SADDLE RIVER, N.J. -- Mario Perillo, chairman of Perillo Tours,
passed away at his home in Saddle River, N.J., on Friday. He was
76.
He had been ill for two months; the cause of death reportedly
was cancer.
Perillo's father, Joseph founded Joseph Perillo and Sons in
1945.
Mario Perillo, who served in World War 2 and earned a law degree
from New York University, joined the company after his father
retired.
The company was renamed Perillo Tours and Mario Perillo, widely
known as "Mr. Italy," helped build the firm into the largest
operator of tours to Italy.
He was inducted into ASTA's Travel Hall of Fame in November,
2002.
Perillo is survived by four children, Mark, Christine, Linda and
Stephen, who is president of Perillo Tours.