Anthony Vincent "Tony" Shramko

Tony was the love of my life and husband of 26 years.  We were constant companions and each other’s best friend.  He was a true angel sent from heaven and protected me daily – holding my hand when we crossed the street and driving me everywhere.  Everyone he knew from high school to college, to co-workers, to vinyl record collectors, say how kind, giving, sincere, and generous he was. He is irreplaceable and his very sudden and unexpected passing at age 66 is not only a shock, but a true tragedy.  His smile lit up a room, he laughed easily, and put everyone at ease.  It is with profound sadness and anguish that I write his obituary.

Anthony “Tony” Vincent Shramko, 66, passed away suddenly on Sunday, March 31, 2024 following a massive heart attack. He was born on June 16, 1957 in Youngstown, Ohio.  He was the youngest son of Bernard Shramko and Antonette (Lorenzo) Shramko. He was blessed to live in a full and vibrant Italian influenced household with his parents, maternal grandmother Bambina (Orlando) Lorenzo, uncle Lewis Lorenzo, brother Bert Shramko, and cousin Mary Lou (Moyer) Riebe. From his mother Antonette, he mastered the skills of cooking (his chicken parmesan was light as air!) and growing tomatoes as well as the ability to be content and at peace with one’s life – whatever it may be. 

He made lifetime friends at both St. Dominic’s grade school and high school, Cardinal Mooney. He graduated from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland in 1980 with a degree in Administrative Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition and was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity.  He earned a Masters of Business Administration from Youngstown State University, and a Masters of International Management from the Thunderbird School of International Management in Glendale, AZ. He then worked in market research for J.D. Power, and in marketing for KB Home and Emser Tile.

Tony met his wife Aimee of 26 years in a marketing class at Thunderbird and both agreed it was a magical, meant to be connection that they felt instantly.  Their bond was strong, each doing their best to take care of and protect the other.  

A dedicated vinyl record collector, Tony made many good friends along the way.  He loved to comb the dollar bins of the local record stores and enjoyed talking to music lovers of about their passion for collecting, listening to music and attending concerts.

Among his favorite artists were Bruce Springsteen, Steven Van Zandt (Little Steven), Charles Brown, Sharon Jones and Ella Fitzgerald.   

Tony is survived by his wife of 26 years, Aimee Shramko, his brother Bert Shramko and sister-in-law Sue, cousin Marylou Riebe and her husband Bob, nieces and nephews Mark Shramko, Patty Welsh Shramko, John Shramko and his two cats Angelo and Inky.