| Anthony Perici | |
|---|---|
| Mayor of Twinsburg, Ohio | |
| In office 1976–1987 |
|
| Preceded by | Office created |
| Succeeded by | Jim Karabec |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 21, 1920 Senglea, Malta |
| Died | April 6, 2010 (aged 89) |
| Spouse(s) | Rose Perici |
| Profession | Engineer |
Anthony "Tony" A. Perici (September 21, 1920 - April 6, 2010) was a Maltese-born American politician and engineer. Perici served as the first full-time Mayor of Twinsburg, Ohio, from 1976 until 1987.[1]
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Perici was born in Senglea, Malta, in 1920.[1] The family moved to Yonkers, New York, when Perici was young due to his father's career.[2]
Perici moved back to Malta with his family due to his mother's declining health.[2] He graduated from a Maltese high school when he was 16 years old and enlisted in the Royal Navy.[1] He received the Africa Star and the Victory Medal during his naval career.[2] Local news sources also refer to him having received the George Cross,[2] but recipient lists do not include his name.[3]
Perici met his wife, Rosita "Rose" (née Rosetti),[4] while stationed in Egypt.[1] They married three months after they met and returned to Malta.[2] The couple had three daughters during their marriage - Dorothy, who was born in Malta; Sharon, who was born in Canada; and Robin, who was born in the United States.[2]
Perici and his family immigrated to the United States, settling in northern Ohio.[1] He worked as a manufacturing engineer at the Ford Motor Co. plant in Walton Hills, Ohio, for twenty-five years, until he retired from the company. [1]
Following his retirement from Ford, Perici moved to Twinsburg, Ohio, where he first entered local politics.[1] He served as a Twinsburg town councilor from 1974 until 1976, before becoming the town's mayor in 1976.[1] The now famous Twins Days festival was first held in 1976 during Perici's tenure as Mayor.[1] Perici also oversaw the 1978 construction and opening of the Twinsburg Government Center on Ravenna Road. [1]
In 1978, Perici shepherded the transition of the town's government to a full-time mayoral and town council system.[1] Before 1978, Twinsburg was run by a part-time mayor and city manager.[1] The governmental change made Perici Twinsburg's first full-time mayor.[1] He retired from office in 1987, and was succeeded by Mayor Jim Karabec.[1]
Perici and his family moved to Florida after leaving office.[2] He died from cancer on April 6, 2010, at the age of 89.[1] Perici was a resident of Fort Myers, Florida, at the time of his death. [4]
He was buried at the Crown Hill Mausoleum following a funeral in Twinsburg on April 10, 2010.[1][2]