THOMAS PERAZZOLI (June 22, 1933-March 5, 2021)

Thomas Perazzoli, beloved father, husband, grandfather, teacher, friend and music colleague to many, was at home with family in Fairfax, Virginia, until he passed away on Friday, March 5, 2021 from heart failure, complicated by the COVID-19 virus.

Tom was born June 22, 1933 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Italian immigrants Alceste Perazzoli and Maria Iezzi.  Tom discovered his love of music listening to Saturday opera broadcasts on his family's radio, and began flute lessons at the Philadelphia Music Academy with William Kincaid, the renowned solo flutist of the Philadelphia Orchestra.  Other teachers included Clement Barone and John Krell.  Tom served in the U.S. Air Force where he played in the military band.  He attended art school in Philadelphia for several years before becoming a member of the Buffalo Philharmonic, under Josef Krips and Lukas Foss, and was a member of the Chautauqua Orchestra under William Hendl.  During that time, Tom returned to Philadelphia to play theatre shows to earn extra money during the summer hiatus.  It was there that he met his wife Sharon, who was a dancer in the touring company of Flower Drum Song.  They married, had two children and moved to Northern Virginia after Tom was invited to join the National Symphony Orchestra in 1968 as assistant principal flutist.  With an exciting and fulfilling symphony career that spanned 34 years, Tom had the opportunity and privilege to play and perform with some of the most talented and acclaimed classical artists, musicians and conductors across the world.  He performed as a soloist with the NSO, and performed recitals and chamber concerts. Through the National Symphony Orchestra world tours, Tom enjoyed extensive travels, especially enjoying the European and Asian tours, and was part of Mstislav Rostropovich's revolutionary return to the Soviet Union with a historic concert in Moscow's Red Square.

Tom taught flute for many years at Catholic, George Washington, and George Mason Universities, and was always an avid and caring mentor to young aspiring flutists.  He was a beloved teacher and coach to students in the National Symphony Orchestra's Youth Fellowship Program and with the Asian Youth Orchestra, an overseas summer program for pre-professional Asian music students.  Tom's students described him as supportive, generous, affectionate, with a twinkle in his eye.  One student recalled, "He never told me my dreams of being a professional musician were unachievable.  He told me to live my dreams and that I could be anything I worked hard enough for and loved to do in life."  Tom kept ongoing friendships with students and their families, as well as dear colleagues from the orchestra and flute world.  He was often described as affectionate, humorous and full of life.  One of his orchestra colleagues recalled, "He was very kind to everyone, from the little kids who visited backstage, to the grouchiest musicians in the orchestra, to the staff and management behind the scenes.  He was smart and funny, philosophical and gentle, and we loved him."

Tom was fiercely devoted to his wife and family, and kept strong connections to his late sister Christine, a nun in the Mother Cabrini Order, his late brother Edward and his baby brother Albert.  He loved opera, especially Verdi and Puccini, and had a great affinity for Middle Eastern folk and classical music and the art of belly dancing.  As a true Italian, he loved a good meal and a glass of red wine.  He is remembered by his grandchildren as fun Papa Tom, who doted on them, often with endless teasing and jokes. His family remembers him as a deeply generous man, with a gentle emotional spirit and the beautiful soul of an artist.  He possessed the quintessential moral compass and an unwavering love of life, which kept him fighting until the very end.

He is survived by his wife Sharon, his children Paul (Kim) Perazzoli, Giulia (Brian) Sindler, grandchildren Adam, Elenna and angel Emma, his brother Albert (Elaine) Perazzoli, sister-in-law Lia Perazzoli, numerous nieces and nephews, cousins Lina and Marco Cifaldi and Maria-Novella Perazzoli of Rome, Italy, and Marcelo (Florencia) Iezzi and family in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Internment and services by Colonial Funeral Home of Leesburg, privately held on May 22, 2021 at Sterling Cemetery, followed by a memorial service for friends and family.  Date and details to be announced.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to National Symphony Orchestra to support a scholarship for Youth Fellows established in Tom's name.  Please contact (202) 416-8041; legacy@kennedy-center.org ; The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts ATTN: Development, P.O. Box 101510, Arlington, VA  22210, please include "Thomas Perazzoli – NSO Youth Fellowship" in memo.

photo credit by Ramon Scavelli