Claude Perasso - Merchant Marine 1944-1946

Judge Claude Perasso was born in San Francisco on May 31, 1926. His father was a San Francisco native, and his grandfather immigrated to San Francisco from a small town near Genoa. His mother was an Italian immigrant from a neighboring town from his father's family. Claude was raised in the Marina District, where he met "the girl around the corner", his bride to be, Donna Jean Pasha. His father worked late nights as a partner with the Gavello family in Monaco restaurant in Jackson Square. Claude attended St. Ignatius and left before graduation to serve in the Merchant Marine during WW2 in the South Pacific at age 17. His brother George served and gave his life in Europe at age 19. Claude returned to San Francisco, attended U.S.F both undergrad and law school. He and Donna were married his last year in law school. Claude served in the San Francisco Public Defenders Office for sixteen years. In 1971 Governor Ronald Reagan appointed him to the Municipal Bench and elevated him to the Superior Court in 1973. He retired from the bench in 1991 and served as a pro-tem judge for 15 years. From retirement Claude and Donna have taken countless cruises around the world and until recently Claude and Donna spent two months each Summer in Sestri Levante, a beach town near his family's home in Liguria. Their next adventure is later this year is a cruise through the Panama Canal. Claude, 98 and Donna, 95, will celebrate their 73rd anniversary this August and together they have raised three children, Jeanne Peters, Mary Anne Scarlett and Claude Jr. They also have six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. For many years Claude was very active in countless civic organizations. A true San Francisco native, in over 99 years his only absence from San Francisco was during his service to his country in WW2.