J. Anthony Collins

Old Saybrook - J. Anthony Collins, 71, of Old Saybrook, died peacefully at home on April 2, 2011, attended by his adoring wife, Alva Greenberg, after a 17 month battle with brain cancer.

An international business executive in the printing and publishing fields, he founded and led many successful companies, most recently Colortone and Brook and Whittle, both of North Branford.

Born in Preswich, England, Anthony graduated from the University of Manchester with a degree in printing and technology. He moved to Dublin in 1964 and to Connecticut in 1982. Anthony's many friends remember him as an incomparable host and raconteur. His lifelong passion for sailing included annual voyages on his Hinckley between Newport and Tortola as well as on a trans-Atlantic crossing in 1994.

Though told that he would only survive a diagnosis of stage four glioblastoma for six to 12 months, at eight months Anthony was climbing a 3,200 foot mountain, and at 11 months he had just returned from a trip to Turkey. He may not have won the war against this disease, but he came out on top of most of the skirmishes with his jacket and kerchief unsullied.

In addition to his wife, Alva, he is survived by his four children, Jonathan, Andrew, Matthew, and Sarah and their spouses; his nine grandchildren; his mother, Anne Collins, and sister, Susan Absalom, both of Lithum St. Anne's, England; his former wife, Fionuala Collins of Dublin; and three step-children, Ben, William, and Gwyn Gahagan.

A memorial service will be held 11 a.m. on Thursday, April 7, at the Norma Terris Theater in Chester.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Outreach to Haiti, 199 Broadway, Norwich CT 06360.

Fulton-Theroux Funeral Home, Old Lyme, is handling the arrangements.

Please visit www.fultontherouxoldlyme.com for photos, tributes, and service information.