Alumnus Broderick Perkins dies

2:51 p.m., Oct. 28, 2013--Broderick Perkins of San Jose, Calif., died Sept. 29 after recently being diagnosed with liver cancer. He was 63.

Born and raised in Wilmington, Del., Mr. Perkins attended the University of Delaware after a brief stint in the U.S. Army. At UD, he majored in journalism and was the editor of Pamoja, the Black Student Union newspaper. He also acted in several theatre productions. 

After college, Mr. Perkins had a long and successful career as a writer, first working at the News Journal in Delaware. He was invited to attend the Minority Journalism program at UC Berkeley, and California became his new home. After graduating from the program, he started working at the San Jose Mercury News in 1984, writing for the features department and eventually becoming the real estate writer. 

While there, he was a member of the team that was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for team reporting for coverage of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. He worked for the Mercury News until 1999, when he left to start his own business, Deadlinenews.com, serving as executive editor and publisher. Over the years, his in-depth research and writing educated and informed thousands of readers.

Mr. Perkins is survived by his son Corbin, 15; Corbin's mother, Gail Petty; Corbin's siblings Jen, Nikki, Kevin and Aaron, all of San Jose; daughter Cassandra Freeman and granddaughter Hadiya of Delaware; father, Robert, and sisters Roberta and Yvonne, all of Delaware; brother Clinton of Delaware, and brother Randy of California. He also leaves behind countless friends from all over the country.

A celebration of Mr. Perkins' life was held Oct. 19 in San Jose. 

Donations in his memory may be made to his son's college fund. Contact Wells Fargo, Corbin Perkins College Fund, account #8002965104, or donate through Paypal.