The Gene Perrotti Memorial Scholarship

THE 2027 GENE PERROTTI MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

Mr. Gennaro “Gene” Parrotti was born in Providence and lived to be 101 years old, in Newport.  His life has been in consistent voluntary service with his family and for his community hence our Kiwanis Club has named this scholarship in his memory in the hope his life story will inspire others to greater selfless service.

Gene followed his father, M. Thomas Perrotti, in joining the Kiwanis Club of Newport right after it was chartered in February, 1948.  This civic service club was organized to raise funds so a higher education scholarship could be offered to a local high school student.  In 2022, we expanded to two scholarships and this program is our clubs’ oldest, continuous project with eligibility expanded to all four public high schools on Aquidneck Island for either college or technical post-secondary education.

Among Mr. Perrotti’s many accomplishments in Kiwanis and the community:

• 75 years perfect attendance with our Kiwanis Club

• He is a Past Newport Kiwanis Club President and a Past New England Kiwanis District Lt. Governor.

• For decades, and in cooperation with other leaders, he coordinated the all-volunteer food service at the Newport Yacht Club that involved scouts, youth, and other agency groups in earning funds for their programs, and for Kiwanis Charities, to benefit thousands of children and adults.  Those years of hard work continue to support charitable good works for young people and the community at large.

• He has been a strong voice for youth advocacy.  In the Spring of 2020, Gene came up with the idea of giving gift certificates from Kiwanis for all 135 members of the Rogers High School Class of 2020 since their graduation events were pandemic-cancelled.

• His daughter, Kathy, also joined her father and grandfather in Kiwanis.  Both have held club officer positions and Kathy holds perfect attendance for over 30 years having served as club secretary and as a district lt. governor during that time.

Gene and Fibi raised eight children, with nineteen grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.  He had been an active parishioner at St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church, heading up the church soup kitchen feeding operation during the early 1990’s.  His other affiliation has been the Knights of Columbus of Newport.

It is our hope his example will inspire you, the scholarship recipient, to continue your own life-long volunteer service.

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