Steve Perucca Jr.

News Death Notice

PERUCCA Jr., Steve Age 66, died suddenly at his home in Oxford, OH on May 26, 2008 from natural causes. He was born in Hammond, IN on November 26, 1941. He is a former resident of Bicknell, IN and graduated from Bicknell High School in 1959. Steve, a veteran of the Vietnam War, joined the United States Navy in 1960 and served until 1966. Steve graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the John Herron School of Art at Indiana University in 1970. While there, he won the prestigious Wolcott Award. Steve received a Master of Fine Arts degree from Miami University in 1972. After graduation, he was a co-owner of Studio II, a framing and art supply store in Oxford. Later, he opened The Perucca Art Studio and Gallery, which eventually became Steve Perucca Art Studio. He also served as an adjunct art instructor with Miami and Western College. Steve's work has been shown in numerous juried and invitational shows. He received several awards over the course of his career including numerous Best of Show honors and the Grumbacher Gold Medal at the Western Ohio Watercolor Association. The majority of Steve's career was spent teaching at the Middletown Fine Arts Center. His personal feelings toward his work are expressed in his own words, "The work is a statement of my Identity; it is a byproduct of my sensitivity". Steve was preceded in death by his father, Steve Perucca, Sr. and sister, Deanna. He is survived by his wife Rhonda (Courter), son, Steven Douglas, daughter, Kelly Louise Stewart, grandson, Ronald Steve-Alan Stewart, mother, Ruth Perucca, and sons-in-law, Ron Stewart and Keith Sperry. Visitation begins at 2:00pm on Saturday, May 31, 2008, at the Smith & Ogle Funeral Home (www.smithoglefuneralhome.com), 5086 College Corner Pike in Oxford, with a memorial service at 3:00pm. A reception and remembrance of Steve's life will immediately follow the service at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Arthritis Foundation, American Cancer Society, or the Oxford Life Squad.