Perry Como was the picture of the perfect family man. Week after week, his genial smile and smooth voice floated into living rooms across America, making him not just a superstar, but a symbol of warmth and stability. Yet, beyond the camera’s glow, the lives of his three children unfolded in ways few fans ever knew—a story of quiet lives, deep devotion, and unexpected family rifts.
Ronnie Como: The Firstborn
In 1940, long before Perry Como became a household name, his first child, Ronald “Ronnie” Como, was born. At the time, Perry was still a humble barber in Pennsylvania, far removed from the glitz of Hollywood. When his career began to rise in the 1940s, Perry made a decision that revealed the heart beneath the tuxedo and microphone: he quit touring in 1942 to spend time at home. He wanted to be there for his son, to give him a stable childhood.
Ronnie grew up in a home filled with love but shielded from the spotlight. While his father crooned to millions, Ronnie went to school like any ordinary boy. Later, he blazed his own trail. He attended the University of Notre Dame and joined the Marine Corps’ ROTC program, answering the call of duty during the tense days of the Cuban Missile Crisis. While his father was serenading America, Ronnie was under fire, earning a Purple Heart for his courage.
When he returned home, Ronnie’s life continued far from showbiz. He earned an MBA, built a steady career in the aerospace and automotive industries, and became a respected director of labor relations at Allied Signal in Indiana. Colleagues knew him not as a celebrity’s son but as a hardworking man who drove an old Volkswagen Beetle with a fishing boat strapped on top—ever ready for a weekend by the water.
He married his college sweetheart, Melanie, and together they raised six children, filling Perry’s later years with the joy of many grandchildren. But life, as it often does, delivered unexpected trials. In his later years, Ronnie was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, a cruel condition that slowly stole his strength. He remained stoic, leaning on his family, until he passed away peacefully in 2019 at the age of 78.
David Como: The Quiet Soul
Five years after Ronnie’s birth, the Como family grew in a new way. In the late 1940s, Perry and his beloved wife, Roselle, yearned for more children but couldn’t have them biologically. So, they opened their hearts and adopted a quiet, shy four-year-old boy named David.
David’s early life was far from the glitter of fame. Perry and Roselle kept him away from the cameras and the chaos of show business, determined that he would have a normal childhood. While the world watched The Perry Como Show, David was in the backyard, playing, reading, and living the life of any suburban boy.
As he grew up, David chose a life even more private than his siblings. He avoided Hollywood entirely, preferring the comfort of anonymity and a quiet career. He eventually settled in California, far from the public eye, the embodiment of the grounded, modest values his parents had instilled in him.
Terry Como: The Protective Daughter
The last to join the family was Teresa “Terry” Como, adopted as a six-month-old baby in 1946. She was the cherished little sister, doted on by her parents and big brothers. Perry especially adored having a daughter. Family friends remembered the way he’d let her sit on his lap while singing at home, spoiling her with the kind of affection only a doting father could give.
Like her brothers, Terry had a normal, sheltered childhood. But as she grew older, she developed a strong, protective nature. At 21, she married Paul Theidow in a joyful 1968 ceremony, where photographers captured Perry kissing his daughter’s cheek—a tender moment that showed just how close they were.
Terry and her husband eventually settled in Jupiter, Florida, near her parents’ home. When Roselle passed away in 1998, it was Terry who became her father’s closest caregiver during his final years.
A Family Rift in the Final Days
By 2000, Perry Como was in his late 80s, and age was catching up with him. He suffered from symptoms of Alzheimer’s and spent much of his time bedridden. Terry, living nearby, oversaw his care—hiring nurses, speaking with doctors, and ensuring he was as comfortable as possible.
But as Perry’s condition worsened, a painful family conflict emerged. Ronnie, who was the executor of Perry’s estate, lived in Indiana and was battling Parkinson’s himself. David remained across the country in California. Decisions about Perry’s end-of-life care became a source of deep tension between Ronnie and Terry.
The heart of their disagreement was Perry’s living will. Terry interpreted her father’s wishes one way; Ronnie, another. Both wanted the best for him, but grief and distance fueled misunderstanding. The dispute even made its way to a Florida court. Headlines briefly blared that Perry Como’s children were “at war” in his final days, shocking fans who thought of the family as picture-perfect.
Despite the conflict, love ultimately prevailed. After Perry’s passing in May 2001, Terry agreed not to contest Ronnie’s role as executor as long as he kept her fully informed. The siblings found a fragile truce, understanding that at the core of their battle was love for the same man—the father who had raised them with kindness and humility.
Behind the charming smile and velvety voice America adored, Perry Como’s true legacy was a family bound by love, resilience, and the complicated threads that tie parents and children together. His children may have lived outside the limelight, but their lives—full of quiet courage, devotion, and even heartbreak—paint the real portrait of the ultimate family man.
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