The moments I think of most when thinking of dad were all of the times when we weren't going out to big events like Cubs games, Bears games, fancy dinners, or Dave and Busters. Stuff like putting on the knee pads and crawling around underneath the house to get the holiday decorations, teaching me how to cut fontinella the right way by breaking it off rather than cutting straight into it, drawing Fred Flinston by memory, listening to music in the car while learning about how music was better back in the day (which I agree with now), and building a derby car for my boy scouts project in which I mostly just watched him build it by himself.
He was a very meticulous man who liked things done well. Growing up watching him strive for perfection instilled in me to have high standards for myself and to not stop until something was done right. He was always a do-it-myself kind of guy and tried his best to make sure we knew how to do things. Measure twice, cut once is a common lesson he would teach us and I think it can be applied to all aspects of life as well. Dad was a funny guy and liked to mess around with us showing us that life doesn't always have to be so serious. Been thinking a lot recently about these messages he left me with over the years and it is interesting to see how many of them manifested into different areas of my life. Thank you for showing us a different side of life and I hope you are resting easy up there. Love ya,
Anthony Jr.
Tony was about 7 when he got a small aquarium. He needed a few things so I bought some and mailed them to him from Texas. About a week later, I received a thank you card from him. "Thank you for the broken boat!!!" I cracked up because I had sent a "sunken/shipwreck". He thought it was broken. Funny kid, beautiful in every way.
When Tony and I were younger, we went out with some friends. We got to borrow Tony’s dad's car for the night. It was a cougar Bastonian, he thought it was the coolest car ever. Tony had a few too many, so I drove him home. On the way, we got pulled over and I said don’t say anything. The police officer pulled us over and I said I was fine, I was driving his car to be safe and Tony yelled across the car to the officer "Don’t worry officer., she's driving my dad's beer.." The officer shook his head and said take him home. We laughed for many years after.💙
One time in the middle of winter during a snow storm, dad pulled out the ATV from the garage, tied one end of the rope to the ATV and the other end to a sled. We had all of our snow gear on and I hopped on the sled as he flew around the empty alleys of Franklin Park pulling me around. He was always up to trouble, but we had a blast none-the-less. I can vividly remember the excitement on my face as we shared many fun memories doing things we probably shouldn't have been doing. Regardless of what it was that we were doing, we always felt safe knowing he was right there with us. He was certainly a free-spirited man haha.
Anthony Jr.
I was friends with Tony a good 30 years. I have so many stories I could tell for hours. The message behind each story is that Tone loved to laugh and made me laugh. He loved life and he was real guy. We became dads at the same time with boys, and another thing I know with certainty, Tony loved his boys. I am still trying to wrap my head around the loss of a friend. I will share a favorite story when I pick my favorite of the hundreds that I have.
Anthony De Rosa
One of my favorite memories of Tony was our fun summer days at Nani And Poppies house by the pool, specifically the day that Nani was complaining about her weeds in the bushes by the pool and Tony and I pulling them out. Definitely a group effort. I also loved seeing him and your mom in AZ and going out one night to a club at 10:30 and an hour later they called last call. Your dad was like WTF it’s only 11:30. Lots of old people in AZ. Lol. Tony was always happy and always had a smile on his face.
I remember Tony threw some rocks at my window to wake me up. He wanted me to go with him to the police station to pick up Tina who got picked up for curfew. Lol When we got there, we tried to bring Tina back home but we got busted by my mom and dad. So Tony and I snuck out and got yelled at later. Lol
NK
We had a fun day at Road America for Father's Day as the boys invited Tony and their brothers up for the day. He gave me a hug, turned to Tina and said, "He's my favorite, we'll call him D3."
JA
I wanted to share a few Beautiful memories of your dad! Your dad was an Amazing man! He was a Perfectionist! There were times, where I would come over to just give a helping hand . I remember one time he tore down your backyard deck and had a new one put up, but even for a demolition, your dad had a master plan ready to go. He knew where to start and it had to be done the right way! Another time, he was working on the garage door (not the overhead door) and he had his level and measuring tape and was so meticulous on making sure the door was perfectly leveled and he needed some screws, so I offered to go to the hardware store to get them for him, boy did he know his stuff, He wasn't screwing around (pardon the pun) he knew the exact diameter, length and thread count in millimeters and in inches! He had it down to a science! I remember I had asked him to write it all down or I would forget by the time I would get to the hardware store!
DT
Another thing, your dad was very organized! He had everything in its proper place and he always had the right tool for every job, no exception!
I remember one Summer, we were all next door in my back yard having a barbeque and the mosquitos came out with vengeance! I was joking with him and asked him OK, Tony how are you going to get us out of this one! We can't even enjoy our food without getting bitten by these nasty mosquitos who are feasting on our blood and then your father said to me "I'll be back" I remember I went back in the house to put something on my skin, by the time I came back out to the yard, it looked like my entire yard was on fire filled with clouds of smoke and since I have asthma, I was worried! Turns out your dad brought out his mosquito fogger machine, he had it on full blast it was so funny, I didn't think your dad had such a thing! I remember both of us laughing because I told him I would end up exterminated way before the mosquitos because of my asthma! But at the end it did the job!
DT
One time I had just bought the kids a telescope! One night around midnight , while the kids were sleeping, I took out the telescope to the back yard to try to look at the moon! All of a sudden, your dad comes out of no where with a beer in his hand and calmly asks me " Can you see the craters on the moon? I said yes, then he said "Well if you angle the scope properly behind you, you should be able to see clearly ( YOUR ANUS) Uranus" I told your dad very funny Tony!
DT
Tony was such a a sweet little boy. Never called anyone names. Somehow he and mommy got into a teasing session. He called her a "fuzzball". She pretended it was a bad word to say so from then on that's what they called each other and would laugh and laugh. I'm built bigger than other women. Tony would pat my chest, I guess he liked the softness. I was holding him and his mom asked him, what does Suesue have? Her patted my chest and said BEACH BALLS! Little stinker!
When I think about dad, there are a few things that come to mind: Cigars, Nascar, and beer. While I only really partake in smoking an occasional cigar, I vividly recall the first and only time Dad, Jason and I smoked a cigar at Jason's graduation party. He busted out his signature lighter that was shaped as a sports car and taught Jason and I how to properly hold and smoke a cigar. I remember I accidently inhaled on one of the hits and started coughing up a storm to which we all laughed about later. Jason and I have make smoking cigars a ritual and have carried on the tradition on special nights.
When my godson Kyrie was born, I showed up to the hospital in a pinstripe suit with 4 cigars, one for the father, the grandfather, me and one to keep in remembrance. There are a couple pictures I have from the day I was born where Dad was holding a cigar with the doctor and smiling big as ever. I will absolutely keep this tradition alive and think of him every time I smoke a nice stogie. Fortunately, we have the same name so I inherited his humidor with his intials which is displayed right next to that same cigar from the day I was born (which is still sealed and in perfect condition to this day). He taught me how to "be a man" and I will forever hold on to every memory I have with him.
Anthony Jr.
I want to wish you a Happy heavenly Birthday my precious godson. You would be 51. You're with so many who love you and there are so many here who love, miss you and extend birthday wishes too. The first grandchild, grandson and nephew in the family. So beautiful. Bright blond hair and a sweet smile. You became more handsome with each passing year. When your parents asked me to be your godmother I couldn't believe I was so lucky. I still feel that way. You always made me feel special, your sons make me feel like that too. I cherish them so much. Just as I cherish and love you.