Anthony J. Angotti

Tony Angotti passed away on July 5, 2024. He had just turned 81.
To all who knew him, Tony was a kind, generous, extraordinarily talented and creative man; although Tony, being humble, hid these attributes as best he could. He was one of the funniest people on the planet and was loved by everyone who met him. Once you were in his orbit, you never wanted to leave it.
An amazing vocalist, Tony was the lead singer to two singing groups in his early adulthood, "Sunny and Horizons" and "No Deposit No Return". He signed with Mercury Records for the hit song, "I Got My Needs". After a successful singing career, he attended School of Visual Arts, leading him into the advertising world.
He spent his adult life working in advertising, where his exemplary talent really shone through and was recognized. His ability to create ads that were strikingly unique, and also withstood the test of time, was his signature imprint everywhere he worked. A classic example of this was a public service campaign he did while at Needham in the 1970s. "Friends Don't Let Friends Drive Drunk" is as impactful and resonant today as it was all those years ago.
Also while at Needham, Tony created the Xerox work, and he was truly hitting his stride. His reputation really took off when he joined Ammirati and Puris. There he worked on Club Med and BMW. It was putting "The Ultimate Driving Machine" on the map and on every driver's wishlist that brought him and his partner, Tom Thomas, into the spotlight.
The big leap came in 1985 when he started his own agency, Angotti Thomas Hedge. The agency got off to a fast start by winning a significant client, Dow Jones and Co., before the doors were even open. That gave them the jumpstart they needed and a great deal of credibility. Additional clients soon followed, including Wild Turkey Bourbon, KLM Airlines, Orangina and Maalox. Other big ones arrived: Saab Cars for General Motors, (Find Your Own Road) and Fosters Beer for the Miller Brewing Company, (Australian for Beer). More accounts and accolades ensued. The agency was a huge success and Tony was at the center of that achievement.
Anthony J. Angotti was predeceased by his parents, Pasquale and Eleanor Angotti. He is survived by his beloved wife Debby, his adored children Lily and Ben, his devoted sisters, Lenore and Ginger (Adam), and a loving extended family.
Memorial services were private; condolences may be shared at www.hardingfuneral.com. Contributions in memory of Tony may be made to the Alzheimer's Association at http://act.alz.org or the American Cancer Society at http://donate.cancer.org