Ed Peery, 75, wrestling coach and professor at the U.S. Naval Academy, died of pancreatic cancer at his home in West River, Maryland. With 311 wins over a 27-year coaching career, he was the winningest wrestling coach in Naval Academy history and a three-time NCAA individual champion. With his father and his brother, also three-time NCAA individual champions, Peery belonged to one of collegiate wrestling's most heralded families.
A native of Stillwater, Oklahoma, Peery attended Shafer High School in Glen Shaw, Pennsylvania, where he met Gretchen Miller, his future bride and wife of 55 years. He lettered in baseball, track, football and wrestling, winning two Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association wrestling titles. Under his father, the wrestling coach at the University of Pittsburgh, he was a three-time NCAA champion. Peery was an alternate for the 1956 Olympic Freestyle Wrestling team. The Wrestling Hall of Fame declared Peery's 1957 NCAA championship bout as one of the top ten matches in NCAA tournament history.
Following his graduation from Pitt with a B.S in Civil Engineering in 1957, Peery served for two years as a 2nd Lt. in the U.S. Army. He returned to Pitt in 1959 as an instructor in Civil Engineering and assistant wrestling coach.
Peery came to the U.S. Naval Academy in 1960 as an instructor in the Civil Engineering Department and an assistant to then wrestling coach Ray Schwartz. One year later he took the head coaching slot upon Schwartz's retirement from active coaching. His 27-year record included 311 sins against 90 losses and 14 ties, a winning percentage of .766. He coached 48 EIWA individual champions and 28 NCAA All-Americans. Peery was named NCAA Coach of the Year in 1968 and was twice named Eastern Wrestling Coach of the Year. He was inducted into the amateur Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1980. Peery also held a Master's degree in personnel administration from George Washington University.
Peery was promoted to the rank of Professor in the Physical Education Department of the Naval Academy. Upon stepping down as wrestling coach in 1987, he served for the next 13 years as the Deputy Physical Education Officer, the highest civilian position in the department. He retired in 1999 from the Naval Academy after 40 years. In 1999, Peery provided the "Coach's Tribute" at the farewell dinner for General Charles C. Krulak, Commandant ot the Marine Corps.
After retirement, Peery remained active within both national ad local wrestling communities. He was a volunteer coach at Annapolis High School, South River High School, and the Annapolis Area Christian School, the latter which established the "Ed Peery Invitational" in his honor.
On January 18, 2010, InterMat was quoted as saying: "Ed Peery's contributions to the sport go far beyond the Navy wrestling program." He is considered to be one of the pioneers in establishing and conducting large-scale summer wrestling camps. He helped launch the wrestling program at Annapolis Area Christian School, which hosts the annual Ed Peery Invitational, a high school wrestling tournament held in mid-December for the past decade. In early 2009, the Anne Arundel County Wrestling Coaches Association presented Ed with the Allan Segree Service to Wrestling Award.
Peery was also active at Grace Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Davidsonville, Maryland. He served as chair to the building committee, leading the construction of a new church building in 2002. He served as an Elder, co-founded the church's men's bible study, and was a discussion leader for the Men's Bible Study Fellowship of Annapolis, MD. Peery enjoyed woodworking, crabbing and spending time with his family.
Peery was the beloved husband of Gretchen; father of Martie Milliken of Annapolis, MD, Greg Peery of Merritt Island, FL and the late Laurie Jackson; brother of Hugh Peery of Pittsburgh, PA and Anne Ritter of Pittsburgh, PA; also survived by eight grandchildren.
Family visitation was held on June 21, 2010 from 6-8pm at the Grace Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 4012 Birdsville Rd., Davidsonville, MD 21035. Funeral services were held on June 22 at 1:30pm at the United States Naval Academy Chapel. A reception (Celebration of Ed's life) was held at the Grace EP Church immediately following the service. Interment private. In lieu of flowers, contributions to be made to Grace Evangelical Presbyterian Church: Ed Peery Memorial. An online guestbook is available at www.kalasfuneralhomes.com.
A native of Stillwater, Oklahoma, Peery attended Shafer High School in Glen Shaw, Pennsylvania, where he met Gretchen Miller, his future bride and wife of 55 years. He lettered in baseball, track, football and wrestling, winning two Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association wrestling titles. Under his father, the wrestling coach at the University of Pittsburgh, he was a three-time NCAA champion. Peery was an alternate for the 1956 Olympic Freestyle Wrestling team. The Wrestling Hall of Fame declared Peery's 1957 NCAA championship bout as one of the top ten matches in NCAA tournament history.
Following his graduation from Pitt with a B.S in Civil Engineering in 1957, Peery served for two years as a 2nd Lt. in the U.S. Army. He returned to Pitt in 1959 as an instructor in Civil Engineering and assistant wrestling coach.
Peery came to the U.S. Naval Academy in 1960 as an instructor in the Civil Engineering Department and an assistant to then wrestling coach Ray Schwartz. One year later he took the head coaching slot upon Schwartz's retirement from active coaching. His 27-year record included 311 sins against 90 losses and 14 ties, a winning percentage of .766. He coached 48 EIWA individual champions and 28 NCAA All-Americans. Peery was named NCAA Coach of the Year in 1968 and was twice named Eastern Wrestling Coach of the Year. He was inducted into the amateur Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1980. Peery also held a Master's degree in personnel administration from George Washington University.
