Dennis Michael Perrotta

Dennis Michael Perrotta

Dennis Michael Perrotta, Ph. D., CIC, 72, born in San Antonio, Texas passed away January 13, 2024, at his home in Smithville, Texas. He is survived by his wife Shari Perrotta, daughter Natalie Perrotta, and brother Dan Perrotta.

Dennis shared his life with Shari on the Blue Sky Ranch, where they started the Blue Sky Animal Rescue in 2003 and placed more than 200 cats and dogs. Natalie lives in Dallas and follows in his footsteps in the medical field.

His education was extensive, earning his PhD in epidemiology in 1982 and becoming Board Certified in Infection Control (CIC) in 1989. Throughout the 52 years of his professional career, he was notably known as director and chief of the Bureau of Epidemiology or the Texas Department of Health and professor of epidemiology at the University of Texas.

Dennis was rated a Pro skydiver with 6,650 skydives. He also was rated by the United States Parachute Association as a coach and instructor and mentored hundreds of skydivers new to he sport. He received several awards including Parachutist of Phorty (POPS) Texas Record and a Gold Free Fall Badge. He recently earned his FAA license to fly his drone in the blue skies of Texas.

Dennis will be remembered as an avid skydiver, epidemiologist, brother, husband, father and friend.

If you wish, please remember Dennis by donating in his memory to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary by going online at support.bestfriends.org. Donations can also be made to the International Skydiving Museum at skydivingmuseum.org