Anthony John Orlich

Orlich, Anthony John
Passed away on January 14, 2014, at the age of 62. Those who loved him called him Sweetheart, Dad, Tony, and Papa Tony. He was a consummate gentleman devoted to his family and work. Tony was born in Manhattan on February 8, 1951, to parents Peter and Antica, immigrants from Croatia. His family moved to Tucson when Tony was 11, and he attended Catalina High School and the University of Arizona, from which he obtained a BS in Real Estate and an MS in Finance. A longtime resident of Paradise Valley, Tony's 35-year career in real estate was spent at two organizations, one in the private sector for 25 years and the other in the public sector for 10 years. Tony was proud of his professional accomplishments, including rehabilitating Biltmore Fashion Park, Town & Country Mall, and Tri-City Mall in the 1980s. In the last week of his life, he was eager to return to work at the Arizona State Land Department and attend his weekly Rotary meeting. Tony married Ileana in 1975 in Bucharest, Romania, and they had one son, Anton, who married Shanna. Tony's two granddaughters, Livia and Clara, would yell with joy when they saw Papa Tony. He is also survived by his mother-in-law, Alexandra Pop, and brother-in-law, Emil Pop. Tony was preceded in death by his parents, brother Peter, sister Maria, and father-in-law Sever Pop. A funeral mass for Tony will be held Saturday, January 18, 2014, at 3:30 pm at Brophy Chapel, 4701 N. Central Ave., Phoenix 85012. A Rosary will precede the mass at 3 pm. A reception will follow the funeral at the Orlich home. Interment will occur Tuesday January 21, 2014, at 11 am at Holy Redeemer Cemetery, 23015 N. Cave Creek Rd., Phoenix 85050. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Donor Network of Arizona, 201 W. Coolidge, Phoenix 85013, www.
dnaz.org. Arrangements by Messinger Indian School Mortuary, Scottsdale, AZ