“Rick” Richard W. Perrone, 80, of Darien passed away Monday, Jan. 22, 2024 at Stamford Hospital, surrounded by his loving family.
Richard Perrone, 80, passed away on Jan. 22. His funeral will be private.
He was born in Manchester on Feb. 18, 1943, to the late Frank and Pauline Madore Perrone.
Rick took great pride in his career. He spent many years in the cable TV industry, where as Time Warner’s senior marketing and operations executive, he was instrumental in launching several iconic channels including HBO, MTV and ESPN.
Rick then founded Eastern Cable TV which was consolidated into a highly valued cable and wireless system that was later sold to MCI.
Rick’s early career led him to the new and exciting world of digital entertainment in the new millennium. He founded Tournament One Corp., a supplier of digital gaming content to regulated and licensed U.S. casinos and U.S. lotteries. Under his leadership, Rick was awarded four patents. He was extremely enthusiastic about his company and continued working and innovating until his final days.
Rick proudly served his country in the United States Marine Corps. from 1960 to 1966, where he was honored to guard President John F. Kennedy during his visit to the USMC base in Hawaii.
Rick enjoyed spending time with his family and enjoyed hosting many large family gatherings. He was an avid boater and piloted many adventures with friends and family on his beloved Darbe around Long Island sound and beyond.
As a life-long fan, Rick also loved organizing trips to Yankee Stadium with friends and family, and later on relished any chance to attend MLB games with his four grandsons. He was a dedicated and enthusiastic spectator at many of his grandsons’ soccer and baseball games.
Rick also enjoyed traveling around the world for business and with his family and his wife. He loved following politics as well as reading and learning new things. He was a strong believer in the power of positivity and in never giving up, and treated even the hardest of challenges as an opportunity to grow.
He is survived by his devoted wife of 57 years, Diane Rinaldi Perrone of Darien; his loving daughters: Damara O’Neill and her husband, John, of Darien; Rebecca Docimo and her husband, Michael, of Stamford; his grandchildren: Connor, Aiden and Kai O’Neill, and Jake Docimo. Also surviving are his brothers: Robert Perrone and his wife, Joan, of New Jersey; Mark Perrone of Connecticut, and his sister-in-law, Miss Peggy and Chap Thomson of Connecticut; and his brother-in-law, Frank Rinaldi of Connecticut.
Besides his parents, Richard was also predeceased by his sisters, Carol Arenburg and Grace Cammeyer.
Funeral services and interment will be held privately.
Family requests that donations be made in Richard’s memory to the Wounded Warrior Project or Make-a-Wish Connecticut.
— an obituary from Cognetta Funeral Home where online condolences may be left