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Thomas Perrelli jr.
1993 - 2024
Thomas Perrelli jr.
1993 - 2024
Obituary
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Thomas Perrelli Obituary
Born on August 31st, 1993 to Allison and Tommy Perrelli, he spent his toddler years in Baltimore, MD surrounded by extended family. He received lots of love and attention as he was the first grandchild on both sides. In 1997, Thomas moved with his family to Rhode Island and during grade school and high school he resided in East Greenwich, RI with his parents and baby sister, Julia.
Thomas will be remembered as a sensitive, highly intelligent and hard-working student and athlete who excelled in sports and academics. He also enjoyed reading, gaming, long boarding and playing the flute and guitar. Thomas loved to practice Lacrosse in his back yard with his Dad or on the field with his teammates at Bishop Hendricken. A highlight of Thomas's high school years was winning the State Lacrosse Championship and his admittance to the National Honor Society.
At the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Thomas studied Psychology and after graduation returned to Baltimore to live, work and spend time with his Grandmother and Uncles. He continued to enjoy summer days in Ocean City going to the beach, swimming in the waves, strolling on the Boardwalk and eating the local crabs.
Thomas is survived by his parents Allison and Tommy and sister Julia, his Grandparents Joseph J. Burke and Harriet Perrelli, Aunts Lisa Burke and Ann Perrelli and Uncles Joe Burke, Frank, John and Rob Perrelli. He is predeceased by his Grandparents Valerie J. Burke and Dr. Albert R. Perrelli.
Al & Tommy would like to extend a very BIG thank you to all of their Friends & Family for an overwhelming amount of support during this difficult time in their lives. They have been enveloped in Love and the outreach has made them feel tremendously cared for.
We encourage you to share a happy memory, for while Thomas is no longer with us, he will never be forgotten.
Please consider a donation to NAMI ~ an alliance dedicated to the support of those suffering with mental illness. Advancements through science/research is very much needed in Mental Health Medicine. Nami works diligently to bring awareness to the forefront and lessen the stigma surrounding mental health.
A private gathering to commemorate Thomas, jr. to be determined.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Burke/Perrelli
February 8, 2025
Rick & Sharon Barry donated in memory of Thomas Perrelli for NAMI.
"Dear Allison & Tommy,
Our hearts are with you as you endure this sadness. It is cold now, but we hope that you can look toward the sun and find warmth. Your son will always be in your very own personal heaven to give you strength.
It seems that the only help that we can give right now is a contribution to NAMI for their important work.
Know that we love you,
Sharon and Rick"
-Rick & Sharon Barry
Kiera Patanella-Allen
January 21, 2025
I was a friend of Tom's at UNC. One time Emily, Tom, and I were at a home game I think we were sitting in the student section. I wish I could remember who we were playing. We spotted an entire empty row of Courtside seats. I said something along the lines of "Aw how cool would it be to sit down there?" And Tom was like "Why not? They're empty!" So we went down and sat Courtside for about 5 minutes before we were scolded and sent back to the student section. It was fun. He was a good friend.
Emily Brawley
January 4, 2025
Tom was my friend at UNC. Although we lost touch, one of my all-time favorite memories of college was when we were playing basketball late at night, just the two of us, outside on campus, talking and goofing around. It started snowing. It was so magical and special. I loved Tom very much.
Isabelle
October 22, 2024
I spoke with him during his stay at Dover Behavioral ... He was a very thoughtful and soft-spoken person. I'm glad I knew him.
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Rob & Jen Perrelli
September 18, 2024
Our memories of Thomas are of smiles & laughter. We most often saw each other during family celebrations & vacations. He will forever be the young man who was so kind with his cousins and greeted us with a big smile. He had endless patience at the beach, showing the boys how to boogie board, catch sand crabs & dig moat holes around castles. He would shoot baskets in the driveway & play lacrosse in the yard, always helping them work on technique & accuracy. We would have deep conversations and good laughs. Living so far apart, we saw Thomas in happy snapshots. We saw him at his best as he grew into a smart & handsome young man, and we will hold those good times in our hearts.
