Joseph Albert Perlaky

1956 - 2022

News story
By Mark Zaborney
Blade Staff Writer

Joseph Albert Perlaky, a musician and entrepreneur who became an economic development specialist with alternative energy expertise, died Monday of a heart attack in his Oregon home. He was 66.

"He was healthy, so it was very much a shock," his son, Adam Perlaky, said.

Mr. Perlaky was affiliated for more than 16 years with the Maumee Valley Growers Association, made up of area greenhouse owners, most recently as executive director. He also had been an officer and board member of Green Energy Ohio and in 2010 received the group's "Volunteer of the Year" award.

Writing on the growers association website, Mr. Perlaky noted that the local industry employs more than 750 people locally, has a local economic impact of over $100 million in floriculture alone, and that Lucas County is one of the nation's top 100 counties for the production of greenhouse crops. In addition, he wrote, "the industry is also a part of the cultural fabric of Ohio."

He contributed his business sense and grant-writing skill to greenhouse owners, who in the spring especially are occupied with their own businesses, said Tom Wardell, growers association board president.

"Joe was a very organized person," said Mr. Wardell, owner of Wardell's Garden Center in Waterville. "Joe was the driving force in keeping everything going.

"He was fun. He was business-like when he needed to be. We got to be friends," Mr. Wardell said. "He was a complete person. He was always trying to do something to make our lives better and financially profitable."

The growers association became an independent nonprofit group in 2012, several years after it was formed as a project of several entities, including the University of Toledo. At UT, Mr. Perlaky had such roles as alternative energy manager and a manager of research and sponsored programs.

For several years, he organized a tour in northwest Ohio of sites that use solar or green energy, to "bring the technology to the community," he told The Blade in 2006. "It allows the community to touch, feel, and see what's available for them."

He was even-keeled and others listened to him, his son said.

"It was interesting because especially now in a day and age when political affiliations divide people, he got along with everyone," the younger Mr. Perlaky said. "Most people didn't know his political leanings. He played well in the sandbox with all people."

He learned to play piano in his youth and played trombone in the band at St. Francis de Sales High School. From his mid-teens, he was in a band that performed at weddings in the area. He later played keys and was an early adopter of music technology to use on gigs, including in his combo Polyphony, which played at area restaurants and clubs.

He was a composer and arranger of music he recorded for commercials and other business uses, a pursuit he continued.

"He was most passionate about his music," the younger Mr. Perlaky said.

Mr. Perlaky in his early 20s owned a dry cleaning business in Oregon and later had several coin laundries.

"He was definitely a serial entrepreneur," his son said. "He was an incredibly hard worker and was always eager to learn new things."

In the 1990s, he was executive director of what became Oregon on the Bay Regional Economic Development Foundation.

"Joe wanted to bring business into Oregon," said Bernie Quilter, who as chairman of Oregon City Council's economic development committee worked closely with Mr. Perlaky.

Meanwhile, "he kept current with the business owners who were already here," said Mr. Quilter, now Lucas County clerk of courts. "He called them. He went out to see them - 'Are you happy? What else can we do?' He was one of those guys who never stopped running. He was a friendly individual who worked with everybody."

He was born May 8, 1956, in Montreal, adopted as an infant by Stephanie and Joseph J. Perlaky, and grew up in East Toledo and Oregon. After graduating from St. Francis, he went to UT and in 1979 received a bachelor's degree in music education. He received a master of business administration degree from UT in 2001.

He taught his son the importance of education and hard work, to "be eager to learn and in doing so always set the bar high for yourself and always push yourself," the younger Mr. Perlaky said.

He was formerly married to Randy Britton Sheline and Donna Reineke Kuch.

Surviving are his son, Adam Perlaky; sister, Nikki, and three grandchildren.

The family will receive friends from 2-8 p.m. Friday at the Eggleston Meinert & Pavley Funeral Home, Oregon Chapel, where funeral services will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday.

The family suggests tributes to St. Francis de Sales High School.