Mayor Vito Perillo of Tinton Falls died Sunday at 100-years-old while serving his second term. Perillo was the oldest mayor in the nation.
Perillo was first elected mayor at 93 in 2017, and reelected at 97 in 2021. He celebrated his 100th birthday this past September.
Born in 1924, Perillo served in World War II. During his first campaign in 2017, Perillo made headlines as a WW2 veteran running for mayor. He was convinced to run after a series of lawsuits involving the local police department cost Tinton Falls $1.1 million. At 93, Perillo ran an active campaign, knocking on thousands of doors and securing a victory in the process.
A longtime resident of Tinton Falls, Perillo moved to the town in 1960, working for the Defense Department for 38 years until his retirement in 1980. He raised two daughters in town, and leaves behind four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Current Council President Risa Clay will fill in as Interim Mayor until the council appoints a new one.
Peter Candia is the Food + Drink Editor at New Jersey Digest. A graduate of The Culinary Institute of America, Peter found a passion for writing midway through school and never looked back. He is a former line cook, server and bartender at top-rated restaurants in the tri-state area. In addition to food, Peter enjoys politics, music, sports and anything New Jersey.
