The Arc of Alameda County Says Goodbye to Newark's Bob Perrotti

The Arc of Alameda County extends its deepest sympathies to the family of Nunzio (Bob) Perrotti of Newark who passed away December 29, 2014. He was 87. Bob was the heart of The Arc for decades, according to The Arc of Alameda County President and CEO Ron Luter.

“Not only was he the heart of this organization,” said Luter, “Bob was also a leader in the nationwide movement to protect the civil rights of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD).”

Inspired by a son with a developmental disability, in the late 1970s Mr. Perrotti, joined The Arc’s “Dawn” Chapter; a group of parents who had children in The Arc’s program in the Fremont area.

At about the same time, he joined the Board of The Arc of California – the advocacy arm of The Arc movement – to protect the Lanterman Act. That historic piece of legislation, signed into law in 1969 by Governor Reagan, guarantees services for people with I/DD and was under fire at the time from legislative budget cutters. As President of The Arc of California from 1981 – 1983, Perrotti led the fight against budget reductions until eventually the only answer was to file legal action against the state (Arc v. The California Department of Developmental Services). He was the immediate past president in 1985 when the State Supreme Court issued its precedent-setting ruling in favor of The Arc.

According to Luter, “The Supreme Court ruling was a landmark case that protected the civil rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities here in California long before the Americans with Disabilities Act was enacted nationally.”

After retiring from a financial management position at Xerox Corporation in 1983, Mr. Perrotti became Executive Director of The Arc of Alameda County. After stepping down from that paid position some 10 years later, he took a volunteer seat directors. Perrotti resigned from The Arc Board in 1995 to serve on the Board of the Regional Center of the East Bay where he was elected president in 1998 and served until 2001.

Bob was called back to The Arc of Alameda County to provide the benefit of his financial expertise when California’s system of reimbursing organizations such as ours became more and more complex. He was a member of The Arc Board of Directors until he passed away.

Perrotti was a bowler and, combining his love for that sport with his love for the people we serve, he organized a weekly bowling league every Tuesday for at least 15 years.

He also founded an annual “Bowl-a-thon” for The Arc clients and other people with developmental disabilities throughout the East Bay.

“Bob was a mentor and confidant,” said Luter, “After over 50 years of involvement he had a vast storehouse of knowledge about the business of helping people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. He was a friend and an invaluable resource. We all will miss him.”

About The Arc of Alameda County:

The Arc of Alameda County is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that provides life skills education, vocational training and job placements for some 400 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Our goal is for clients to have the information, skills and advocacy necessary to participate as active citizens of our democracy and active members of their communities. The Arc also has a day care center for children with special needs. Campuses are located in San Leandro, Hayward, Union City and Livermore.

There are 22 Arc chapters in California – over 700 chapters nationwide.

The Arc of Alameda County is a vendor of The Regional Center of the East Bay. Twenty two Regional Centers were established in California in 1969 when the Lanterman Act was signed into law. The Act also guarantees funding for services for people with I/DD and their families. Regional Centers use funds from the Department of Developmental Services to contract with vendors such as The Arc to supply those services. Additional information regarding programs may be found at www.arcalameda.org.

Information submitted by The Arc of Alameda County

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