Thomas M. Perillo, 85, of West Caldwell, died on January 18, 2020. Relatives and friends are invited for visitation on Tuesday from 3pm through 7 pm in the Shook-Farmer Funeral Home, 45 Roseland Avenue, Roseland, NJ 07068, shookfarmer.com. A Funeral Mass will be offered on Wednesday 10 am at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Church, Roseland with interment to follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, East Hanover, NJ. Born and raised in Newark, he lived in Irvington and settled in West Caldwell 43 years ago. Thomas holds a bachelor''s degree from Panzer College, which was part of Montclair State University, and a master''s degree from Columbia University. Thomas was the first physical-education instructor and founder of the physical-education program in Oakland. He remained in the Oakland school system for 40 years until he retired in 1996. In recognition of his accomplishments, the Oakland Board of Education named the Valley Middle School gymnasium in his honor. This dedication was the idea of his staff. In their letter to the Board of Education they wrote, "Such a superlative example of professionalism, ethics, and living a good life should remain a symbol and model to all who enter this specialized room of learning." Thomas, a dedicated Penn State fan, also coached boys basketball in Oakland and soccer for Montclair State University. Thomas is pre-deceased by his parents, Gaetano and Amelia Perillo and his siblings Otto Perillo and Rosemary Chiaramonte. He is survived by his beloved wife of 63 years, Sandra M. Perillo (nee Scialfa) and devoted daughters, Diane Perillo and her partner Jeffrey Stevens, and Karen Hockstein and her husband Steven. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to Southgate at Christian Health Care Center or the Parkinson''s Disease Foundation.