Peery was promoted to the rank of Professor in the Physical Education Department of the Naval Academy. Upon stepping down as wrestling coach in 1987, he served for the next 13 years as the Deputy Physical Education Officer, the highest civilian position in the department. He retired in 1999 from the Naval Academy after 40 years. In 1999, Peery provided the "Coach's Tribute" at the farewell dinner for General Charles C. Krulak, Commandant ot the Marine Corps.
After retirement, Peery remained active within both national ad local wrestling communities. He was a volunteer coach at Annapolis High School, South River High School, and the Annapolis Area Christian School, the latter which established the "Ed Peery Invitational" in his honor.
On January 18, 2010, InterMat was quoted as saying: "Ed Peery's contributions to the sport go far beyond the Navy wrestling program." He is considered to be one of the pioneers in establishing and conducting large-scale summer wrestling camps. He helped launch the wrestling program at Annapolis Area Christian School, which hosts the annual Ed Peery Invitational, a high school wrestling tournament held in mid-December for the past decade. In early 2009, the Anne Arundel County Wrestling Coaches Association presented Ed with the Allan Segree Service to Wrestling Award.
Peery was also active at Grace Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Davidsonville, Maryland. He served as chair to the building committee, leading the construction of a new church building in 2002. He served as an Elder, co-founded the church's men's bible study, and was a discussion leader for the Men's Bible Study Fellowship of Annapolis, MD. Peery enjoyed woodworking, crabbing and spending time with his family.
Peery was the beloved husband of Gretchen; father of Martie Milliken of Annapolis, MD, Greg Peery of Merritt Island, FL and the late Laurie Jackson; brother of Hugh Peery of Pittsburgh, PA and Anne Ritter of Pittsburgh, PA; also survived by eight grandchildren.
Family visitation was held on June 21, 2010 from 6-8pm at the Grace Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 4012 Birdsville Rd., Davidsonville, MD 21035. Funeral services were held on June 22 at 1:30pm at the United States Naval Academy Chapel. A reception (Celebration of Ed's life) was held at the Grace EP Church immediately following the service. Interment private. In lieu of flowers, contributions to be made to Grace Evangelical Presbyterian Church: Ed Peery Memorial. An online guestbook is available at www.kalasfuneralhomes.com.
Ed Peery, 75, wrestling coach and professor at the U.S. Naval Academy, died of pancreatic cancer at his home in West River, Maryland. With 311 wins over a 27-year coaching career, he was the winningest wrestling coach in Naval Academy history and a three-time NCAA individual champion. With his father and his brother, also three-time NCAA individual champions, Peery belonged to one of collegiate wrestling's most heralded families.
A native of Stillwater, Oklahoma, Peery attended Shafer High School in Glen Shaw, Pennsylvania, where he met Gretchen Miller, his future bride and wife of 55 years. He lettered in baseball, track, football and wrestling, winning two Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association wrestling titles. Under his father, the wrestling coach at the University of Pittsburgh, he was a three-time NCAA champion. Peery was an alternate for the 1956 Olympic Freestyle Wrestling team. The Wrestling Hall of Fame declared Peery's 1957 NCAA championship bout as one of the top ten matches in NCAA tournament history.
Following his graduation from Pitt with a B.S in Civil Engineering in 1957, Peery served for two years as a 2nd Lt. in the U.S. Army. He returned to Pitt in 1959 as an instructor in Civil Engineering and assistant wrestling coach.
Peery came to the U.S. Naval Academy in 1960 as an instructor in the Civil Engineering Department and an assistant to then wrestling coach Ray Schwartz. One year later he took the head coaching slot upon Schwartz's retirement from active coaching. His 27-year record included 311 sins against 90 losses and 14 ties, a winning percentage of .766. He coached 48 EIWA individual champions and 28 NCAA All-Americans. Peery was named NCAA Coach of the Year in 1968 and was twice named Eastern Wrestling Coach of the Year. He was inducted into the amateur Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1980. Peery also held a Master's degree in personnel administration from George Washington University.
Peery was promoted to the rank of Professor in the Physical Education Department of the Naval Academy. Upon stepping down as wrestling coach in 1987, he served for the next 13 years as the Deputy Physical Education Officer, the highest civilian position in the department. He retired in 1999 from the Naval Academy after 40 years. In 1999, Peery provided the "Coach's Tribute" at the farewell dinner for General Charles C. Krulak, Commandant ot the Marine Corps.
After retirement, Peery remained active within both national ad local wrestling communities. He was a volunteer coach at Annapolis High School, South River High School, and the Annapolis Area Christian School, the latter which established the "Ed Peery Invitational" in his honor.
