Helen “Sunny” Perino

Helen “Sunny” Perino, a 47-year Newport resident, passed away peacefully in her home on November 21, with her daughter, Carroll, holding her hand. She was 81.
Sunny was born in Burgettstown, PA and moved to Los Angeles when she was 16. She married Louis Perino when she was 20, and they had 4 children. In 1964, they moved to Westcliff in Newport.
Sunny loved life and had a fun sense of humor. She was a singer, and model for Bullock’s before becoming a homemaker and mother. She and her son, Kim, were doubles partners at the John Wayne Tennis Club in the 1970’s (where Kim was a teaching pro) and again in the 90’s at the Bay Club. They also played the Adoption Guild tournament. She and her daughters participated in National Charity League and she volunteered for all their schools; Mariner’s Elementary, Ensign Middle School and Harbor High. She had a ten-year career as a realtor for the Dalebout Association, but her family always came first. Recently, she loved participating in art classes at Oasis Senior Center.
She is survived by two sisters and a brother: Edith Amos and Velma Jean Meloeny of the Los Angeles area, Joe Hollerbach of Nevada, as well as her four children: Laura Plano; Carroll Aichlmayr of Oregon; Kim Perino of Irvine and Nancy Straut of Irvine. Her grandchildren were her joy: Jeffrey, Jonathan and Kristen Perino; and Roman and Macy Plano; as well as her 10 ten nieces and nephews and their children.