Anthony Attardo

Anthony Attardo, 87
SCARBOROUGH – Anthony Attardo, 87, passed away on January 7, 2015. Born to Salvatore and Josephine (Terrasi) Attardo in Waltham Mass in1927 Anthony Francis Attardo was the fourth of six children. Anthony's parents emigrated from Sicily to America in the early 1900's to escape oppression and start a new life.
Growing up in Waltham during the height of the great depression instilled the values of hard work, resilience, and strong family ties. As a child he would deliver newspapers in the morning and on the way home from school fill his delivery bag with coal that fell from the rail cars. This helped heat the home. One of the jobs he had growing up was at a local camera store. He worked in the finishing lab developing film. This started his lifelong interest in the photography and the film processing business.
After graduating from Saint Charles High School in 1945, Anthony joined the army where he trained as a machine gunner in the infantry. A last minute change in his deployment diverted him from the Pacific campaign to Europe. Landing in Trieste the army discovered his photography skills and reassigned him to the Army Air Corp with the 15th Air Command. He served directly for the Embassy in Rome as a specialist for strategic aerial reconnaissance. He regularly flew into enemy territory gathering intelligence before and after bombing missions. Anthony was also assigned to provide photographic documentation of the execution of Benito Mussolini.

When Anthony returned from Europe he attended the Eastern School of Photography in Boston, MA. After graduating he took a position as vice president of Master Color of New England where he was able to continue his education through Eastman Kodak at Rochester Institute of Technology, and Boston University.

He married Muriel A. Stanley from Belmont MA in December of 1956. Soon after, he and his three brothers built a house in Wayland, MA where he and Muriel moved and started their family, having two sons, Anthony F. Attardo Jr. in 1958 and Paul C. Attardo in 1962.
The family moved to Scarborough, Maine in 1967 where Anthony teamed up with Edward (Ned) Harding to build a small local photofinishing business, Bicknell Photo, into one of the largest privately owned businesses of its kind with over 1,000 employees. After selling the business in 1988 to Konica, he and Ned remained close friends for the remainder of their lives. Anthony rejoined Konica in 2000 as Senior VP of Customer Relations until 2004 when he retired to attend to Muriel's health concerns.
Anthony learned early in life to remain humble and treat people with respect, dignity, and compassion. He believed in taking the time to listen to people and giving everyone the opportunity to succeed. Because of this he developed countless long lasting friendships through is life.
Community service was an important aspect of Anthony's life. He served as a trustee to the Scarborough Sanitary District for 15 years, was elected to the Scarborough Town Council and served on many community-based committees such as the Charter Review Committee and the Municipal Building committee. He also volunteered with United Way for many years. Additionally he was a member of the Congressional Meeting Club, the Executive Club of Portland, and the Chamber of Commerce and served on the board of directors for the Scarborough Chamber.
Anthony loved to cook, trained by his mother and father as a young boy in traditional Italian fare. He often used a wood burning cook-stove to prepare meals or make large pots of tomato sauce. He always maintained a vegetable garden, often with over 100 tomato plants. He and his family also foraged for wild mushrooms, a tradition that was passed down by his father. Nothing ever went to waste; all extras were given to friends and neighbors or preserved for the winter.
To his friends he was Tony; to his family he was Tee, uncle Tee, or dad. To everyone who knew him he was a friend, a confidant, and a mentor. The community he developed will be forever enriched because of him.
Anthony passed away peacefully surrounded by family on January 7, 2015 but will continue to warm the hearts of all those who knew and remember him.
He will be deeply missed by his wife, Muriel S. Attardo; his two sons Anthony F. Attardo Jr. and Paul C. Attardo; his brother and his wife Louis and Beatrice Attardo, his sister Madeline Randolph, his sister-in-law Anna Attardo; and many cousins, nieces and nephews as he is reunited with his brothers Frank and Joseph Attardo and his sister Rose Oliveo. Travel in peace.
Visiting hours are scheduled for Friday, January 16, 2014, from 4:00-7:00 p.m. at Hobbs Funeral Home, 671 US Rte. 1, Scarborough, ME. Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday, January 17, 2014 at 1:00 p.m., St. Maximilian Kolbe, 150 Black Point Rd, Scarborough, ME. Condolences may be shared at www.hobbsfuneralhome.com.