Tony Pellerito

Anthony Pellerito was an extraordinary man who loved people and people loved him. His charismatic nature made a memorable impression on everyone, even those whom he only met for a short time. He will be remembered as a generous, hard-working man with a wonderful sense of humor, who brought joy and laughter into the lives of all who knew him.

1918 marked a year of new beginnings and change: the end of World War I, the debut of Pulitzer Prizes in Fiction, Drama and Poetry and the implementation of Daylight Saving Time. In Grand Rapids, Michigan, Phillip and Rosalia (Grillo) Pellerito celebrated their own new beginnings as they welcomed their sixth child, Anthony (Tony), on January 18.

The Pellerito family resided on the South Side of Grand Rapids, where Tony lived with his parents, his five brothers and two sisters. They were devoted members of Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church and all of the siblings got along well and treated each other with kindness and respect. Though they were sometimes short on money, they were never short on love.

With such a large family, Tony always did his part to help out when money was tight and as a young child, he started selling fruit from a wagon after school. Tony literally went the extra mile for his family traveling with his wagon up Division, sometimes as far as Plainfield. Tony continued to provide for his family and eventually left South High School, finding work with the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps), planting trees near Brethren, Michigan.

Ultimately, he returned home to Grand Rapids and began working at McInerney Spring and Wire, where he was employed for 42 years before retiring. Tony also started boxing in his spare time, and his rigorous training and talent led to great accomplishments over the years, earning him the Golden Gloves Championship in West Michigan three different times. In addition to working and boxing, Tony still found time to pursue another pastime - dancing.

Though Tony had a lifelong love of dance, he had no idea that dancing would also lead him to the love of his life. One quiet evening, while dancing at Ramona Park in Grand Rapids, Tony struck up a conversation with a young girl named Eleanor, who was stranded after she missed the bus home. Ever the gentleman, Tony offered to take her home and from that evening on, they were inseparable. They married in October of 1940, and welcomed their first child, Tony two years later.

Shortly thereafter, Tony joined the Army during World War II. Primarily a driver, he also played the bugle, sounding the regulation calls and even did some boxing while in the Army. After the war, he returned home to his family and resumed his position at McInerney. They relocated to the West Side of Grand Rapids and over the next few years, Tony and Eleanor welcomed two more children, Val and Joe.

While Eleanor stayed home and cared for the children, Tony stayed busy working in the factory during the day, and training for boxing matches at night. Though Tony had a demanding schedule, he also enjoyed socializing, spending time at the pool halls with the Catholic War Vets, playing softball, and bowling, his family was paramount. He was a wonderful husband and father and truly cherished the time that he spent with them. While they never had a lot of money, the kids never knew it, and were given many opportunities in their childhood. Tony also loved to take family vacations. When the kids were young they embarked on trips out west to California and many summers they rented a trailer and soaked up the sun at Grand Haven.

Over the years, Tony had many friends, but he formed a special bond with one of his brothers, a brother –in-law and another friend, all known to the family as "the big four." They often golfed together and made annual trip to Las Vegas. The four of them shared many good times over the years and became the best of friends.

In 1988, the Pellerito family suffered a great loss when Eleanor died. It was a great adjustment for Tony, but he surrounded himself with friends and family who offered their unwavering support. A few years later, he met Angie Mock at the American Legion, Neil Fonger Post where he was a longtime member. They enjoyed playing Bingo there and over time, their friendship turned into companionship and they began doing everything together, including trips out west to California. Tony believed that life is better if you share it with someone, and felt blessed that after losing Eleanor, he found someone as special as Angie to share the next chapter of his life with.

Tony always had a desire to learn and tackle new things and even after all of his accomplishments, he never tired of gathering new information-regularly reading the newspaper from cover to cover and devouring crossword puzzles. He was proud that later in his life he completed requirements for his high school diploma.

Ten years ago, a difficult hip replacement surgery left Tony confined to a wheelchair with the use of only one leg, though with the exception of golf, he never let it slow him down or break his spirit. He continued making people laugh and making them feel welcome. Tony had an excellent memory for names and tried to make others feel important and welcome. In the last six years he spent living at Covenant Village, he made quite an impression on others and made many new friends. Even as his pulmonary problems became more difficult over the past few years and especially in recent months, he continued to charm those he met and always tried to keep them smiling.

Anthony Pellerito was a fun, energetic man who had a terrific sense of humor and easily made others laugh with his clever one-liners. A man who celebrated his friends, faith and above all his family, Anthony will be remembered not only for the place he left in the hearts of his loved ones, but also for the smile he could always bring to their faces.

PELLERITO – Mr. Anthony J. Pellerito, age 90 of Grand Rapids, passed away May 20, 2008. He was preceded in death by his wife, Eleanor, in 1988; his granddaughter Juli Pellerito, and his brothers and sisters Phillip, Sam, Andrew, Joe, John and Ann. Tony is survived by his children: Tony and Dixie Pellerito of Punta Gorda, FL, Val and Drew Baker of Chicago, Joe and Amy Pellerito of Chicago; grandchildren Mike and Mel Pellerito, Angie and Tim Huspen, Mark and Marisa Pellerito, Joe and Judy Pellerito, and their mother, Linda Pellerito; great grandchildren Chandler, Sebastian, Evan, Autumn and Danny Pellerito; his dear friend and longtime companion Angie Mock; and his sister, Josephine Kozarski. A Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday, May 24 at 10 AM Holy Spirit Catholic Church with interment to follow in Rosedale Memorial Park. Relatives and friends are invited to meet with his family on Friday from 6-8 PM at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home – Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel, 2120 Lake Michigan Drive NW. For those who wish, memorial contributions to the Scleroderma Research Foundation are appreciated.