Pompano Beach, Fla. – Kenneth D. “Ken” Perro, 77, of Pompano Beach, Fla., formerly of Grafton, passed away with his devoted wife Jean by his side Sept. 26, 2018 after a long battle with chronic illness. He is greeted in heaven by his son, Keith D. Perro, who passed away in 1994.
Ken was born and raised in Worcester, the youngest of nine children of Italian immigrants Antonio and Margaret (Altomano) Perro. He grew up in a close-knit family in the Italian neighborhood of Grafton Hill. He graduated from Commerce High School and served in the Massachusetts Army National Guard.
In his early years he worked at Table Talk Pies and Baroni Glass.
On Aug. 26, 1961, Ken married the love of his life, Jean M. Vuona, who never left his side for the last 57 years. They worked beside each other in the family business, raised three beloved children, and were well-known members in the community. The two traveled all over the world and toured the United States in their motor-home. Ken and Jean shared a beautiful life, filled with love, that most people only dream of.
He is survived by his wife, Jean; the two children he cherished, Kenneth F. Perro and his wife Susan and Karen A. McGilloway and her husband George, all of Millbury, six grandchildren that were the apples of his eye, Matthew, Brian, Rachel Perro and Jaclyn, Daniel and George McGilloway; and many loving nieces, nephews, extended family and friends, both in Florida and the Worcester area. In addition to his son, Keith, five brothers, Angelo, Richard, Anthony, Joseph and Michael Perro, and three sisters, Yolanda Damato, Rose Glidden and Mary Gerardi, all predeceased him.
Ken was the definition of an entrepreneur founding and operating several business’s over the course of his life. He founded Ken Perro and Sons Waste Disposal Service Inc. in 1969, a business that was very successful as a result of his unrelenting hard work and entrepreneurial spirit. He was able to retire young, but was never one to keep still, so he continued to oversee several companies and real estate properties and became a part owner of Ballard Springs Inc. In addition, Ken served as the President of his condo association in Florida for eight years.
He was an honorary member of the Worcester County Sheriff Association and the Florida Sheriff’s Association for many years, Ken was also a member of the Auburn/Webster Elks Lodge and a former member of The Knights of Columbus Pope John XXIII Counsel.
In his free time, he loved a good meal, especially his daughter Karen’s meatballs and his son Ken’s mushrooms and peppers, watching old western movies on TV, singing karaoke with his grand-kids, going to church and going to the casino.
Ken was a dedicated family man, a true friend, a devout Catholic, and always willing to help those in need. He believed in hard work and would give anyone a fair shot. He prided himself on being an honest and respectful man and that is how he will always be remembered. Ken was truly one of a kind and will be sorely missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him.
His funeral was held Oct. 1 from the Mercadante Funeral Home & Chapel of Worcester, with a Mass of Christian burial at Our Lady of Loreto Church of Worcester, and burial with military honors in the family lot alongside his son and siblings at St. John Cemetery.
Memorial remembrances can be made to the Joslin Diabetes Clinic, 1 Joslin Pl., Boston, MA 02215 or the National Kidney Foundation, 209 W Central St., Natick, MA 01760.
