Albert J. Perri, 82, of Shrewsbury passed away April 16, 2022, surrounded by his loving family.
Al was born in Red Bank, lived in Middletown and graduated from Leonardo High School. He served three years in the United States Army.
In 1972, Al started his own business and was president of A.J. Perri Heating, Cooling & Plumbing in Middletown and Tinton Falls. He moved to Little Silver, raising his family and working hard to grow his business statewide; eventually working alongside his three children and recently celebrating the company’s 50th anniversary.
Al was a lifetime volunteer of the Middletown Township Fire Company No. 1 and its longest living member. Al was a founding member of the dive and recovery team and a member of the Fairview First Aid & Rescue Squad.
Al was a longtime member of Beacon Hill Country Club. He chaired many golf outings to raise money for the YMCA and volunteered his time in the junior golf program. He was awarded the prestigious Harry Lubker Award in 2013 for his dedicated and outstanding services to Beacon Hill. His passion for the outdoors included skiing in Vermont, hunting and fishing with his boys, and eventually enjoying the sunny beaches and warm winter nights as a snowbird in Palm City, Florida.
Al had a passion for traveling and a great sense of humor with an infectious laugh. He had a devilish smile and fabulous tan. He engrained family values and embraced time spent with his grandchildren. His love for life and arts lead him to attend classes and to creating beautiful oil paintings which he shared with his family and friends.
Albert was predeceased by his parents, Pasquale and Mary (Longo) Perri; his sister Josephine (Perri) Trevett; his mother-in-law Vera Kleinschmidt; and brother-in-law Bobby Kleinschmidt.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 59 years, Linda (Kleinschmidt) Perri; his three sons, Albert J. Perri Jr. and wife Marci, Michael Perri and wife Joan, and Kevin Perri and significant other Holly Wilson; his eight cherished grandchildren, Ally, Abby, Matthew, Michael, Kelsey, Erin, Colin and Jack; his brother-in-law John Kleinschmidt; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Family and friends were welcomed at a memorial Mass April 22 at St. James Church, Red Bank.
In lieu of flowers, family and friends are invited to make a donation in A.J. Perri’s memory to the Red Bank YMCA, 166 Maple Ave., Red Bank, NJ 07701 or at njymca.org.
The article originally appeared in the April 28 – May 4, 2022 print edition of The Two River Times.
