| Flags at the West Grove Fire Company were flying at half-staff after longtime volunteer firefighter, WGFC leader, and community businessman Francis Joseph "Butch" Perrotti passed away on March 29, 2010 after a couragious battle with illness.
As a volunteer for more than 22 years, Butch served in a variety of roles at the fire company and was known all over the community for his role in making the WGFC successful. In honor of his service, the officers of the fire company moved quickly to bestow "Life Member" status for Butch for his service, dedication and commitment to the operations and future of the West Grove Fire Company.
Butch was a regular driver of the fire company apparatus, part of the core of daytime firefighters who assured emergency responses when many volunteers were at work. He took particular joy in being behind the wheel of Tanker 22, but had "wheeled" every truck and ambulance in the fleet.
As an elected officer of the company, Butch served for many years as Trustee, assuring that the properties and facilities of the fire compnay in West Grove and New London were maintained and improved. As head trustee, Butch made sure that repairs were taken care of quickly, but also focused on improving the quality of our meeting, office and apparatus spaces. He also took great pride in projects that improved the look of WGFC facilities in the community, personally assuring that recent improvements on the outside of Station 22 in West Grove demonstrate our pride in our community, with freshening of the brickwork, new windows, and "period" lighting that matched the West Grove Borough's recent beautification project.
Butch was perhaps best known as the the fire company's Chief Chef, presiding over the kitchen at Station 22 with strong leadership, great food, and tremendous hospitality. Butch believed the volunteers should get a great meal, and he often made sure meeting nights, training sessions and social event were not complete without superb food. Butch made sure that almost every facet of the WGFC operations included food -- assuring, for example, that the station expansion in New London wasn't complete until a kitchen and outdoor grill were in service, or making sure that volunteer firefighters had sandwiches and coffee at 3am at a fire scene. Butch made sure the kitchen was used for WGFC's extended family, serving in key roles for the fire company's family Christmas party (providing food and assistance to Santa in gifts for dozens of children), helping to ready the kitchen for funerals for longtime members, and cooking from 7am to 6pm for the infamous Deep Fried Turkey events at Christmas for hundreds of local emergency services personnel.
Butch shared his experiences at the WGFC with his son Chris, who is an active member, and with his longtime companion Charlotte, who often helped him with events like the kids' Christmas party. The WGFC was not the only place the Butch participated as a volunteer firefighter. He was also a Life Member of the Avondale Fire Company, whose members also share in this loss.
Born in West Chester he was the son of the late Augustus and Mildred Stober Perrotti. Frank served in the U. S. Army and the National Guard. He was a member of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Church in West Grove. Frank owned and operated Perrotti Electrical in West Grove for 40 years.
Butch enjoyed going to the mountains four-wheeling, cooking, going to the beach, and being with his family and friends. He is survived by his loving fiancée Charlotte Graustein; a son Chris Perrotti and his significant other Holly Gerrish of West Grove; a daughter Amy Jones and her husband Wesley of Bear Del.; a brother Robert Perrotti and his wife Edna of Landenberg; a sister Phyllis Testa and her husband Midge of Avondale; and by five grandchildren Charlee, Avery, Cate, Ricky, and Anthony.
You are invited to visit with Frank's family and friends from 6 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday April 6 and again from 9:30 to 11 a.m. on Wednesday April 7 from the Assumption BVM Church 300 State Road, West Grove. His Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11 a.m. on Wednesday. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made in Frank's memory to the West Grove Fire Co. P.O. Box 201, West Grove PA 19390. To send an online condolence please visit www.griecocares.com or by sending an email to FrankP@wgfc.org.
All of the members of the West Grove Fire Company feel this loss and offer their thoughts and condolences to Chris, Charlotte, and the Perrotti family. |
