Obituary of Donald Patrick Perno

Donald Patrick Perno was born April 15, 1948, to Domenick and Theresa Perno in the Bronx, New York. Don enjoyed his career working in the field of military electronic sales. He traveled a lot with those positions and enjoyed telling stories of where he had been and who he had met. Don was a volunteer firefighter in New York. He never tired of chasing fire trucks and in whatever town Don lived, he made it a point to introduce himself and enjoy the companionships of his fellow firefighter brothers and sisters. His personalized Oklahoma license plate reads FDNY911 as a tribute to that traumatic day, we will never forget, on September 11, 2001. Don worked evenings with a telemarketing company, (pre robo-call days) and with the time difference between coasts, he could call folks in California until midnight New York time. It was during one of those calls that he reached Lisa Lynch. Over the next 6 month, the two talked on the phone almost every day and became fast friends. In May 1985, Lisa flew to New York to meet Donald Perno. The ultimate blind date as they had never exchanged photos. Several months later, Don asked his job for a transfer to California. On May 30, 1987, the two were married in Del Mar, California and enjoyed 34 years of marriage. Dona and Lisa had two fur babies during their time together. One at a time, both golden retrievers, Sparky and then Skylar, were constant companions and a source of comfort for Don. Don was very strong in his catholic faith. He attended catholic school until the 8th grade. In 1996, Don graduated from Haverstraw-Stony Point High School and later received his Bachelor of Science Degree at Southern Nazarene University in 1999. Don was a faithful parishioner at Sacred Heart Catholic Church and a member of the Knights of Columbus in Sapulpa, Oklahoma. Toward the end of Don’s life, in failing health, he NEVER gave up. He took his household chores very seriously. Don did laundry, paid bills, cooked, etc. He especially liked grocery shopping and knew the prices of most everything to get the best deal. Almost everyday Don got out of the house to run errands, keep doctor appointments, and inevitably stop at “Wally World” in Glenpool, Oklahoma. Imagine this, a man riding a Wal-Mart scooter, towing a shopping cart behind him and talking to whomever would listen. Don was this person, perhaps you have seen him. He was a very likable man who did not know a stranger. The Wal-Mart excursions were a social outlet for him. Don was preceded in death by his parents, Domenick and Theresa Perno and his sister, Karen Perno of Stony Point, New York. He is survived by his wife, Lisa Perno of Sapulpa, Oklahoma; his sister, Dianne Perno of Spring Valley, New York; his daughter, Jennifer Schmidlin and her husband Steve and Don’s grandsons, Brandon Schmidlin and Bryan Schmidlin of Asheville, North Carolina; his daughter, Colleen Drury and her husband Tim and Don’s grandson Aaron Drury of Tampa, Florida; his goddaughter, Lynette Baisley of Stony Point, New York; sister-in-law, Brenda Braden and her husband Ed of Kellyville, Oklahoma; father-in-law, James Linseth of Benson, Arizona; nieces and nephews, Arianna Sotos, Forest Braden and his wife Jamie, Crystal Braden and her partner Matt; great nieces and nephews, Riley Braden, Elias Braden and Oliver Braden. After many years of debilitating illnesses and medical conditions, Don left the earth to be with our Heavenly Father on August 8, 2021. After fighting the good fight, for so long, may Donald Patrick Perno finally “Rest In Peace”. Amen.