Matt Dolan
September 6, 2024
Tom was one of the best friends I had at Hendricken, and hearing of his passing is heartbreaking.
Those of us lucky enough to know him will always remember him as a fun-loving, loyal friend.
The Perrelli household felt like a second home to my friends and I, and Tom was a staple in all of ours. My parents laugh to this day about the many times they came home to find Tom hanging out on our couch before I was even home. It was always a welcome surprise.
I wish it had stayed that way. I have and will always miss having Tom around.
To the Perrelli family, I'm so sorry for your loss. Tom, we miss you buddy.
Lisa Burke
September 5, 2024
Sitting out looking at the lake and I remember once in Rowe Thomas swam all the way across the lake with me. He was a brave young boy. Greg is about to get on a jet ski w. John. Last time he was on a jet ski was with Thomas in Newport.
Joe Burke
September 4, 2024
Thomas used to come all the way from RI to NJ just to see my infant triplets and in particular Joey, when he was about 14 years old. He would constantly hold, play with, burp and feed my triplets. He would do these visits on weekends when my parents would visit as an extra visitor to my house. When it was time to leave, he would sit in my parents backseat and hold young Joey, not wanting to leave yet, Thank You Thomas for those cherished loving memories and we will always love you back!!
Mike Dexter
September 2, 2024
So sorry for the loss of your son. Please take care.
Ann Perrelli
September 2, 2024
Thomas Perrelli showed me the beauty of becoming an aunt. From the moment he was born, as the first grandchild on both sides, no one could lavish enough love on Thomas. Everyone clamored for time with this beautiful growing boy. He was always deeply feeling, sensitive, thoughtful, and curious. Like everyone in our family, we cherished our visits with him as a child in Ellicott City, Ocean City and Rhode Island. I remember babysitting him at a nearby playground, July 4th celebrations, face painting, Halloween, Christmas and Easter holidays, first communion celebrations, sledding in winter, films together snug by a fireplace during cold Rhode Island winters, and coastal beach walks in summer.
During university, I enjoyed visiting him at UNC campus where he showed me the library, social areas, his dorm, and his favorite restaurants and bars in town. We enjoyed live music, dining, and catching up together. Over the years, no matter where I was in the world, he was the family member I connected with most, apart from my mom, despite time zones and distance, he was only a Facetime call away. We shared an interest in Italian culture, and I hoped that we would have a chance to take a trip like that together someday. I appreciated that once during a very difficult year abroad, Tom and Thomas met me in NYC to welcome me back to America. We enjoyed touring Manhattan together, going to the Met, exploring the Big Apple, and experiencing Halloween decorations around the city, especially Greenwich Village.
During visits back to Baltimore, we always connected at holidays that Grammy, and later my brothers, hosted. We also met at his apartment, workplace, and coffeeshop to reconnect. During my last year stateside, he was the first (and one of the only) family members to visit Lorenzo and me in Northern Virginia. He enjoyed our home and cats. We hoped to have many more similar occasions. We enjoyed celebrating our birthdays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter with him and the rest of the family over the past year, but especially one-on-one time. Being near family in Baltimore was very important to him. There is a hole in my heart for Thomas, and I will not get used to his absence. However, I am comforted to know that he is at peace forevermore. Sending warm and loving embraces to all who knew and loved him.
Allison Burke
August 31, 2024
Stephanie Federico donated in memory of Thomas Perreli for NAMI.
"Dear Al, Tommy & Julia,
We are so incredibly sorry to hear the unimaginable news of Thomas´s passing.
