Antonio Perez, Age 81, resident of Morgan Hill, CA for 44 years, passed away in Anaheim, CA on April 9, 2017, surrounded by his family. Antonio was born in Indio, CA on January 13, 1936 to Fausto and Evarista (Martinez) Perez.
He was raised in the Carver Track neighborhood. Antonio served in the United States Air Force from 1954-1958. He was a member of the Herman Granados American Legion 739 of Indio, CA.
In the late 50’s, after serving in the USAF he came to Anaheim, CA, where he met and married his late wife Josie (Godoy) Perez. In 1961 he moved to Morgan Hill, CA where he stayed with his good friend Luis Ortiz and family until he found work. He resided in Morgan Hill from 1962-2005.
He worked as a union retail clerk at Madrone Market in Morgan Hill, also Edenvale Market in South San Jose, and Joey Franco P.W. Market in Gilroy for a total of 30 years until he retired in 1998. The bulk of his career was spent at Madrone Market under then owners Sam and Marcella Buettler.
Many came to know him as “Tony Balogna” at the store where he loved to interact with shoppers. He was a frequent patron at Ernies Bar & Grill, Sinaloa and The Capri Restuarant where he met many life long friends. After he retired, he spent his time traveling to Northern and Southern California visiting family and friends.
In 2005, he had a mild stroke and decided he wanted to go back home to the desert and spend his remaining years in Indio Hills, CA with his beloved dogs. One of his truest passions in his life was the love for his dogs. He was preceded in death by his brother Theodore Manuel Perez, and his two sisters, Virginia Perez and Eugenia “Chuca” Ysiano.
He is survived by his sisters and their spouses, Margarete and Daniel Aragn, Helen and Raul Dominguez, Jenny Perez, Ruby Bracamonte, Rachel and Rod Cavanaugh, Rosemary Palomares Ortega, three sons and their spouses Gabriel Perez of Stanton, CA, Bernardo and Carol Perez of Anaheim, CA, Luis and Maria del Pilar Perez of Morgan Hill, CA, his daughter and her partner, Cecilia and Tamara Perez-Peters of Rio Linda, CA, sixteen grandchildren Jacqueline, Joseph, Lorena, Joe, Chalae, Rebecca, Regina, Angelina, Bernardo Jr., Nicole, Amanda, Danielle, Alexandra, Clara, Isabella, Juan Carlos, eighteen great-grandchildren and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Visitation will be held Wednesday April 19, 2017 from 5:00 – 8:00pm with a rosary at 6:30pm at Christ of the Desert in Palm Desert. Funeral Mass will be Thursday April 20, 2017 at 10:00am at Our Lady of Soledad Parish in Coachella, CA. Interment to follow at Coachella Valley Cemetery. Reception will be held at American Legion 739 in Indio, CA.
