In Loving Memory
Joseph M. Periandi, CPA
Our dearest friend and colleague Joe Periandi was reunited with his loved ones in heaven on July 4th at the young age of 69. His earthly journey is complete, and his eternal life has begun. He is resting peacefully in the arms of our Lord after a valiant battle with cancer.
There is a popular Abraham Lincoln quote that truly encapsulates Joe’s time on this earth: “In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count, it’s life in your years.” Joe’s gregarious personality and concern for everyone he met was beyond compare. He was a friend to all and a great friend of mine for 37 years. When I met Joe and worked with him as a young CPA, he broke through the stereotypes of the profession. Many people perceive CPAs and accountants to only be technicians, but Joe was a phenomenal representation of not only having technical expertise, but also being relatable and made complex tax strategies understandable to his clients. He loved being a CPA so much that in his younger years, he not only worked long hours in his office but also taught Tax Accounting at Albright College. He was a role model for service to the Community being a Treasurer and the “Al the Alligator” mascot for Crime Alert Berks County. Years ago, Crime Alert had a billboard with Joe’s picture holding his Alligator costume that said “Hard Worker. A Regular Joe.” Joe was always so approachable and unpretentious that during his decades of service as Treasurer of Victor Emmanuel II Beneficial Society, he was always seen connecting both the employees and the patrons in their social hall. God must have blessed him with extra hours in his days to do all of this and still have time to enjoy the outdoors golfing, biking and serving as an American Legion Umpire.
Joe and I stayed in touch with each other during our careers, and another chapter of Joe’s life began in 2018 when he joined Spring Ridge Financial Group as a tax specialist and investment professional. He periodically would fill in for me on the weekly “Money Doctor” show and called himself “The Physicians Assistant.” In every aspect of his life, he wanted to help. In our office he would often answer his phone “How may I help your day go better?” He would reach out to co-workers in the office calling their name and asking “Are you home?” He would then give them his undivided attention which created deeper bonds with all of us. At Spring Ridge, our office is our home away from home with the family atmosphere we embrace. His mind stayed sharp until the very end, even though he was in incredible pain. Two weeks before he died, he still came into the office to tie up loose ends and be with his work family. It is ironic that he passed away on July 4th, one of his favorite holidays, a day off from work, and a day where family and friends are always together. His life always wanted to bring people together and now his spirit can be a part of everyone’s 4th of July gatherings.
To simply say we are going to miss him is an enormous understatement. We all have so many fun memories of our time with Joe. His spirit was so strong we feel that he is still with us. We can still hear the joyful sound of his laughter with memories that will live on forever in our hearts. We want to thank him, honor him, and let the universe know how much we loved him.
This poem expresses how Joe would want us to continue on:
Remember Me
Remember me when laughter fills the air
When something small turns brighter unaware
Remember me when ordinary days
Are warmed by quiet, unexpected rays
Remember me – but not with heavy heart
Not as a silence pulling you apart
For if you smile, and find a lighter way
Then I am nearer than I was yesterday
If you forget me for a moment’s grace
And joy should gently take my place
Do not hold tight to sorrow’s thread
It’s far better to laugh instead
For I was one who found light in things
In fleeting moments, in the joy life brings
So let that be the way I linger still
In easy laughter, and in quiet will
Remember me in brightness, not in grey
In all the good that carries on each day
And if you do, then I am always near
Alive in every smile that finds you here.
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.
Virgil A. Kahl CPA, CFP®