Sending love and prayers. Stephanie, Justin, Eric & Andrew"
Greg Adams
August 30, 2024
Thomas was such a smart kid. Very perceptive and aware. Lisa and I were living in Edgewood and Thomas came for a sleepover. We had just adopted a neighborhood stray cat. He asked his auntie Lisa what was its name.... Lisa replied, "Gato". Thomas took that info in for about 3 seconds ( he was all of about 6-7 years old) and then replied..." Auntie Lisa, you can´t name a cat , Cat. Lisa and I both burst out laughing. No moss on him. Thomas, that remark still gets repeated often between Lisa and I and makes us chuckle every time. We love and remember you always and hope you are at peace in a beautiful place.. love Uncle Greg.
Susan Cherkes
August 19, 2024
Susan Cherkes (allison´s college besty) donated to NAMI on behalf of her Son, Thomas and her Mom, Valerie Jean.
Harriet Perrelli
August 9, 2024
When Al, my husband and I heard that Tom and Allison were expecting a baby, we were thrilled at the idea of being grandparents. Thomas was our first grandchild and when we were invited to RI, we would drop everything and go.
Thomas was a sensitive, quiet, gentle little boy and handsome in every way. He really loved his sister Julia who was several years younger. His feelings for her were very apparent and he was very protective of his little sister. I can remember him playing with her under the kitchen table one day saying something very profound about taking care of her.
When Al and I visited RI we usually would take Thomas to a nearby playground and then out for an ice cream cone, or something else special. He was always the joy of our lives.
I remember his high school graduation party that his parents gave in their back yard. The food was great including a popcorn machine on the porch. Not only family but several friends from high school were there.
Thomas went to Loyola U. for a year and then to UNC Chapel Hill. After graduation he moved to Towson, where he was able to connect with the Perrelli family. He loved Ocean City and attended many cookouts at Frank´s as well as field trips and hikes with John and family.
John Perrelli
August 7, 2024
I enjoyed hanging out with Thomas at family gatherings like cookouts and holidays, and watching Ravens games with him. It seemed like he liked to be around kids and dogs, and they enjoyed his company also. He´d sometimes create artwork to give to the kids or us which showed his thoughtfulness and creativity.
I think we both appreciated funny videos/comedy, good music, cool video games, art, sports, and recreation. He gave me a Napoleon Dynamite dvd for Christmas one year. I think he said main character reminded him of me. I took that as a compliment since I liked the character and movie.
I enjoyed playing tennis with Thomas also. He was very good at it, better than me. It wasn´t competitive, but just fun to be hitting around on the courts. We´d sometimes play on my lunch breaks at Goucher College, or other times at the courts near us. He also liked practicing baseball with Dominic and I. I enjoyed those times with Thomas and will miss him.
Joseph J. Burke
August 7, 2024
Grandfather Joseph J. Burke.
When we were in Barrington and I was teaching him how to hit a baseball, he became very good at it. So good that the neighbor twins came over to compete. They were at least 4 years older and thomas outhit them with ease. Watching him try to rollerskate for the first time time up and down Ronald road for nearly an hour until he mastered it taught me a lot about thomas. And finally his music masterpiece at max´s funeral was who he really was. He tried, he excelled, he met a disease he could not compete with.
Joseph
August 6, 2024
My favorite memories of Thomas was when he used to show up his Uncle Joe (Allison´s brother not Uncle Joe from Fire lake).. we used to huck football passes over and over again when Thomas was young and one day at 2nd beach after several years he beat me in distance. I used to tell him I took all these calculus college courses and physics courses and could help him with his high school math but when I took pen to paper and tried to demonstrate quickly how to solve for 2 unknowns with 2 equations he scribbled how to do it back to me in 10 seconds. Thomas was quick and good his crafts, whatever he decided to be good at. Real good. The best!
Sydney
August 5, 2024
A long time ago Julia and I would come up with dances after school all the time. One day we wanted an audience since we were likely planning on auditioning for the talent show. Thomas and a friend were so patient to watch us dance on their porch (our stage at the time) for at least ten minutes. I will always remember how they respectfully stayed the whole time and clapped when we were done performing our routines. I also remember feeling shy because I thought they were so cool.
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