Robert Alexander Persell Jr.

Robert “Bob” Alexander Persell, Jr., age 85, died peacefully in his sleep on August 4, 2025, in Herndon, VA from complications of Parkinson’s disease. Bob was born to Colonel Robert and Jan Persell on September 3, 1939, in Oceanside, New York. An “Army brat,” Bob attended four different high schools in South Carolina, Massachusetts, and Virginia, graduating from Annandale High School in 1957. After graduating from the University of Virginia on an NROTC scholarship in 1961, Bob was commissioned as a Naval officer. During his career he served on three destroyers and one nuclear powered cruiser, rising to the rank of Commander. A Vietnam War veteran, he was awarded the Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Achievement Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, and the Defense Meritorious Service Medal. He was a graduate of the US Navy’s Nuclear Power School and served under Admiral Rickover. During his career in the Navy, Bob crisscrossed the United States multiple times, living in Florida, Rhode Island, California, Hawaii, and Alexandria, Virginia, where he resided for nearly 50 years. He was a graduate of the Naval Post Graduate School, where he later went on to earn a Master of Science in Management. He also earned a master’s degree from George Washington University in International Relations. Retiring in 1985, after serving his country for more than two decades, Bob then joined NASA’s prestigious Senior Executive learning and development team. Over the course of his 11 years at NASA, Bob worked with Senior Executives from the space centers, leading workshops on organizational effectiveness and teambuilding. Additionally, he was a key member of a strategic planning initiative at Goddard Space Center. In his retirement, Bob enjoyed attending University of Virginia football games as a season ticket holder, studying the Civil War, taking classes and teaching at George Mason’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI), and attending the sporting events and dance recitals of his grandchildren. Bob is survived by his loving wife of 63 years Beverley, son Jeff and daughter in law Liz of Fairfax, VA, daughter in law Suzanne of Fallbrook, CA, and four grandchildren, Robert IV, Blaire, Eric, and Kate. He was predeceased by his brother Ken and his son Robert III. The funeral will be held at Arlington National Cemetery on Tuesday, March 31st, 2026 at 9:00am. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the American Parkinsons Disease Association (APDA) in Bob’s name at www.apdaparkinson.org.