On January 18, 2010, InterMat was quoted as saying: "Ed Peery's contributions to the sport go far beyond the Navy wrestling program." He is considered to be one of the pioneers in establishing and conducting large-scale summer wrestling camps. He helped launch the wrestling program at Annapolis Area Christian School, which hosts the annual Ed Peery Invitational, a high school wrestling tournament held in mid-December for the past decade. In early 2009, the Anne Arundel County Wrestling Coaches Association presented Ed with the Allan Segree Service to Wrestling Award.
Peery was also active at Grace Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Davidsonville, Maryland. He served as chair to the building committee, leading the construction of a new church building in 2002. He served as an Elder, co-founded the church's men's bible study, and was a discussion leader for the Men's Bible Study Fellowship of Annapolis, MD. Peery enjoyed woodworking, crabbing and spending time with his family.
Peery was the beloved husband of Gretchen; father of Martie Milliken of Annapolis, MD, Greg Peery of Merritt Island, FL and the late Laurie Jackson; brother of Hugh Peery of Pittsburgh, PA and Anne Ritter of Pittsburgh, PA; also survived by eight grandchildren.
Family visitation was held on June 21, 2010 from 6-8pm at the Grace Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 4012 Birdsville Rd., Davidsonville, MD 21035. Funeral services were held on June 22 at 1:30pm at the United States Naval Academy Chapel. A reception (Celebration of Ed's life) was held at the Grace EP Church immediately following the service. Interment private. In lieu of flowers, contributions to be made to Grace Evangelical Presbyterian Church: Ed Peery Memorial. An online guestbook is available at www.kalasfuneralhomes.com.
A native of Stillwater, Oklahoma, Peery attended Shafer High School in Glen Shaw, Pennsylvania, where he met Gretchen Miller, his future bride and wife of 55 years. He lettered in baseball, track, football and wrestling, winning two Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association wrestling titles. Under his father, the wrestling coach at the University of Pittsburgh, he was a three-time NCAA champion. Peery was an alternate for the 1956 Olympic Freestyle Wrestling team. The Wrestling Hall of Fame declared Peery's 1957 NCAA championship bout as one of the top ten matches in NCAA tournament history.
Following his graduation from Pitt with a B.S in Civil Engineering in 1957, Peery served for two years as a 2nd Lt. in the U.S. Army. He returned to Pitt in 1959 as an instructor in Civil Engineering and assistant wrestling coach.
Peery came to the U.S. Naval Academy in 1960 as an instructor in the Civil Engineering Department and an assistant to then wrestling coach Ray Schwartz. One year later he took the head coaching slot upon Schwartz's retirement from active coaching. His 27-year record included 311 sins against 90 losses and 14 ties, a winning percentage of .766. He coached 48 EIWA individual champions and 28 NCAA All-Americans. Peery was named NCAA Coach of the Year in 1968 and was twice named Eastern Wrestling Coach of the Year. He was inducted into the amateur Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1980. Peery also held a Master's degree in personnel administration from George Washington University.
Peery was promoted to the rank of Professor in the Physical Education Department of the Naval Academy. Upon stepping down as wrestling coach in 1987, he served for the next 13 years as the Deputy Physical Education Officer, the highest civilian position in the department. He retired in 1999 from the Naval Academy after 40 years. In 1999, Peery provided the "Coach's Tribute" at the farewell dinner for General Charles C. Krulak, Commandant ot the Marine Corps.
After retirement, Peery remained active within both national ad local wrestling communities. He was a volunteer coach at Annapolis High School, South River High School, and the Annapolis Area Christian School, the latter which established the "Ed Peery Invitational" in his honor.
On January 18, 2010, InterMat was quoted as saying: "Ed Peery's contributions to the sport go far beyond the Navy wrestling program." He is considered to be one of the pioneers in establishing and conducting large-scale summer wrestling camps. He helped launch the wrestling program at Annapolis Area Christian School, which hosts the annual Ed Peery Invitational, a high school wrestling tournament held in mid-December for the past decade. In early 2009, the Anne Arundel County Wrestling Coaches Association presented Ed with the Allan Segree Service to Wrestling Award.
Peery was also active at Grace Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Davidsonville, Maryland. He served as chair to the building committee, leading the construction of a new church building in 2002. He served as an Elder, co-founded the church's men's bible study, and was a discussion leader for the Men's Bible Study Fellowship of Annapolis, MD. Peery enjoyed woodworking, crabbing and spending time with his family.
Peery was the beloved husband of Gretchen; father of Martie Milliken of Annapolis, MD, Greg Peery of Merritt Island, FL and the late Laurie Jackson; brother of Hugh Peery of Pittsburgh, PA and Anne Ritter of Pittsburgh, PA; also survived by eight grandchildren.
Family visitation was held on June 21, 2010 from 6-8pm at the Grace Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 4012 Birdsville Rd., Davidsonville, MD 21035. Funeral services were held on June 22 at 1:30pm at the United States Naval Academy Chapel. A reception (Celebration of Ed's life) was held at the Grace EP Church immediately following the service. Interment private. In lieu of flowers, contributions to be made to Grace Evangelical Presbyterian Church: Ed Peery Memorial. An online guestbook is available at www.kalasfuneralhomes.com.
Inscription
'COACH' USNA Husband of Gretchen Miller Peery
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
