Perrottis pay tribute to memories of loved ones
GIFT OF STATUE
by Ruth Osborn
rutho_news@lwsb.com
Leah Perrotti, who represents Mutual 1 on the GRF Board of Directors, and her husband, John, have given the community of Leisure World a charming sculpture of a mature couple sharing quiet time on a park bench. Like the relationship it portrays, the statue’s lovely patina reflects something grown beautiful with age.
The Perrottis chose the madein- America bronze to be “a thought-provoking, beautiful work of art, evoking fond memories of loved ones,” said Mrs. Perrotti.
The 350-pound sculpture, titled “Golden Years,” was mounted Feb. 25 at the northeast corner of Golden Rain Road and St. Andrews Drive, near the LW Pool’s exterior wall.
“It has been a tradition in our family to plant a tree to honor our loved ones who have died. Adhering to our tradition, we planted a tree to honor my father, Harry Boxer, a Leisure World resident, who died last year,” said Mrs. Perrotti. “We decided we wanted to do something more, for not only our parents, but for everyone who lives and works in our community.”
The Perrottis wanted their gift to be long-lasting.
“Seeing the joy our community gets from ‘Twiggy’ that stands proudly at the entrance of the Administration building, we knew we wanted a life-size statue that depicted the emotion of love, and, more specifically, the love of parents,” said Mrs. Perrotti.
Twiggy is the mid-centurymodern, cast-bronze statue given to the people of Leisure World by LW developer Ross Cortese. Dated Feb. 1, 1968, it is the work of Italian sculptor Pino Conte, whose art is also found in the National Gallery of Victoria, among other collections.
With Twiggy in mind, the Perrottis first spoke to GRF Executive Director Randy Ankeny a year ago, asking if they could donate a statue to the community.
It was pre-COVID-19 when the idea was first raised, and Ankeny was receptive. So the Perrottis searched worldwide for a gift that would symbolize their sentiments.
“It is our hope that others who view it may think of their parents or maybe see themselves and think of the memories they have as parents or grandparents,” said Mrs. Perrotti.
The soul searching that went along with choosing this gift led the Perrottis to “realize that our journey in life began with our entrance into this world on the day we were born. It was our parents’ love that we felt first. They worked long and hard so that we could have opportunities they never had. We felt compelled to honor our parents and the parents of all shareholders in Leisure World,” said Mrs. Perrotti.
The COVID-19 pandemic shut-downs began in March 2020, so the purchase and placement of the statue was put on the back burner.
This past summer, the Perrottis resumed their search.
They worked closely with Ankeny, GRF President Susan Hopewell and GRF Vice President Linda Stone. It took a village, including the Architectural Design Review Committee, chaired by GRF Director Irma Heinrichs, and GRF Purchasing Manager Julie Rogers. Rogers contacted the vendor, the Large Art Company, based in the San Fernando Valley, and facilitated the sculpture’s purchase and delivery in September. It arrived within two weeks of purchase and was carefully stored until its final site was prepared and security cameras installed.
A plaque that will soon be placed at the site says it best: “Love your parents and treat them with loving care, for you will only know their value when you see an empty chair.”
