OBITUARY

Name:    Daniel J. Perrino

From:  The Chicago Tribune, Chicago, Illinois
Date:  Sunday, August 19, 2012

Daniel J. Perrino, 91, of Urbana passed away at 7:50 a.m., Friday, Aug. 17, 2012 at Carle Hospital. He was born on April 15, 1921 in Chicago to Dominick and Pietrina (DiVincenzo) Perrino. He had two sisters who preceded him in death.

Dan grew up on the south side of Chicago near what is now Midway Airport. He graduated from Kelly High School in 1939 where he found his lifelong passion for music, started his own jazz band and earned the nick name "62 Inches of Swing". He attended the University of Illinois and earned a BS and MS in Music '48 and '49. Midway through college, Dan joined the Army and as a captain served as a communications officer in the Pacific Theater during and after WWII. Dan led an army dance band to help boost the morale of the American troops and bridge the gap between the American and Japanese people.

Upon his return from the army Dan met his wife and lifelong partner, Marjorie Aileen Galutia. When Dan completed his master's degree they moved to Macomb, IL where he directed the high school band and music programs. From there he moved to head up the Quincy High School department of music. He next moved to Urbana to lead the music programs at Urbana High School for four years. The U of I lured him away where he became an assistant professor, administrator and educator. He was the recipient of countless awards and recognitions. Perhaps Dan's most famous effort was the start-up of what was aptly named the Medicare 7, 8 or 9 Jazz Band which Dan formed with other U of I faculty to address the unrest of students in the late 60's. Later, the band became a traveling ambassador for the U of I, playing gigs in 39 states. Later Dan served as the associate dean of the College of Fine and Applied Arts from 1976 to his retirement in1988.

Dan is survived by his spouse, Marge, originally of Hornell, NY; his son, Don of Urbana, son, Mike (Jan) of Naperville, IL; daughter, Debbi Dillman (David) of Urbana; and three grandchildren, Dave, Liza and Carie Perrino.

A musical celebration of Dan's life will be held at The University of Illinois Alumni Association at the Alice Campbell Alumni Center, 601 S. Lincoln Ave., Urbana from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 9, 2012. All are welcome. In lieu of flowers. the family requests memorial donations be made to one of two organizations, Champaign Urbana Schools Foundation Daniel Perrino Urbana Bands Education Fund, P.O. Box 1166, Champaign, IL 61824-1166 or Dan Perrino Scholarship Fund, School of Music, University of Illinois Foundation, 1305 W. Green St., Urbana, IL 61801-2962.