Salvador "Sam" Perino passed away peacefully at his Covington home on January 19, 2022. Sam was born in New Orleans on March 13, 1924 to the late Peter Perino and Mary Miceli Perino. He is survived by his loving wife of 75 years, Magdalene Pivach Perino and four children, Mary Magdalene Perino, Janice Perino Glas (Jim), Salvador Perino, Jr (Peggy), and Peter George Perino (Elisabeth). Nine grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren presently complete the growing family. Sam was preceded in death by his parents and his sisters, Lucille P Collins and Grace P Burchardt. 

Sam lived a remarkable and very full life. The Great Depression forced him to become a man at an early age and he helped support his family, like many of his generation, by working at Higgins Shipyard in his teen years. World War II had started and Sam decided to do his part for the war effort by enlisting in the US Navy. After graduation from Fortier High School, he entered the Navy's Officer Candidate School to prepare him for flight training. As a Naval Aviator, he flew over 150 carrier missions in the Pacific Theater and was decorated with the Distinguished Flying Cross amongst numerous other accolades. Shortly after the war ended, he married the love of his life and lifelong business partner, Magdalene. Together they opened a grocery and produce market at the corner of Carrollton and Claiborne in New Orleans. A few years later in 1955, Sam opened a plant nursery on then remote Veterans Highway, which eventually transitioned into Perino's Garden Center. Perino's relied heavily on landscaping in the early years and was beautifying most of the larger commercial projects in the city. The rapid growth of New Orleans in the 60's and 70's fueled the expansion of the landscape department. Most apartment complexes, fast food restaurants, gas stations and high rises were landscaped by Perino's. This culminated with the landscaping of the 1984 World's Fair. Growth of the city began to slow and Sam had the foresight to transition away from landscaping to growing his own plants to supply the business. Hard work and love of country defined Sam Perino. He instilled the same ethic in his four children and nine grandchildren (including five granddaughters who represent the third generation of Perino's). He belonged to several trade organizations over the years and was a lifetime member of the New Orleans Big Game Fishing Club, VFW, World War II Museum and St. Anselm Catholic Church in Madisonville. A true self-made man who always did things his way. He will be sorely missed, but he is home now, free of pain and suffering.