Vincent Perrone

Vincent J. Perrone 90

World War II Veteran

Worcester - Vincent John Perrone "Vinny" peacefully passed away on Thursday, May 19, 2016, at home in the presence of his loving family.

Vinny was born on December 2, 1925 in Worcester, MA the first son in a family of eight children of Antonio and Bomina (Ginese) Perrone.

He leaves behind his loving wife of 62 years Anna M. (Gallo) Perrone, and their three children, sons, Lt Colonel Vincent John Perrone Jr, USAF, retired and his wife Debra (Patnod) of Boylston, Anthony Paul Perrone, Ph.D, and his wife Lyndal (Gawen) of Albury, NSW, Australia and his daughter Rosanne Perrone of Worcester in addition to five grandchildren, Francesca Person and her husband John, Vincent III, Samuel, Lakota and Ricky. Vinny also leaves behind his brother Joseph R. Perrone and his wife Dolores (June), his sister Stellina Cicero and many nieces and nephews, extended family members and friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents, sisters Rosa Perrone, Louisa Marchese, Loretta Ferro, Rose Finne and brother Samuel A. Perrone.

Vinny was drafted out of high school to fight in WW II, he was assigned to the Special Forces, 10th Mountain Division, Company E, 87th Infantry Regiment. During his tour of duty, he received the Bronze Star and seven other medals and awards. One of his many significant acts of heroism and bravery was when he surprised and captured a unit of twenty German soldiers and singlehandedly skied them down the mountain to his unit's base camp.

Upon returning from the war, Vinny worked at the Wyman Gordon Company while studying at Ernest Trahan's Peacock Cosmetology School to become a cosmetologist. He owned and operated Perrone Hairstylers for nearly seventy years right up until the time of his death. Vinny was best known among his peers as the hairdresser's hairdresser. Other professionals came to him for their own hairstyle and color.

Vinny took his craft very seriously, and was recognized in his field with many national and local awards. He sat on the state board of the Massachusetts Cosmetology Association and he was the President of the Worcester Cosmetology Association (WCA) providing a voice for hundreds of professionals to state and local government. He was most proud of the fact that the WCA raised tens of thousands of dollars for local charities. For decades, Vinny sat on the advisory board of the David Hale Fanning Trade School to provide oversight to the cosmetology program. He was a community advocate organizing the neighborhood and successfully saving a local playground from closure by the city. Throughout his life, he remained involved in local, state and national politics as well.

In the 1960's, he along with his friends, Francis R. Carrol and Daniel Abraham, canvased the state and organized thousands of cosmetologists and barbers to create the first of its kind group insurance plans for small businesses.

Vinny was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Pope John XXIII Council #5481, and the fourth degree Bishop O'Reilly Assembly.

A celebration of his life will be held on Thursday, May 26, 2016 at 11:00 am at Our Lady of Loreto Church, 37 Massasoit Road, Worcester, MA 01604. Burial with Military Honors will immediately follow at Notre Dame Cemetery, Worcester, MA. Friends and relatives are invited to calling hours on Wednesday, May 25, 2016 from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Mercadante Funeral Home and Chapel, 370 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605. Members of the Pope John Council Knights of Columbus and Bishop O'Reilly Assembly will meet at 6:30 pm at the funeral home to conduct their ritual.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation in Vincent's name to Veterans Inc., 69 Grove Street, Worcester, MA 01605, the largest supportive services agency for veterans and their families who are at risk in New England, www.veteransinc.org/donate.

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