Salvatore "Ted" J. Perrone

Salvatore “Ted” J. Perrone, 81, of Rockford, IL passed away suddenly on February 1, 2022, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Salvatore was born on August 5, 1940 in Rockford Illinois, the son of Anthony and Mary (Anastase) Perone. Salvatore married the love of his life, Connie Brekke on March 18, 1964 in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas. Salvatore graduated from West High School in 1960 he then went on to graduate from Moler Barber College in Chicago in 1961. Salvatore started cutting hair with his cousin Pep, who owned Armator’s Barber Shop on Montague Street, in the Italian neighborhood. In 1964 he returned to Moler Hairstyling School and after he was the first barber to offer men’s hairstyling in Rockford. This gradually caught on with his younger clients first, and proved to catch on with the older clients as well. Ten years later Salvatore opened The Galleon in 1971. After 50 years of owning, operating and styling at The Galleon he retired in 2019. After retiring he continued to work part time as an insurance broker for “Affordable Insurance” and “Harkness Insurance” until the time of his death. In 2019 Salvatore was presented an award from Affordable Insurance “Agent on Fire.” Salvatore was also past president of Main and Auburn Business Association and Rockford Men’s Hairstyling Association. Salvatore was an avid Bears, Cubs, and Illinois College basketball fan. For fun he loved to play the horses at OTB in Rockford and in Las Vegas. In 2010 at 70 years old Salvatore decided he wanted to spend his winters in Las Vegas. He always said I don’t like Las Vegas, I LOVE Las Vegas, and always looked forward to going in January after the holidays. Salvatore loved to travel. His travels included cruises, Florida, Arizona, New York, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Nevada, Spain, Denmark, and Switzerland. The highlight of his travels was going to Sicily, Italy in 1992, 1997, 1999, and 2000. In 1997 and 2000 he and his wife hosted tours for local residents to see the history of their ancestry. For many years, Salvatore always took off work on Tuesday afternoons to go to lunch and a movie with his beloved wife, Connie.
Salvatore is survived by his wife of 57 years, Connie; sister in law; Linda Perone, nieces; Lisa Thiele and Vicky (Chris) Jackson of Decatur, Texas; nephew; Mark Perone; sister in law Debbie (Alan) Avino of Orovalley, Arizona; Aunt; Dorothy Hand; great niece and nephew Emily Plumb, Justin Plumb and Nathen Jackson, and several cousins, friends, and coworkers. Preceded in death by parents; Anthony and Mary Perone; brother; Peter Perone; ; in-laws, Donald and La Verna Brekke; aunts, uncles, cousins and his beloved schnauzers; Adolph, Casey, Marcus, and Bucky.
Funeral mass will be 11 a.m. Friday, February 18, 2022 at St. Anthony Church. Visitation from 10 a.m. until time of mass. Followed by a private burial at Calvary Catholic Cemetery. The family has decided not to do a luncheon at this time due to Covid-19 and wanting to keep everyone safe. A celebration of his life will be held at a later date near his birthday. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the family to give to a charity of their choices. Arrangements entrusted to Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory, Mulford Chapel. Send online condolences at www.fitzgeraldfh.com.