam siren test due Monday ... Mix saw thousands of dollars go down the drain when water didn't ... Fake grass offers real water savings ... Hosler Dam siren test due Monday ... FRIENDS REMEMBER Ashland friends remember Lee Perlman as writer, officer ... and mensch Comment By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Mar. 6, 2015 at 4:21 PM By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Mar. 6, 2015 at 4:21 PM » Social News Friends in Ashland are mourning the death of Lee Perlman, an ardent philanthropist, journalist, writer and devotee of many nonprofits in the valley. Perlman, a graduate of Amherst College in Massachusetts, was an account manager for several public relations agencies, including Ruder Finn and eventually had his own agency. He was in naval intelligence before a long career in public relations and journalism. He served on the boards of Oregon Stage Works and Ashland Historic Railroad Museum, whose director Victoria Law, said, “He was a sweet man with sparkling blue eyes and a great sense of humor. "I discovered that the quiet-spoken Lee was quite an accomplished man," she said. "He was a navy intelligence officer from 1962 to 1965. When I asked him what he did there, he said, 'If I told you I would have to kill you.' “He, of course, was just teasing and Lee loved to joke but his job had been top secret. As an intelligence analyst, he helped write the president's daily brief in the Kennedy and Johnson years and occasionally briefed the secretary of defense. After his work with the State Department he had a successful career as an investigative reporter and journalist.” As a freelancer, Perlman was published in “Newsweek,” “High Technology” and other magazines. Perlman, a graduate of Amhert College in Massachusetts, gave a talk entitled “The Man Who Loved Trains: The Life and Times of Alfred E. Perlman" at the Ashland Historic Railroad Museum in 2010. The talk was about his father, a noted railroad president who merged New York Central with Penn Railroad to create Penn Central Railroad.. The elder Perlman in 1966 set the U.S. train speed record of 183 mph, with twin jet bomber engines bolted to the top of the locomotive. “Unfortunately, to Lee's eternal dismay, his dad, a lifelong railroad man, never considered Lee a success, his having chosen to become a writer and PR man,” notes his friend Larry Marshall. A story on his talk is on the Daily Tidings website, www.dailytidings.com. Enter "The Man Who Loved Trains" in the search field to find it, or click here . Friend Peter Alzado said, “I met Lee Perlman after a performance of ‘Park Your Car In Harvard Yard’ at Actors' Theatre when I was that company's producing artistic director. He complimented the show and the clam chowder we were serving. A friendship developed and I found him to be a passionate, generous, enthusiastic and supportive person. He was a writer, an advocate for Israel and a founding board member of Oregon Stage Works. He will be missed.” A funeral service, led by Rabbi Avi of Chabad of Southern Oregon, was held Friday. The rabbi reported that when asked how he wanted to be remembered, Perlman, then in hospice, said, as a “mensch.” The Yiddish word means a person of high character, integrity and honor. He died of kidney failure Feb. 26 and was buried at Scenic Hills Cemetery. Reach Ashland freelance writer John Darling at [email protected]. By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Mar. 6, 2015 at 4:21 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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