Anthony Ragusa

What a special and fun uncle. Always a positive and happy energy surrounding him. He exuded love always.

Sending my condolences to Charmaine, Gina, and Tony. Today I learned of your dad's passing. I also was very fortunate to know Tony via Best Foods, being hired in 1973 by Tony, while he was in Chicago. I've kept in touch with Tony via emails since he retired but never once did I get any response back from him other than a positive remark. God's Blessings and comfort to all the surviving family.

Sincerely,

Bud Fenner
Punta Gorda, Florida

Sept 3, 2024.

Gina - I learned today from a retired Bestfoodster, of your Dad's passing last year and wanted to pass on my condolences to u, your mom and your brother.

Tony was the Bestfoods Chicago Assistant District Manager in 1970 when I was hired, just out of college, as a sales representative. Tony played a key role in my career development in my five years in Chicago which led to a 40-year Bestfoods career.

Wanted u to know here's one more guy who your Dad helped out in this life, and want u to know that my Karen and I have met u and your brother back in the early 1970's when your mom and dad hosted a Bestfoods party at your house in Downers Grove. And, yup, pretty clear that u and your bro were the apple of your Dad's eye!

Bless you, Gina, for your beautiful story of your dad.....I saw him in every word.

Best,
Brian Pobanz
North Jersey and Bonita Springs, FL

Charmaine & Gina & Tony---
I don't know where to begin, I knew Tony for 80 Years beginning in Kindergarten (Spelling?) in Crystal City. Missouri.
We grew up in an area call "Old Town". Old Town was a melting pot, it had a very diverse population of Italians, Greeks, Hungarians, Czecks and others including African Americans. It was like living in a foreign city. Many of the people were new immigrants and spoke little or no English. The smells from the kitchens wafted thru out the close houses and the various sights and sounds were amazing and memorable.

I remember that people had goats that they would tie to the factory fence to graze during the day and then milk in the evening. Tony's dad Charlie, who he dubbed "Khrushchev" because he did indeed look like Nikita Khrushchev, had a goat named Lulu. However, on one particular day Lulu was not where the goat had been tied. Word spread that Lulu was missing. Tony and I were sent to find her. After 2 hours or more we found Lulu tied to a tree a mile or so from where she had originally been ties. The culprit was "Jitterbug", a boy our age, who couldn't explain why he had taken the goat. Tony and I were rewarded with his mother's cookies as if we were heroes.

Jitterbug's real name was John and he liked to dance thus the nick name.
I not sure if Tony gave him that name, but he had a knack for dubbing nick names, nick names that still linger to this day in Crystal City. Names like, Mussel Jaws, Flip the Frog, Moose and his brother Goat, The Farmer's Daughter,
Hurricane. In his mind there was always a reason for the names, but they were never mean or malicious. I see some of these people periodically and always address them by those names.

Tony and I joined the Navy a week after graduating from high school. We were both 17 years old. The Navy had an enlistment program that if you enlisted when you were 17 you were discharged the day before you turned 21 years old.
We were referred to as "Kiddie Cruisers" because of our youth.
While in boot camp we would do a lot of marching as part of the training. Strickly on impulse Tony started singing cadence as he had heard other marchers doing. Thereafter, when we formal marches before dignitaries and visitors, Tony would be given a shiny sword and lead our company of 60 recruits and while singing cadence. I accused him of strutting, but actually I was jealous.

After we were completed boot camp we were both given orders to report to schools in San Diego for further training.

(More stories to follow, but this is enough of my rambling boredom for now.)

In summary, I might add that I have 4 brothers, actually I have 5 brothers if you add Tony.

What a beautiful tribute to your dad. Your dad, mom tiny and you are
such a bug part of my childhood memories. Especially the holidays. Having bith my dad and your dad together was always entertaining! Your dad was an exceptional human and is missed. My heart is with all of you as I know firsthand the loss you are experiencing. Love you all.

Our positive thoughts are with you during this wonderful reflection of a great life lived! Tony was one of my key mentors very early in my career in the business. He always gave me freedom to be myself and was the epitome of a daring and caring leader and man. I was saddened to hear of his passing this past year. Our continued thoughts and prays are with your family and Charmaine Ragusa. Love them both! Too funny as you recounted his making up a language - Tony did have his own language even at Best Foods he would have words that meant something else! They are good people and we enjoyed our crossover with the in Michigan. May the fond memories continue to carry you through. Peace - Dave & Becky Meyer

What a beautiful tribute of your Dad. We met your mother and father during one of Florida's hurricane evacuations when we stayed at the same hotel in Tennessee. We had enjoyed meeting them and realized that we had shared the same wedding anniversary, June 27th, 1964 and similar time of day we got married. We only saw each other for a couple of days there, but realized we had a lot in common during our lives.
Charmaine and family our deepest sympathy for your loss of such a sweet man. We were always going to get together to celebrate our anniversary but unfortunately never happened. At the time we met we lived in Fort Myers Fl. We have now moved to Washington state to be closer to our daughters.
We so enjoyed seeing your photos of the family on Facebook to keep in touch.
Tony will be missed by so many, but his memories will always be with you.
Our sincere condolences.
Geri and Lee Turk

Gina, what a beautiful tribute to your Dad. Thank you for sharing a bit of him with those of us who didn´t know him but know what a wonderful daughter he has. I´m so sorry for your loss and so glad you´ve been able to spend time with your Mom. I´ve been thinking about all of you. Your strength is inspiring. I´ll be thinking of you on the 20th. Hugs. -Michele Munson

You have my deepest sympathies. What a most beautiful tribute to an amazing man. A beautiful life well-lived! Sending thoughts & prayers for peace & strength as you navigate going forward