Anthony Vincent Perrella, Sr., of Cherry Hill, NJ, passed away peacefully on September 22, 2024. He was 93 years old.

Anthony was born July 21, 1931, to Anthony Perrella and Filomena (D'Ioia) Perrella, in Philadelphia, PA. At age 2, he moved to Collingswood, NJ. After graduating from Collingswood High School in 1949, he went on to study chemical engineering at Drexel University in Philadelphia, having funded his own education through several part-time jobs.

Anthony was active in the Collingswood High School Alumni Association for many years, helping to organize class reunions throughout his entire life. He graduated from Drexel with a BS in 1954 and was hired by Socony Vacuum Corporation (now Exxon Mobil), where he worked for 35 years at locations including New York City and Pennington, NJ.

Most of his years at Mobil were spent at the Research Department in Paulsboro, NJ, where he helped develop and evaluate alternative energies, performed economic studies of refinery operations, and conducted economic evaluations of research programs. He retired in 1989 as Manager of Research Planning.

Anthony also served for 6 months active duty in the U.S. Army at Fort Dix, NJ, where he trained troops in chemical, biological, and radiological warfare. He served 7 years in the Army Reserves until he was honorably discharged in 1964. While working at the Mobil Paulsboro plant, he met his wife of 54 years, the late Giovanna Marie Costantino, of Paulsboro, NJ. They lived in Haddon Township, NJ, and had four children.

Anthony was a lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus Santa Maria Council in Haddon Township. He was also a longtime active member of the Camden County Toastmasters Club, serving as president for that chapter as well as additional chapters. Anthony coached in the Haddon Township Junior Soccer League while his son, Anthony, played on the team.

Anthony also taught secondary religion at Holy Saviour Parish in Westmont, NJ, and at St. Rose Parish in Haddon Heights, NJ, where he served as a member of the parish council. He was an usher at St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Haddon Township, also serving on the core team that implemented the merger of the St. Vincent Pallotti and St. Aloysius churches. With Giovanna, he also participated in Haddon Township's
Grandparents Storytelling Program.

Over the years, Anthony prepared and conducted courses in economics, public speaking, and management. Many of the courses were published. As speaker, he presented educational and humorous talks on wide-ranging subjects to local schools and civic associations. He was admired by many for being a self-made, highly intelligent man, dedicated to learning new areas, from politics to science, during his lifetime.

Along with his impact on the community, Anthony was well-known for his outgoing personality and humor. When he visited shops and farmer's markets in Paulsboro, he would be welcomed by shop owners with such phrases as "Tony, I saved this prosciutto just for you!" He played poker for many years with a group of men from Haddonfield who enjoyed enthusiastic and friendly ribbing and competition.

Anthony was also known by family and friends for his advice on buying stocks and gold, for his vigorously competitive ping pong, pinochle, and Upwards games, for his love of Atlantic City buffets and free food samples everywhere, and for longtime battles with squirrel invasions of his home and yard in Haddon Township.

Although he dedicated his life to his career and serving the community, the most important thing to Anthony was his family. After Giovanna passed in 2010, he was surrounded by his children, who he encouraged to succeed in their careers, lifelong learning, and world travel.

Anthony is survived by four children: Anne Marie Allie (James), of Thornton, PA; Janet Marie D'Alesandro (late Daniel), of Wenonah, NJ; Marianne Fuller (Paul), of Silver Spring, MD; and Anthony V. Perrella, II, of Philadelphia, PA. He is also survived by three granddaughters: Nicole Velez, Danielle D'Alesandro, and Jenna Allie; two grandsons: David D'Alesandro and Jamie Allie; and five great-grandsons: Roman Velez, Daniel Velez, Theo Troelstrup, Liam Troelstrup, and Rumi D'Alesandro.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend his visitation on Monday, September 30, 10:00 to 11:00 AM at the FOSTER-WARNE FUNERAL HOME, 820 Haddon Ave., Collingswood, NJ.  Prayer service will follow at 11:00 AM.  Interment St. Joseph's Cemetery, Swedesboro, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Anthony's memory to the Tunnels to Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Blvd., Staten Island, NY 10306 ( www.t2t.org ).