1926 – 2003

SCARBOROUGH – Teresa M. (Degnan) Perrino, 76, of 23 Driftwood Lane, passed away surrounded by family and friends following a brief illness on April 8.

She was born in Lawrence, Mass., Oct. 19, 1926, and attended St. Patrick’s School and High School. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Arizona State University in Tempe, Ariz. and married Philip D. Perrino, Jr. of Lawrence, Mass. on Jan. 30, 1948.

She and Philip moved to Maine in the late 1950s and lived in Portland for more than 20 years, where they raised their three children. In 1967, she worked with children with special needs at Staples School.

From 1968 to 1988, she worked as executive secretary for the Radiation Oncology Department at Maine Medical Center.

There, she managed the affairs of the department and was a vital part of the day-to-day operations.

She was a member of the Maine Osteopathic Women’s Auxiliary and the Italian Heritage Club.

She and Philip moved to Pine Point in Scarborough in 1979, where she retired at the age of 62.

She will be remembered for her generosity, humor, compassion and her deep love of children and animals. She was a beloved friend, mother and grandmother to both family and those outside her immediate family.

She especially enjoyed celebrating birthdays, holidays and the Christmas season and spent much of her free time finding special gifts for those she loved.

An avid reader, she also enjoyed traveling to destinations such as Germany, Italy and Hawaii.

She loved gardening, cooking and time spent at the beach. In her younger years, she enjoyed both downhill and cross-country skiing.

She is survived by her three loving children, Philip D. III and wife, Ann V. (Harrison) Perrino of Cape Elizabeth, John D. and wife, Paulette Dingley of Auburn and Suzanne M. Perrino of Scarborough and South Portland; four grandchildren, Anne Perrino of Auburn, Timothy Perrino of Lewiston and Natalie and Lauren Perrino of Cape Elizabeth; cousin, Father James Degnan of Hopkington, Mass., brothers-in-law, Donald Scott of North Andover, Mass. and Pasquale Perrino of Portland, sister-in-law, Helen Perrino of Portland, niece, Pamela (Perrino) and husband, William Michaud of Portland and nephew, Pasquale Perrino, Jr. and wife, Susan of Belgrade; by many life-long friends, including Hank and Sandra Richards of Royal Palm Beach, Fla., and their five children and 14 grandchildren.

She was predeceased by her husband, Philip (“Bear”), and her sister, Claire V. Scott of North Andover, Mass.