Anthony “Tony” Armor

Tony led a full and active life before he left us on October 19th, 2023. He was born near Manchester, England, in 1941 and remembered hiding with his mother and brother in a cupboard under the stairs when Manchester Airport was bombed during World War II. He was a smart boy who won a scholarship to Manchester Grammar School when he was eleven years old, although this opportunity required a trek on a bus, followed by a train journey, another bus ride, and a long walk to school ( and all this after his morning paper route). He reversed the commute on his way home, in time to complete his evening paper route! Nottingham University was his next challenge. He spent five years gaining a B.S. in Mathematics and an M.S. in Mining Engineering. Nottingham University was also where he played soccer on the school's first team. Tony moved to London and lectured in mathematics at the London Polytechnic. He later taught at the University of the South Bank, lecturing in engineering. In 1968, Tony and his wife Jackie moved to Schenectady, New York, where he worked as an engineer at General Electric for the next eleven years. Tony captained the team for the Schenectady Football Club, playing center forward. At lunchtime, during the workweek, he played squash at the YMCA. And on the weekends in winter, he skied, both cross-country and downhill. In 1979 Tony moved with his family, his wife and three daughters, to the Bay Area in California where he worked for the Electric Power Research Institute in Palo Alto. There his career thrived for the next 25-plus years. Representing E.P.R.I., Tony had many overseas travel opportunities including business trips to Russia, Japan, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, and Britain. Tony authored and co-authored a number of technical papers and several books on the power plant industry. California's mild climate afforded plenty of sporting opportunities for Tony, who took up running and qualified for the Boston Marathon three times. A little later he started cycling which led to a fifteen-year stint competing in triathlons. Tony loved a challenge and Mount Whitney was next in his sights. He summited the 14,496-foot mountain, highest in the 48 contiguous states, a half-dozen times, twice running up and down the mountain with friends from the Stevens Creek Striders. Mostly, though, Tony loved spending time with his family, playing tennis with Jenny, climbing with Becky, and running with Megan. Tony and Jackie enjoyed evenings with wine and cheese on the front deck of their Seascape home in Aptos, hiking in the Forest of Nisene Marks, and listening to vintage jazz albums. Unfortunately, the progression of Alzheimer's disease slowed so many of Tony's beloved pursuits. During the last two years of his life, Tony was supported by the loving staff of Palm Villas Memory Care. Towards the end of his life's journey Tony continued to watch his number one soccer team, Manchester United, of which he had been a lifelong supporter and fan. Tony is deeply missed by his wife Jackie, his daughters Jenny (Bob), Becky, and Megan (James), as well as his three grandsons Luke, Matthew, and Vaughn.