The James and Eileen Perillo Education Fund

A tribute to two local education enthusiasts

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June 07, 2019

Eileen and Jim Perillo. After raising a family, Eileen went back to work for 20 years at Alebrtus Magnus, retiring in 2011. Read more about her life here. As a Community Foundation Board member, Jim was a long-time leader of its scholarship work and served as Board Vice-Chair in 2013. His record of community service extended four decades. Read more about Jim's legacy here and here.
Eileen and James (Jim) Perillo were sweethearts at high school, but not as teenagers. Romance blossomed for the pair while teaching at West Haven High (and chaperoning numerous proms).
United in life, the Perillos shared a love for each other, their community, their children and extended family until Jim's passing in 2014. In June 2019, Eileen passed after a hard fought battle with cancer.

As teachers, the couple also shared a love for education that lives on through the James and Eileen Perillo Education Fund. The fund provides scholarships to New Haven residents who have been accepted for admission to an accredited college or university and demostrate financial need. Since being created, the Fund has awarded four scholarships for students attending UCONN.

Donations made to assist New Haven students and honor Jim and Eileen's legacies may be sent via check to The Community Foundation, 70 Audubon Street, New Haven 06510 (memo line: in memory of Jim and/or Eileen Perillo) or online by selecting the donation button below.

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James & Eileen Perillo Education Fund