David A. Perini

Services will be live-streamed and may be viewed by clicking here.

David Alfred Perini, 78, passed away August 15th, 2025, as a good and faithful servant of the Lord. He was born January 11th, 1947, in Carlsbad, New Mexico, to Pete and Fayrene Perini. He was raised in an Italian immigrant family of which he was very proud.

In his youth he played Little League for the Headliners and was a two-time all-Star of the American Little League. He later excelled in Cavemen Football, playing as a defensive and offensive lineman. As a two-way starter in football his junior and senior year he was first team Allstate. His senior year he was selected captain of the All-South Team. He was also selected as the top defensive and offensive Lineman in the state of New Mexico in 1964 and was a Parade High School All American. It was at Carlsbad High School at age 15 that he met Anita LeRosen who was “the love of his life”.

After graduation David went on to play for the University of Colorado. He was a starter on the defensive line for the Buffaloes in the 1968 and 1969 seasons. His senior year the Buffs finished the season with a victory over the University of Alabama in the 1969 Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tennessee, which placed the Buffs in the top 20 ranked teams nationally. His other college career highlights included were playing a major role in Colorado’s upset victory over the University of Oklahoma in Boulder in 1968 and in having the best game of his career against the University of California at Berkeley in 1968 where he recorded 4 quarterback sacks and 11 unassisted tackles. The announcers of the game couldn’t quit talking about his quickness and toughness. He was selected to the Academic All-Big 8 Team and, as a senior, he was awarded “The Hang Tough Award”, which was voted on by his teammates and given to the player who overcame the most adversity.

On August 20th, 1966, David and Anita were married in Carlsbad after their 1st year of college. After David’s graduation from the University of Colorado, he accepted a job in Carlsbad as the head baseball and assistant football coach.

He led the Carlsbad Cavemen Baseball team from 1971 through 1974, winning 4 consecutive district championships and back-to-back State Championships in 1972 and 1973. His record as head baseball coach was 113-22 and his 1972 team still holds the State of New Mexico record for strikeouts in a season with a total of 432. In 1974, he was named Southwest Coach of the Year by Arizona Prep magazine.

David was head coach of the Carlsbad Cavemen Football team from 1975-1980, leading the Cavemen to the State Playoffs 5 out of 6 years and winning the District Championship in 1976. In 1975, the Cavemen fiercely protected Coach Ralph Boyer’s 22 game winning streak by defeating the Artesia Bulldogs, which ended in the famous post-game brawl.

As a coach it is difficult to describe the love and dedication that David had for his players. He continued to have a very strong bond with his players throughout his life.

David went on to work in the oil business in various capacities. He worked as a salesman for several companies including Pathfinder Directional Drilling and Patterson Drilling and for a time had his own service company, Matador Casing Services. He was famous for his steak cookouts at civic events and oilfield locations. Later he teamed up with a former Cavemen football player, Clay Wilson, and they worked together successfully in the disposal well business.

He truly loved the city of Carlsbad and was very proud of its traditions and history and most importantly, its people. The very happiest of his days were spent with his family. He loved his children’s baby years, their school activities, boating on the Pecos River, coaching the boys’ baseball and football and his daughter’s horse riding. His enthusiasm and joy for each day was contagious and he made life so much fun and full of laughter.

Through David’s illness he has been blessed to be taken care of by the most wonderful and skillful nurses who he came to love as extended family. They listened to his many stories and they brought him happy times along with their care. Words cannot express how thankful we are for their dedication and devotion. Brandon, Davids’s grandson, also took such loving care of him.

David is survived by his adoring family; wife Anita, sons John David and wife Jeana; Michael and wife Mckenzie, daughter Cindy Perini and husband Johnny Hinojos, the grandchildren he so loved; Michelle Garza and husband Francisco, Brandon David Perini, Mark Michael Perini and wife Callie, Lucy Gray Perini, Desmond Pietro Perini, and Vicki LeRosen Perini and great grandchildren; Celine Marie Garza and John Diego Garza. Sister Gayla DeLay, and husband Bob, sisters-in-law; Coleta Weatherbee and Susie Dodrill and brother-in-law Chuck Harper, and the many nieces and nephews he also cherished. He also leaves the lifelong friends he so much adored.

Visitation will be 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM, Thursday, August 21, 2025 at Denton-Wood Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial is scheduled for 2:00 PM, Friday, August 22, 2025 at St. Edward Catholic Church with Fr. Pasala Hruday Kumar officiating. Interment will follow in Carlsbad Cemetery, Carlsbad, NM. Denton-Wood Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Following the burial, a reception will be held at St. Edward Catholic Church, catered by Lucy’s. For those unable to attend the burial, please join us for the reception immediately after the funeral service. We invite you to share your favorite story about David and engage in the fellowship he so deeply treasured.

Additionally, David will be honored at the Cavemen Football game on Friday evening.

Pallbearers include: Brandon Perini, Mark Perini, Kevin DeLay, Kelly Neel, Clay Wilson, and Kelly Wilson. Honorary pallbearers include: Dale Perini, Johnny Hinojos, John Perrin, George Frederick, Bobby Porter, Tom Forni, Garry Whittemore, and Francisco Garza.

He loved helping the organizations that made Carlsbad a better place. In lieu of flowers he would be honored for donations to be made to the Assistance League of Carlsbad, P.O. Box 465, Carlsbad, NM 88221