ERWIN PAUL PERKINS, 78, a resident of Englewood, Florida died peacefully at his Rotonda West, Florida residence, on May 24, 2025. Paul was born in Newark, New Jersey on August 7, 1946, to Ellen Mueller Perkins and Erwin Menninger Perkins. He married his college sweetheart Kathleen Thomas Perkins of Sebring, Florida on February 3, 1966. Paul and Kathleen lived in Nutley, New Jersey, and The Jersey Shore where they raised their children Paul Patrick and Stacey Marie. The couple have resided in Englewood, since 2003.
Shortly after retirement from his 30-year career— as an environmental engineer— for Public Service Electric and Gas in Newark, New Jersey, Paul, his wife Kathleen, and mother-in-law Dorothy Droit of Sebring, Florida moved to Key West, Florida where he worked for one year with the Navy Research Station; then they made the move they always intended—to beautiful Englewood. The family had visited and loved the area for decades. Englewood and Placida were summer destinations for extended family reunions. Paul Patrick and Stacey Marie, aunts, uncles, and cousins spent many happy days in a little silver trailer owned by Kathleen’s parents in what was once Gasparilla Marina Trailer Park. That’s when the fishing bridge was wooden and all the kids enjoyed the many adventures to be had in the exploration of the old boatyard.
After leaving Key West, they bought a permanent retirement home in Rotonda West. Paul became a realtor and then broker, first for Century 21, later Coldwell Banker, and still later under his own brand Perkins Realty. After retiring from real estate Paul worked part-time at Home Depot in Port Charlotte. He and Kathleen traveled the world; from China to Montserrat, loving adventure but never finding a more beautiful beach than our own Boca Grande and Englewood.
Paul was an avid fisherman and boater who loved nothing more than taking his grandchildren fishing in his boat “High Cotton” and introducing them to the dedicated search for shark teeth and exotic shells on the beach, finding that one grouper hole under the second bridge and visiting the old Fossil Shop in Tiffany Plaza, where he always promised them that they could choose one thing to buy.
Paul is survived by his wife Kathleen Thomas Perkins, his son Paul Patrick Perkins, daughter-in-law Kimberly Perkins of Flagler Beach, FL, his daughter Stacey Marie Perkins and son-in-law Ryan Suplee of Ponce Inlet and Rotonda West, FL, his granddaughter Kayleigh Skye Perkins, of Flagler Beach, FL, his grandsons Captain George Joseph Bradley, of Savannah, Georgia and Connor Patrick Bradley of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, His sister, MaryEllen Higgins (William) , of Toms River, New Jersey, brother-in-law John C. Thomas (Susan), of Sebring, Florida, his sister-in-law Joan Thomas Cheshire of Vincent, Alabama. Let us not forget many loving step grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends, from all over Florida and New Jersey who will always remember Paul’s generous sharing of his heart and humor. “Is this the person to whom I am speaking? Quack”