Anthony Robert Ansaldo

1947 - 2025

Anthony Robert Ansaldo

August 4, 1947 - August 3, 2025

Charlotte, North Carolina - Anthony Robert "Tony" Ansaldo, left us for the next fishing hole on August 3, 2025. On August 4, 1947, Tony – then "Bobcat" to his parents Betty and Louis – was born in Bremerhaven, Germany, where his parents worked under the Marshall Plan to rebuild Europe after World War II. Along with little brother Rick, the family returned to the U.S. in 1950, taking up residence in West Haven, CT about 300 yards from Long Island Sound. A decade later, the family moved to West Milford, NJ near Greenwood Lake. Betty and Louis loved being near the water, and Tony and Rick grew up speed boating, water skiing, and skating on the lake - even when the ice got a little thin.

The family moved to Voorheesville, NY in 1966, but Tony had already enrolled in the Virginia Tech School of Architecture – after Steve McQueen narrowly beat him out for the role of Frank Bullit. In the summer of 1969, instead of taking off for the Woodstock Music Festival, Tony and Rick honored their commitment working for a roofing company and narrowly cheated death when the scaffolding they were standing on collapsed.

Back down at Virginia Tech, hijinks ensued with Tony's friends from the college of architecture like sneaking out at night to form and pour architecturally perfect orange and maroon concrete cubes on the campus drill field. Virginia Tech is also where Tony met the love of his life, Stephanie, whom he revered. After winning her over with his amazing charm and dancing with her in the moonlight to Crosby, Stills, and Nash, he whisked her away to a short stint in Midtown Atlanta, where Tony earned his Architecture License. The couple ultimately chose then-small town Charlotte to build their family and grow with the community.

Never one to restrain his inner child, Tony loved boogie boarding, canoeing, camping, fishing, sailing, windsurfing and more. He played volleyball, tennis, bocce ball, Kadima pro, and – best of all – air guitar. He rode roller coasters with gusto and drove go carts –the faster the better. He was delighted to split firewood and even more delighted to burn it. He was a bowhunter, a ballroom dancer, and a photographer. Tony was always up for everything, with countless adventures (and misadventures), many of which are not fit to print. In the long list of favorite verbs, napping appears often.

Above all, Tony was a family man. He manned the grill with burgers and steaks whenever friends were over for birthdays, pre-gaming concerts, or just catching up. Tony helped with swim meets and coached his sons' baseball teams (although we wonder if he was just looking for another chance to toe the rubber).

Tony's selective attention span was legendary. He could engage in conversation about any topic or slip away if things took an uninspired turn. He'd lose himself in a book for hours and not notice the fire (literally) around him. After reading about the real Johnny Appleseed, Tony took to collecting acorns, which he sprouted and grew into saplings he planted and gave as gifts–knowing he would never sit under their shade.

Tony believed there are two questions in life: "What have you done for your children?" and, just as important, "What have you done for everyone else's?" Early in his career, Tony worked for architecture firms including J.N. Pease (designing The Mount Airy Public Library) and TVS Architecture (IBM Charlotte). He also operated a solo practice for the renovation of Charlotte City Hall. In his spare time, he taught architecture classes at Central Piedmont Community College.

Awed by the sacrifice of the Greatest Generation, Tony continued his family's tradition of public service when he joined Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools as their first Director of Architecture in 1990 where he remained until his retirement in 2013. Tony and his team, the strength of which he would always emphasize, oversaw more than fifty new school constructions and countless renovations/additions expanding the CMS footprint from 10 million to 22 million square feet thereby accommodating the student population growth from 70,000 to over 140,000. In those days, CMS was the second fastest growing school system in the nation. Every Millennial Charlottean who went to CMS Schools was touched by their vision and hard work.

Tony was ever thankful for the gracious service of all healthcare providers and everyone who helped him in battles against heart disease and cancer over the years. He baked and delivered batch upon batch of Chocolate Oat Bars to show his gratitude. Always looking for little ways to help, he collected hotel toiletries from traveling friends and donated them to shelters. A necessary part of every camping trip was time set aside for picking up trash from around the site. "Leave it better than you found it," he taught his boys. And he did.

Tony is survived by wife Stephanie, sons and daughters-in-law, Alexander (Anna), Christopher (Casey), grandchildren Aviv, Leonora, McKenzie, and Campbell, brother Rick (Leslie), sister-in-law Margarita (Bud) Whalen, as well as beloved nieces, nephews, and their growing progeny.

The family is planning to celebrate Tony's life on October 18th at Midtown Ballroom from 11:00am-3:00pm and would love to see anyone who has a story to tell or is just looking for some good company. In lieu of flowers please send Stephanie a bigger freezer or consider donating to Disability Rights & Resources, The Echo Foundation, or Trees Charlotte.

Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth W. Poe Funeral & Cremation Service, 1321 Berkeley Ave., Charlotte, NC 28204; (704) 641-7606. Online condolences may be shared at www.kennethpoeservices.com.