Edmund Anthony "Tony" DaRosa Edmund Anthony "Tony" DaRosa peacefully arrived into the arms of God on Aug. 23, 2012, at age 93, in Wheaton, IL. Born to Jose and Rosa Maria da Rosa on Oct. 16, 1918, in Portugal, Tony moved to the United States in 1937 and attended the Spartan School of Aeronautics in Tulsa, OK. There he also met and married the love of his life, the late Claire Turner, who passed on July 21, 2012. After serving in the Army Air Corps during World War II, Tony and Claire raised their family of three sons, Ronald (Susan) of Wheaton, James (Jeannette) of Lockport and Timothy (Bonita) of Springfield, on the campus of Lewis College in Lockport, where Tony was director of aviation. In 1964, the family moved to Carbondale, where he was founding chairman of the Aviation Technology Department at Southern Illinois University. Even in recent years, former students still fondly referred to him as Mr. "D." After retiring in 1978, Tony and Claire moved to Lake Mary, FL. They returned to Illinois to live out their golden years at Wyndemere Senior Living Center in Wheaton. On July 14, 2012, they celebrated 72 years of marriage. Tony was preceded in death by his wife; parents; brother, Gentile; sister, Wilhelmina; and baby daughter, Mary Louise. He is survived by his three sons; 11 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and a brother, Abilio. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to Wings of Hope, www.wings-of-hope.org, or 18360 Wings of Hope Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63005. Family will greet relatives and friends Monday, from 9:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. in the St. Dennis Church Narthax, 1214 Hamilton St., Lockport, with Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. Interment will be in Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, Elwood. O'Neil Funeral Home, Lockport, is in charge of arrangements, 815-838-5010. For information, www.oneilfuneralhome.com.
Published in Chicago Suburban Daily Herald on August 26, 2012
