In Memoriam: A.J. Perri Heating, Cooling & Plumbing Founder, Lifetime Middletown Fire Co. No. 1 Member, Al Perri, 82

Longtime Shrewsbury resident, lifetime Middletown Fire Company No. 1 member and A.J. Perri Heating, Cooling & Plumbing founder, Albert J. Perri, passed away on Saturday, April 16, surrounded by his loving family. He was 82.

Al Perri
Photo/Family via John E. Day Funeral Home

“Al had a passion for traveling, 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 …
He had a passion for the outdoors, including skiing in Vermont, hunting/fishing with his boys and eventually enjoying the sunny beaches and warm winter nights as a snowbird in Palm City, Florida.”
Loved ones of Al Perri in his obituary

Born in Red Bank, Al lived in Middletown and graduated from then Leonardo High School. He served three years in the U.S. Army.

In 1972, Al started his own business, A.J. Perri Heating, Cooling & Plumbing in Middletown/Tinton Falls, and served as its founding president. He raised his family in Little Silver and grew his now 50-year business with his three children involved and groomed to run it.

Al was a lifetime volunteer of the Middletown Township Fire Company No. 1, and its longest living member. He was a founding member of the dive and recovery team and a member of the Fairview First Aid & Rescue Squad as well.

A longtime member of Beacon Hill Country Club, Al 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.

Al is predeceased by: his parents, Pasquale and Mary (Longo) Perri; his sister, Josephine (Perri) Trevett; and 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 are welcome to attend a memorial Mass service on Friday, April 22, at 10:30 a.m. at St. James Church, 94 Broad Street, Red Bank.

In lieu of flowers, family and friends are invited to make a donation in A.J. Perri’s memory to Red Bank YMCA, 166 Maple Ave, Red Bank, NJ 07701 https://www.njymca.org