Leo Perel was born September 11, 1900, in New York, the son of Jacob and Rebecca Perel. Both of his parents immigrated to the United States from Russia. His father, Jacob, was a farmer, and at one time was the proprietor of a paint store. Other children in the family were Harry, Katherine, Anna, Minnie and Jeanette. In 1910 the family was living in Manhattan.
With the U.S. involved in WWI, in 1918 Leo was required to register for the draft. At that time he was living at the Hotel Teresa in New York City, and attending Horace Mann High School.
On March 25, 1928, Leo married Sally Kletzosky in the Bronx. Sally was born in New York around 1906, and like Leo, both of her parents were born in Russia. Two years later they were living in a rented house on Frisby Avenue in the Bronx. The couple owned a radio set, and Leo worked as an automobile salesman.
Leo Perel died November 24, 1984, at Cabrini Medical Center, and was buried on Hart Island.
Sources: U.S. Social Security Death Index; U.S. World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918; 1910, 1920 and 1930 U.S. Federal Censuses; New York, State Census, 1915; New York, New York, Marriage Index 1866-1937.