I was blessed to have Joe as my friend and team mate, he will always be remembered. 
Greg Trivisono

Met Joe Jr. officiating s girls BB game at Beaumont. He was cordial as I mentioned his dad, in the stands, was my freshman gym teacher at Cathedral Latin. It was great to greet Joe Sr. Even though he may not have remembered me. He was instrumental in my 
Years at Latin. God take care of him, much loved. Joe Jr. no less loved also. Thank you
Men of Latin the best !!!!
Bill OLoughlin

Dear Michele, Angela & Amanda, 
There’s not enough words to express the sadness we have. Joe has given us a lifetime of amazing memories. He is sadly missed and will always be in our hearts!  Rest in peace our dear friend. We hope there’s a DiStefano’s or Ferrara's’  up there in heaven. 
 
All our love!
Tom~Deneen~Nick & Danielle Tyler

Michele and girls our condolences go out to you for your loss.  I first met Joe through my brother Mike, when Joe coached him at St Clare.  I remember being in awe of this guy who had a smooth free throw stroke and his coaching abilities. As a kid , I wanted to play for him because he was a Latin lion, just like my dad. I was so honored to have made the cut list and  played for him at St Clare where we culminated our eighth grade year with a city basketball championship.  It was a combination of  a coach well ahead of his years being able to mold the talent we had on that team.  Would run into Joe over the years at some sport function, and was always greeted with a warm smile and a kind word.  RIP Joe.

So so sorry to hear this. Our thoughts and hearts go out to you all ! 
Louise and Patrick Cullen

There are no words for the impact that Joe had on my life.  From the time I was the bat boy for him at St. Clare through college, Joe always looked out for me and provided countless resources to give me great opportunities.  He coached me, we went to many H.S. games together, spent countless hours together, and he introduced me to his father.  I was lucky and incredibly grateful that Joe was part of my life.  
Michele and family, my prayers and deepest condolences are with you all.

The will to win can not be beat!
Chris Anderson & Family.

I was on Joe's baseball coaching staff for 2 years at St. Clare, and for 3 years with the Lyndhurst 18-and-under team.  I learned a great deal from him, and I always remember the confidence he had in me as a young coach when I didn't always have it in myself.  Although I don't coach anymore, the confidence he instilled in me has served me well in both my personal and professional lives.  But his friendship is even more valuable to me.  It was always fun talking sports, life and reminiscing about our baseball teams - we had a lot of laughs.
Michele, Angela & Amanda - please accept my deepest condolences - you are in my thoughts and prayers.  May God grant you strength and peace.

Our son, Sean Shoda, was coached by Joe in CYO basketball in 7th and 8th grade .
Joe saw the athletic ability in Sean and talked him into going to Benedictine. He told Sean, you are capable of getting a full ride to college to play football. 
Sean never played CYO football because he was over the weight limit. So when he started playing football, in 9th grade this was a whole new ball game.
Joe and Sean remained close friends all through high school . Joe always encouraged him, came to watch his games, continued to push him to work on his skills. Sean did excel in football and received a football scholarship to Eastern Michigan. 
I believe it was because of Joe’s
love of sports, working with kids that made him the great coach he was.
Thank u Joe for what you gave our son and the many kids you coached over the years.
You were the best.
Rest in peace Joe.
The Tim Shoda Family

With deep gratitude for the positive impact Joe had on my life and many others. His guidance, encouragement, and belief in me as a kid helped shape me. He was more than a coach—Joe was a friend and role model.
Our prayers are with Michele and the girls  during this time of loss. May they be comforted by the legacy of strength, kindness, and character Joe leaves behind.
With heartfelt sympathy,
Sean Toohig & Family

Joe was my 8th grade basketball coach in 1985 and my 2nd favorite coach as an athlete only to his father Joe Sr. who was my HS football coach and like a father figure to me. Joe made a lasting impact on me as a man. My deepest condolences. Thoughts and prayers to entire family

Many memories of Coach Perella have come back to me since learning the sad news. I played basketball at St. Clare for him as a seventh grader during the 80-81 school year so Coach was only 20 years old when I met him. Despite being a young coach, Coach Perella was beyond his years when it came to knowledge of the game and knowing how to get a team ready to play. I'm sure that he learned a lot from his dad who was also an outstanding coach. I'm 57 now and I still play basketball so I still have that passion and basketball knowledge in large part due to the influence of Coach Joe Perella. I was also probably in the best shape of my life as a seventh grader thanks to him as he was never shy about making us run...

Speaking of running, the last time that I saw Coach was in St. Clare's "gym" (if you know it then you know why gym is in parentheses) when I was making my basketball team run which was about 18 - 20 years ago. He smiled and said "Get 'em Toze". What can I say but I learned from the best.

Also, I want to also mention that it was a pleasure watching him lead St. Clare's eighth graders to a CYO city basketball championship in 1984. I was a sophomore in high school then but my brother Anthony was on that team. More great memories.

Finally, Coach Perella took a few of us to McDonald's in Mayfield Heights where he emphatically told me that James Worthy was better than Clark Kellogg when both players were still in college. I disagreed and although I'm still a big fan of Clark, Coach was right about that. He knew the game and he knew the capabilities of players extremely well, too. 

My deepest sympathy to Michele, Coach's daughters, his brother John, other family members and his family of players in various sports over his lifetime.

I'm sure those players will echo my sentiment that I am proud to say that I played for Coach Joe Perella.

-Nick Tozzi 
St. Clare Class of 1982 and Former Basketball Coach at St. Clare

My thoughts and prayers go out to the Perella family. This one hits hard. Joe and I were inseparable when we were kids, ever since the family moved into the Lander road house; we lived behind them on Sunset rd. We played basketball and baseball until dark and created a neighborhood carnival to generate money for children with Muscular Dystrophy. We played basketball and baseball together at Cathedral Latin as well. So many great memories. You will be missed Japer, RIP. 

Marty Lembach

Dear Michele, Angela and Amanda,
So deeply saddened to hear about the loss of your husband/father.  Your are in our thoughts and prayers.
Scott and Donna McNulty

My thoughts are with the family. I have so many found memories growing up with Joe through grade school, Cathedral Latin and softball in Mayfield Hts.  You have my heartfelt condolences.

OBITUARY

Joseph "Joe" A. Perella Jr.

February 9, 1960 – April 8, 2025

DiCicco & Sons Funeral Home

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