Obituary of Perry Eric Olsen

Perry Eric Olsen of Aptos passed away unexpectedly on August 8th at the age of 73. Perry was born on October 29, 1948, in San Francisco. He was the second of five children born to Perry A Olsen and Elizabeth E Olsen. The family moved to Campbell while Perry was in elementary school. He graduated from Del Mar High in 1966, attended Santa Clara University graduating in '71, followed by the University of San Francisco School of Law, class of '74. Perry met his wife Ellen M. Vlahutin (soon to be Olsen) while attending Santa Clara. After graduating from law school in June, he took the bar in July, and married August 4, 1974. Perry and Ellen moved to Aptos where they bought a home in which they raised their three children. Perry practiced law as a general practice attorney in Watsonville, CA for thirty years, retiring in 2004. Perry was a long-time member of the Rotary Club of Watsonville. He became a freemason in 1976 following in his grandfather's footsteps. Perry served as Master of Pajaro Lodge #110 in 1982. Later he joined the Order of the Eastern Star and served as Worthy Patron of the Santa Cruz Redwoods Chapter. Perry's passions included a deep appreciation for music, backpacking, and sailing. He enjoyed running on the beach and spending time at the family cabin on the San Lorenzo River. Perry developed a love for the Grateful Dead in the sixties and attended the live shows (often recording with his own equipment) for the remainder of the band's existence. After getting married in his mid-twenties, he and his bride Ellen spent their honeymoon on a two-month backpacking trip following the Pacific Crest Trail. Backpacking in the Sierras became a regular vacation destination and when his sons were old enough (six years old is old enough) he would take them on a 9-day backpacking trip every summer in or around Yosemite. His plan was always to switch to horse-back backpacking when he got too old for long treks with a heavy pack, but when the time came, he found a love for the open sea and bought a 46' sailboat instead. Long cruises were his forte and the wind carried him as far south as Central America, out to Hawaii, and north to Alaska. This summer Perry enjoyed life to the fullest, sailing and going to Giant games with family and friends. He leaves his wife of 48 years Ellen, sons Perry, Paul, and David, his brothers Roger (Irina) of London, David (Katie) of Carmel Valley, and his sister Sally (Frank) of Sacramento. He was preceded in death by his father Perry A. Olsen, his mother Elizabeth E. Olsen, and brother Thomas Olsen. A Celebration of Life will be held on October 15 at 1:00 PM at the Santa Cruz Masonic Center, 828 North Branciforte Avenue, Santa Cruz. Friends and Family are welcomed and encouraged to attend.