Francis V. Tonello

TONELLO, FRANCIS V.
Francis (Francesco) V. Tonello passed peacefully in his sleep on April 30, 2007 at his private home in St. Paul's Manor, San Diego, CA. He was 78. He was born in Lancaster, NY in the home his immigrant father built. He graduated from St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute in 1947, and was an alumnus of Canisius College in Buffalo, NY. Before entering a lifelong career in public education, he served honorably in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War where he and his fellow servicemen established an orphanage for Korean babies. His dedication to the welfare and education of children continued through groundbreaking work including one of the first Head Start programs and a "Freedom Around the World" Best Teacher awards. His greatest passion was music, which he shared through his beautiful baritone singing in musicals, choral groups and spontaneous expressions of enthusiasm for life. He was known for his lively portrayal of the "Phantom of the Opera" and lived with an insatiable curiosity and delight in life. His last solo was "Arrivederci Roma." Francesco considered his greatest achievements his four children. He is survived by his sister Fedora Duszynski of Amherst, NY, his four loving children, Francis J., Maria and Joseph of San Diego, and the Honorable John S. Tonello of Elmira, NY, and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and grandnephews in Buffalo and the surrounding area. A memorial tribute will be held on May 15th at 10 a.m. at St. Paul's Manor, 2635 2nd Avenue, San Diego, CA. He will be inurned at the Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in Point Loma, CA. Memorial gifts may be sent to St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute, 845 Kenmore Avenue, Buffalo, NY, to the "Music Program" in honor of Francis V. Tonello.Please sign the guest book at obituaries.uniontrib.com