Dr. Donald J. Anthony

Anthony, Dr. Donald J. LOUDONVILLE Dr. Donald J. Anthony, 92, of Loudonville, beloved husband of the late Norma Helen Passafaro Anthony, died peacefully in the comfort of his family at home on Thursday, September 4, 2014. Born in Troy on May 30, 1922, he was the son of the late Louis Alphonse Anthony and Mary Barbara Angelo. He graduated from Catholic Central High School in Troy, and later with a degree in chemistry from Siena College, valedictorian of his class of 1947. Dr. Anthony honorably served in active duty in the U.S. Army Air Corps from August 26, 1944 to June 26, 1946 in the European theatre in the Rhineland, North Apennines, Po Valley, and air combat in the Balkans. He was a navigator first lieutenant in the 512th Bomb Squadron, 376th Bomb Group, 47th Wing, 15th Air Force Division. His plane was shot down over Yugoslavia in January 1945. While he was reported missing in action for several weeks, he was able to reach his base in Italy with the aid of partisans. He went on to fly nine more missions. He was a recipient of the Purple Heart, American Campaign Medal, Air Medal, European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, and Meritorious Service Unit Plaque. In 1953, he received his Ph.D. in physics from the University of Notre Dame. He began his career in the design of nuclear power plants for Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory, the operations arm of General Electric Company under contract with the U.S. Navy. He worked under the direct supervision of Adm. Hyman Rickover in the design and development of nuclear powered systems for the nuclear Navy frigates and submarines: the Nautilius 1954, USS Narwhal 1969, USS Enterprise 1961, the USS Bainbridge 1962. He was manager of nuclear power systems and was responsible for sites in Windsor, Conn.; West Milton, and test sites in Idaho and Tennessee. He was a member of the Atomic Energy Commission, the National Nuclear Society, the Elfun Society, the Knights of Columbus, and active alumnus of both Siena and Notre Dame. On August 1, 1945, 1st Lt. Donald Anthony (U.S. Army Air Force) married Norma Helen Passafaro and enjoyed 59 years of marriage until her passing on October 13, 2004. Donald was the devoted father of Donna Marie (Michael) Mooney of Troy, Mark Joseph Anthony of Virginia, Donald Joseph Anthony Jr. of Troy, Norma Marie (Emilio) Martino of Loudonville, and Susan Marie (Paul) Geisler of Ithaca; and dear brother of surviving siblings, Patricia Connally of Troy, and Barbara (William) Anslow of Schenectady. Donald is the grandfather of Jennifer (Peter) Dorgan, Susan Mooney, Maxwell (Amy) Anthony, Mark Anthony, Amelia (Kevin) Slater, Jaclyn (George) Hage, Donald (Andrea) Anthony, Alexandra and Patrick Anthony, Audrey Martino, Nicholas and Benjamin Geisler, and great-grandfather of Selwyn, Gannon, Griffin Anthony, and William and Cameron Slater. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews. Dr. Anthony was a longtime communicant of St. Pius X Parish. As a member of the Country Club of Troy since 1962, he enjoyed with his wife, Norma, many years of camaraderie among his friends. Dr. Anthony's funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m., on Monday, September 8, 2014, at St. Pius X Church, 23 Crumitie Road, Loudonville. Relatives and friends are invited and may call at the Morris-Stebbins-Miner & Sanvidge Funeral Home, 312 Hoosick St., in Troy on Sunday, September 7 from 2 to 6 p.m. Interment will be held in St. Agnes Cemetery, Menands. Those desiring, may make memorial contributions to the charity/cause of their choice in memory of Dr. Donald J. Anthony. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted by the family to the Morris-Stebbins-Miner & Sanvidge Funeral Home, 312 Hoosick St., Troy.