Pernecky, Paul

Born at Chicago, IL; deaf at 17 from a mastoid operation. Graduated Northwestern University; master's degree some years later. Worked for the U.S. Government until age 54, then became a self-employed certified public accountant. Simultaneously, he was made the first hearing-impaired permanent deacon in U.S. Catholic Church history; president of Office of Referral and Service to the Handicapped and Addicted in Washington, DC.