Bob Perani

{{Infobox ice hockey player

| name = Robert (Bob) Perani

| image =

| image_size =

| position = Goaltender

| catches = Left

| height_ft = 5

| height_in = 9

| weight_lb = 180

| league = IHL

| team = Flint Generals

| prospect_team =

| prospect_league =

| birth_date = {{birth date|1942|8|7}}

| birth_place = Rome, Italy

| death_date = {{death date and age|2012|4|15|1942|8|7}}

| death_place = in flight/en route from Detroit to Tokyo

| spouse: Kris Perani (d. 2006)

| relations = Lahna Ward (daughter)
Robert Perani Jr. (son)

| draft =

| draft_year =

| draft_team =

| career_start = 1969

| career_end = 1974

}}

Robert F. Perani (August 7, 1942 – April 15, 2012) was a professional ice hockey goaltender for the Flint Generals in the International Hockey League. He was also the founder of Perani's Hockey World sports retail chain in 1976,{{Cite web |url=http://www.hockeyworld.com/index/page/static/subpage/aboutus |title=Hockey Equipment, Hockey Skates, Hockey Sticks, Goalie Gear | HockeyWorld |access-date=2014-08-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140820054552/http://www.hockeyworld.com/index/page/static/subpage/aboutus |archive-date=2014-08-20 |url-status=dead }} and owned the naming rights for the Perani Arena and Event Center. Perani died on April 15, 2012, while traveling on an international flight from Detroit to Tokyo.[http://www.minbcnews.com/news/story.aspx?id=742345 Flint hockey legend and businessman Bob Perani dies] NBC 25, April 15, 2012[http://www.wnem.com/story/17457410/former-businessman-and-generals-hockey-player-dies Former businessman and Generals hockey player dies] WNEM, April 16, 2012

Perani was born in Italy in 1942 and moved to Canada with his family in 1953, settling near Toronto.{{Cite web | url=http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2012/04/daughter_of_flint_businessman.html | title=Daughter of Flint businessman Bob Perani says he always helped others| date=16 April 2012}} He attended St. Lawrence University where he was a member of Sigma Pi fraternity.{{cite magazine|last=Ham|first=Thomas E.|date=Spring 1964|volume=51|number=1|magazine=The Emerald of Sigma Pi|title=Orchids To|page=19|url=http://www.enivation.com/SigmaPi/archive/Emerald/1964/SP_EMERALD_VOL_51_NO_1_SPRING_1964.pdf|access-date=2016-12-21|archive-date=2016-08-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820195122/http://www.enivation.com/SigmaPi/archive/Emerald/1964/SP_EMERALD_VOL_51_NO_1_SPRING_1964.pdf|url-status=usurped}} He played for a number of leagues in Michigan and Ontario. He and his wife Kris moved to Flint in the late 1960s and never left. Kris died from cancer in 2006.The following year, as part of the 'Perani Group', he bought the Flint Generals. He retired as a player after the 1974 season and went into the pizza business and in 1976 started "Bob Perani's Sports Shop".{{cite web |url=http://www.abc12.com/story/17456589/flint-hockey-legend-bob-perani-passes-away |title=Flint hockey legend Bob Perani passes away - ABC 12 – WJRT – Flint, MI |accessdate=2012-04-17 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120417092708/http://www.abc12.com/story/17456589/flint-hockey-legend-bob-perani-passes-away |archivedate=2012-04-17 }}

Perani retired to Thailand and died on a flight from Detroit to Tokyo en route to Thailand.{{Cite web | url=http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/tmr/comments/bob_perani_passes_away_suddenly_at_69 |title = The Malik Report - Kukla's Korner}}