Mark Avondoglio
Restaurateur, Fourth Generation Family Business Owner
Mark Avondoglio is the eldest of the fourth generation of the Perona family now running Perona Farms in Andover Township. Started by his great grandfather in 1917, Perona Farms is now known for its fine catering for both corporate clients and discriminating brides, and the finest Bruncheon in Northern New Jersey.
Mark has been involved in the restaurant for his entire life, starting with bread cutting and butter cup filling when he was seven. After four years at Newton High School and four additional years at the University of New Hampshire, he progressed up the ladder and is now the general manager of the 50,000+ square foot facility hosting upwards of 250 events and weddings annually. In conjunction with his two brothers and a sister, the entire Fourth Generation was honored as Restaurateurs of the Year by the New Jersey Restaurant Association in November of 1999.
Mark is a member of both the National and New Jersey Restaurant Associations, and serves on the Board of the Newton Memorial Hospital Foundation where he is now Chairman for the third time. He is co-founder of the Golf Outing and chairman of the Wine and Roses annual fund raisers for the Hospital and is on the Festival of Lights and Development Committee. Yearly fundraisers contribute over $400,000 to the hospital. Mark has co-chaired numerous “Capital Campaigns” which have raised over 14 million dollars for the Hospital through April of 2009. Mark is also a member of the Board of Trustees of North Jersey Health Care.
Mark is an active member of the Troop 81 (Boy Scouts of America) and has been chairman four times of the Morris Sussex Council Distinguished Citizens Dinner that yearly raises over $100,000 for Scouting! Mark has spent time in Camp Yagoog in Rhode Island and can be found selling wreaths during the holidays or washing cars in the spring for Troop 81. In 1999 he was named the Distinguished Citizen by the Patriots Path Council and earned a “Silver Beaver” (the highest civilian award in scouting) in 2001.
Mark works closely with the Sussex County Scholar Athlete Dinner and the SCARC Twilight Ball Committee. In 2001 and 2002 he chaired the SCARC Radiothon raising over $100,000 each year and continues to be a major fundraiser for this event. He is a Past Chairman of the board of trustees of the Sussex County Chamber of Commerce. Mark has also been a co-chair of the Capital Campaign for Centenary College and he served on the Board of Trustees for many years. Mark was also past president of the Skylands Tourism Council and the Sparta Area Chamber of Commerce.
In 2001 Mark was given the “Humanitarian” Business Award by the Sussex County Chamber of Commerce. Centenary College recently honored the entire Avondoglio family with their highest award the “Gold Dome Award” for philanthropic endeavors on behalf of the College.
Mark’s son Bryant is a graduate of The George Washington University and currently works in the Washington, DC area. His daughter Marley is a senior honors student at the University of Delaware.
Mark lives on Perona Lake in the house originally built by his great grandfather. He enjoys golf, tending to the flower gardens at Perona Farms and eating at the finest restaurants both here and abroad.
